Why you need a Cobbler

Yes, you need one.

Why? Um, well, because you love your shoes, obviously.

Okay, maybe that's not the obvious answer so allow me to explain. A good shoe guy (aka cobbler), is not as easy to find as you might think. Most of them, I've found, don't really even know how exactly a shoe is made and therefore are hard pressed to know how to fix them. And, at worse, will simply tell you to buy a new pair - as if replacing a beloved pair of shoes is simply about having another pair of shoes!

However, if you look hard enough, you can still find a genuine cobbler. One who not only takes your love of that favourite pair of shoes seriously, but who understands the art of a beautiful and well designed shoe. This my friend is a hard find, and when you find one, know that it is one of the last original, genuine few.

They will tell you honestly when it is time to replace your shoe, but only after looking at the shoe, touching it, inspecting it. But before that, they will be able to skillfully replace the sole, fix broken heels (not just replace the heel tip - please! I can do that myself!). Furthermore, they will also tell you ways you can make them last longer and give you advice on any modifications based on the way you walk and the list goes on.  In short, a real cobbler will help you extend the life and love of your shoes.

This is not a task to be trusted to the first place you come across with the words "shoe repair" thrown into some part of their service description.

In my personal experience, the older the person the better... and if you find someone who has an "apprentice", even better. You know he's taking this seriously.

If you're in the GTA and would like a reference to such a rare creature, just let me know :)

The Boot in the City

Okay, I didn't get this boot just because I didn't have a brown boot, though that's reason enough as this is a gorgeous brown! 

The Boot:
This is Vallera by Blondo.  Made with waterproof leather, after the initial leather protecting treatment, all you have to do is just wipe the winter salt off with a damp cloth and they're good to go. The full length inside zipper with the back elastic insert will make sure it's a comfortable fit as well.

What I like:
This is my favourite style for the city boot. With it's refined, classic equestrian look it'll be in style for years to come - decades even.

They have the clean, beautiful lines which made the equestrian boot the classic that it is and which makes this a must have for every closet.

It is very comfortable and fits true to size.

What I don't like:

It can be a little difficult to get on; the back of the heel is quite rigid with not a lot of give, so when you're slipping your foot in you have to give it a good tug. However, once you have it on, it forms perfectly around your foot for an absolutely comfortable fit.

As always, you get what you pay for, but in this case, you're getting quite a lot more. It averages around $235... which is a great price for a boot you'll wear for years.

The City Boot

The City Boot, also known as a Riding Boot... or equestrian boot.


The Boot:
Knee high, with a full length inside zipper; stacked, block 1.5 inch heel; textured tread ...and fantastically comfortable, this is the perfect city boot!

What I like:
The well placed - but minimal - straps and hardware add a sleek polish to the leather upper. Speaking of which, I adore the lion embossed buckle!  Rrrr! Eh hmm...

What I don't like:
The boot itself... nothing. I love it!  It's a little pricier than some other boots but if you like quality, then it's worth the possibility of living on tomato sandwiches for a while.

$275

(I've found it online for anything ranging from $150-$250 but as always, I strongly recommend you try any shoe or boot on before committing to it. So if you must deprive yourself of the shoe shopping experience, make sure the site you order from has a decent return policy.)  

Shoe Review: Expo-BB by Diesel

This canvas slip-on flat is very comfortable, casual but the decorative stitching and lace-up bow give it enough detail to keep it pretty enough to go with a sun dress.  

Why orange shoes? Why not?   

It comes in a variety of colours including neutral grey or linen, but also in pink, blue and orange. I didn't have any orange shoes yet.

Red Shoe, Flat Shoe

By now both the ballet flat and the red shoe are well established must haves in every woman's closet. Naturally, a red flat is a must have.

The red shoe in general adds a pop of colour, an element of style, a bit of daring, a hint of sexy... it's red, it can do all that.

The ballet flat is comfort in a modern, trendy way. You're at ease with yourself, you're confident in your outfit. But today, you're not wearing just any pair of flats....you stand out in the sea of feet dressed in their neutral colours, chosen specifically to blend in. You are confident, stylish and daring... and that's sexy no matter who's looking.

BARRE, by Capezio

Shoe Review: Naturalizer, Danya

The Naturalizer Danya open toe strappy sandal is stylish, comfortable and sturdy enough for a night of dancing.  

My only complaint is the Velcro closure used on the heel strap.  This was poorly thought out since the “hook” side is on the bottom, meaning that it will hook into the fabric if you’re wearing pants, a long summer dress or skirt.  It will and it does and by the end of the previously mentioned night of dancing, you will have worn in area on said pant, dress or skirt hem.

Faux leather, non-slip out sole, 3 inch heel.  $80.

Shoe Review: Nine West, BookNow

I love little details on a shoe that add that extra little touch of fun, flair, elegance, or just that hint of something different... like the lace-up on the back of this shoe.

Honestly, I'm not sure what caught my eye first, the lace-up accent or the scalloped sides and high top-line (also called the vamp). And eye catching it is, creating a sophisticated profile for your foot.

It is such a beautiful classic look and will go perfectly with pretty much any outfit, but particularly your little dress, black or any other colour.  They dress up a pair of skinny jeans (just please, make sure that you should actually be wearing skinny jeans, because let's face it, a great pair of shoes will not redeem your fashion "Don't" if, like me, your body was not meant to be dressed in skinny jeans... face that reality, buy other great jeans and move on to buying beautiful shoes instead.)  ... where was I...?  right, great with jeans. 

Anyway. They are amazingly comfortable; soft suede, medium+ heel. Comes in standard black and a stunning look-at-me red.  $125.

Arturo Chiang: Noemy

The tireless black pump. I was looking for a pair with a medium height heel and that is not as easy a task as you might think.

The lightly padded insole and round toe make this shoe very comfortable. The heel is covered and at only 3 inches is easy to walk in.

It comes in black, nude and a stunning dark red.

The right shoe of the first pair I tried on was rather painful across the top of my foot, so I tried on a different pair and was delighted to find that this pair was exactly as comfortable as they're pretty. 

At a very reasonable $110.00 (lower on some websites), these shoes are a must for your closet. 

5 Essential Shoes of a Man: The Rugged Boot

As I mentioned in Essential Shoes of a Man, The Dressy Brown, after a few comments pointing out the lack of content about men's shoes, Julian from Jack of All Travels, has graciously agreed to guest write a few posts about men's shoes.

Here is the fourth in his five part series.

Part 4 of 5 Essential Shoes of a Man: The Rugged Boot

If you look at the shoes in parts 1-3 of the series, I have chosen shoes that embody the essential things a man should be: classy (The Dressy Brown), relaxed (The Laid Back Slip-on), and athletic (The Sporty Runner). This week is no exception. A man should be - big surprise - manly. As the 4th Essential Shoe of a Man, you should own a pair of Rugged Boots. If you don't have 'em, get yourself a pair of brown, leather boots. Here's why:

Rugged boots get you through messy situations (snow, rain, mud, etc.). They're relatively low maintenance; leather is easy to clean and condition these days. They will last you nearly forever (10+ years if you take a little care of them, 5-7 years otherwise). They support your feet and ankles for heavy loads (long days of work, hiking with a pack, shoveling snow). And, depending on what you choose, they look good.

The styles of rugged boots are too numerous to go into much detail here; you've got Timberlands, hiking boots, cowboy boots, steal toe work boots, Euro-style boots, and hunting boots. Personally, I like having a pair of good-looking hiking boots around. If you change the laces to something subtle, they do very well pretending to be all of the boot styles and are the most comfortable of all the Rugged Boots out there.

Be prepared to drop some dough on a good pair of boots, leather isn't cheap, and you're buying something that lasts you 10 years (Asolo TPS 520 shown, $289). It's a lot of money, but it's a good investment and essential for your manhood.

Thanks for reading part 4, the Rugged Boot, of the 5 Essential Shoes of a Man. Check back soon for the finale of the series: The Casual Nike.

The Trend: Glitter and Caps

When it comes to fashion and trends, I've traditionally been a little bit late on figuring out what is going on.

In case you're like me, I can't help you with the fashion trends in clothes... or jewelry... or hair. But luckily, we're talking about shoes!

The two prominent trends I've noticed: glitter and cap toes.

So, whether I like it or not, it seems that glitter is here to stay for while. Therefore it's worth looking around at who does it the best because honestly, those first shoes at Nine West were just atrocious! While I'm still not a big fan, Nine West made a significant improvement with Sheryl ($135). The glitter is all over the place, from the already mentioned NW to Jimmy Choo. My advice, pick a classic design for the shoe and go with a very fine glitter in either silver or gold so that it will not be completely dated by next fall.

Nine West

Jimmy Choo, Abel

Next, toe caps.  I quite like this look. It's not new but let's face it, very few things in fashion are. However, the way it's being done this time around, mixing it with many other current trends, is resulting in some really beautiful shoes!  One trend right now seems to be metal and other shiny material (seriously, who can resist shiny?!) Again, Nine West has a nice example with the Baroque ($125).  And this trend is also seen across the board; I really like these beautiful twotone pumps by Narciso Rodriguez.

Nine West

Narciso Rodriguez

And just to completely solidify these two trends, let's combine them into one shoe!

Giuseppe Zanotti

Christian Louboutan, Maggie

Shoe Review: Boutique9, Geniffer

Warning: These sandals are not for the faint of heart... or, feet.

This is Geniffer by Boutique9. The heel is high, the platform is high. If you're not used to walking in heels, you may want to do a bit of practice before heading out in these! But, once you have your stride down, damn! They're nice!

Key features I've mentioned the past that give comfort to a sandal are present here: wide straps eliminate pressure points around the ankles and heels and the insole is continous with no break at the toe (one of my pet peeves about sandals!) making this sandal surprising comfortable.

The raffia wrapped heel is 5 inches and the stacked platform is 1 inch. 

Currently on sale for anywhere between $85-$100... we still have enough summer left, go ahead!

Now, I'm going to go practice to be ready to hit the dance floor in them this weekend...

5 Essential Shoes of a Man: The Sporty Runner

As I mentioned in Essential Shoes of a Man, The Dressy Brown, after a few comments pointing out the lack of content about men's shoes, Julian from Jack of All Travels, has graciously agreed to guest write a few posts about men's shoes.

Here is the third in his five part series.

Part 3 of 5 Essential Shoes of a Man: The Sporty Runner

Welcome back to Part 3 of the 5 part series "5 Essential Shoes of a Man."  If you read part 2, you should be enjoying summer to the fulest, rrelaxing in your Laid Back Slip-ons.  But now, it's time to switch gears and get active and outside in your Sporty Runners, the 3rd Essential Shoe.

Sporty Runners are on the list of essential shoes for one reason: as a man, you should be active. You'll catch more eyes playing soccer at a local park than you will sipping drinks at the local pub. And you'll catch more eyes at the pub if you're fit from playing soccer or running. Right? 

Sporty Runner are lightweight shoes, generally with a mesh upper and a dual-density foam sole made for - you guessed it - running.  They are designed to keep your motion free and uninhibited while allowing airflow to wick away your sweat, keeping your feet cool in hot situations.  Running, hiking, backyard soccer, football, Frisbee, - mowing the lawn, they're perfect for almost all summery outdoor situations.

Pick your brand, there are plenty; just get a good pair that fits your feet and gives them proper support.  A good pair of runners will usually cost you anywhere from $80 - $100 but they can go upwards of $150 (Brooks Launch shown, $90).  Concentrate on getting a pair that feels good on your feet.

Thanks for reading Part 3, the Sporty Runner.  Check back for the next post, the Rugged Boot.

Cute in a shoe. Baby shoe that is...

For the last month I have been consumed with nothing except my exams but now: Back to shoes!  Yesterday I wrote my last final exam of the school year, so today I rewarded myself... with shoes of course!

While I did manage to find shoes for myself (two pairs as a matter of fact!), my favourite purchase of the day? These incredibly cute and just beyond adorable baby shoes from Stuart Weitzman!  A friend of mine is having a baby girl and I've been invited to the baby shower.  Since there are plenty of family members to take care of the practical gifts like the onesies and receiving blankets, I could think of no better gift for me to give than a pair of designer shoes!

Now, from a practical "shoe review" aspect: they are faux suede with a soft fabric sole, heart and diamond shaped embellished collar and pretty lace bow.... but seriously, don't they just make you smile?!

Oh, and the fact that the tiny little baby toe box comes stuffed with a tiny little bit of tissue paper just makes me giggle :)

Summer Shoe Sales!

There really is never such a thing as a bad time to buy shoes, but still, this time of year is a great time to go splurge!  Why?  Well, mostly because there are shoes to be bought, but to stay on topic for this post, because there are fantastic sales happening everywhere on all the fabulous summer shoes and sandals... and! there is still plenty of patio weather left to wear them!!

With sales like Nine West's 70% off, you can justify buying just about anything, but I particularly like the Holleratme sandal because it looks like it will fit in very nicely with the fall shoe trend.... and for the sales price of only $39.99, it will very soon be the newest addition to my closet. (I of course still have to try it on so am crossing my toes it's comfortable....but I love the fringe, it's so pretty!!!)

5 Essential Shoes of a Man: The Laid Back Slip-on

As I mentioned in 5 Essential Shoes of a Man, The Dressy Brown, after a few comments pointing out the lack of content about men's shoes, Julian from Jack of All Travels, has graciously agreed to guest write a few posts about men's shoes.

Here is the second in his five part series. 

Part 2 of 5 Essential Shoes of a Man: The Laid Back Slip-on

Welcome back to Part 2 of the 5 part series "5 Essential Shoes of a Man." With Summer in full swing, I thought it most appropriate to talk about a summery shoe that every man should own, The Laid Back Slip-on.

So, what am I talking about here? Sperrys, Toms, loafers, Sanuks (Vagabond $60, pictured), lace-less Chuck Taylors or Vans.  You need a low cut shoe that can be worn without socks for your summertime fun. They are comfortable, stylish, and keep those ugly, un-MAN-icured feet out of sight while still keeping them cool.

Lack Back Slip-ons replace your geeky Chaco or Teva sandals, your Hollister thongs, and your Reef flip flops.  Have some self-respect and wear something that both looks good on your feet and is age appropriate this summer.  Save your Chaco's in the back of your closet for when you go rafting, throw out your Hollister's, and donate your Reef's to the 16 year old that probably sold them to you at the beach.  Sandals are for Surfers and Geeks.  So unless you are one with your calculator, stick to Laid Back Slip-ons; your self-respect will thank you later. I Promise.

Thanks again for reading; look out for Part 3, The Sporty Runner.

The Bay: better Expression required

This is a letter to The Bay.

I would like to start off by saying the I really like The Bay; as a matter of fact, I shop there almost exclusively for much of my wardrobe. I, like many good Canadian, am very patriotic and yes, I'm know chances are very good that 90% of the products were made in China and that its ownership may not be strictly Canadian.... but that's not the point.

When it comes to clothes, I love the selections, especially all the small boutique lines. The variety of shoe brands and designers is fabulous and usually ensures that my shoe man, Mohammed at my regular Bay store, always has something to show me when I stop by. So, how is it possible that The Bay's line of shoes, Expression, is so constantly and sadly disappointing?!

This isn't a one time blunder either. Every line has that at some point in time and that's understandable. However, I have yet to find a pair of Expression shoes that are both comfortable and well made. I had purchased this pair of shoes which are gorgeous; beautiful colour, sexy high heel... and exactly as uncomfortable as the cliche high heel that leaves a woman hobbling and asking her boyfriend for a piggyback lift home at the end of the night.  This summer, still determined to show my loyalty, I got a pair of wedge sandals which I thoroughly tested for comfort while in the store. They passed. I bought two pairs, one black and one light brown. But apparently I tested them too much. The third time I wore them the entire sole lifted off the wedge platform on the black pair and when I checked the brown, the same thing was starting to happen there.

So, to The Bay. You have over 300 years of history and clearly have access to amazing designers, so as a very loyal customer and avid shoe lover, I'd like to ask you to please take a close look at your shoes.  I understand that it's important to try to keep costs down but I truly believe that you can do better than your Expression line of shoes. 

Sincerely,

Shoe Personality.

Shoe Review: Langham, Aldo

This is the Langham sandal by Aldo, currently on sale for $25, so it really would have been more irresponsible to not get them...

What can I say... the leather straps are amazingly soft and pliable which means they don't irritate and you can wear them all day, plus it comes in all the fun colours of the season, and the flowers across the foot are a perfect accent for your summer pedi!

5 Essential Shoes of a Man: The Dressy Brown

A while back, and again recently, I received an email from a gentleman reader stating - in good humour, I hope - that my site was sexist since there was no mention of men's shoes.  To correct that, I am fortunate enough to have a very stylish guy friend willing to help me out! Julian from Jack of All Travels, has graciously agreed to guest write a few posts about men's shoes.

So, without further ado, here is the first in his five part series. 

5 Essential Shoes of a Man: The Dressy Brown.

If you think you are all that is man and don’t own all of the shoes in this 5 part series “5 Essential Shoes of a Man,” you better check for your Y-chromosome and Adam’s apple just to be sure. In this series, I give you 5 shoes every man should have in his closet and why you should have them. In part 1, we investigate The Dressy Brown.



The Dressy Brown. Your dad had them. Your grandpa had them. Your grandpa’s grandpa had them.  Do you really think you’re any better, any more suave, or any smarter than all of your ancestors?  Sure you’ve got the iPhone, sure you’ve got Google, sure you’ve got a liberal arts degree, but do you have the timeless style of a pair of brown leather oxford’s?



Plainly, the answer is "No," you are not any more suave or any smarter than your male lineage by skipping out on a pair of brown dress shoes, like these Haan’s Madison Air Cap-toe Oxford ($250). A brown dress shoe comes in handy for almost all occasions that don’t involve catching a football. Are you going to a business meeting wearing a casual business suit? Put on your Dressy Browns. Are you headed to a friend’s summer wedding wearing dressy khaki’s and a button down shirt? Put on your Dressy Browns. Are you headed to a nice bar in a pair of slim-fit dark jeans and a classy-but-casual jacket? Put on your Dressy Browns. A good pair of brown leather dress shoes will last you forever and keep you looking good for both formal and casual events. Just think, do you really want to be the schmuck at the bar ordering Jaeger Bombs in a ratty pair of old sneakers, or do you want to be the gentleman buying a gin and tonic in a pair of old-fashioned, but classy and stylish brown leather wingtips?

Thanks for reading; look out for Part 2, The Laid Back Slip-on, and remember: Dress them up; dress them down; just make sure you’ve got your Dressy Browns.

Shoe Review: Hembre, Aldo

Recently, while getting ready to go for a casual stroll along the harbourfront, I noticed my lack of nice sandals for when you're in the mood for a casual harbourfront-stroll, but not flip flops casual, though nothing with heels either... you know what I mean? 

Well, lucky for me, Aldos was having a sale and this sandal fit that mood just perfectly! 

This is Hembre; it's a comfortable sandal with a small heel and adjustable ankle strap. The colour, Ice, is a summery off white but it comes in all the bright colours of the season.

Shoe Review: Pick Me Up, Nine West

This shoe is absolutely stunning. It has good padding in the sole, the heel is a nice width, making it easy enough to walk in despite the height, and the colour! The colour is phenomenal! Overall, it's good.  

But...

First, it fits large. My normal size 8 was quite a bit too large and my heel was slipping out of the back of the shoe. To keep the shoe on I had to tighten the ankle strap as much as possible, which brings me to the second issue. 

The ankle strap is very thin; while this gives you a really nice profile (seriously, my ankles never looked slimmer!) considering how tightly I had to do it up to keep the shoe on, it became quite uncomfortable after only a few steps.

I tried going down a size and the shoe still fit... it was a little bit tighter in the toe box but if only for that I could still have worn it; unfortunately it did not solve the issue with my heel slipping out and I still had to do up the strap quite tightly.

The problem with having to rely on just the ankle strap to keep the shoe from slipping off is that the pressure of the strap digging into your ankle will become very painful after a while.

I'll be honest, I liked it enough that if I find it on sale I'll probably still get it even if it means only wearing it when I know I won't be doing a lot of walking :)

The heel is 4.5 inches with a 1 inch partially covered platform.

How Nude

Everyone woman needs to have at least one pair of nude shoes... ideally, you will have more than one (pumps, peep-toe, sandals...)

But before you go out and just buy the first pair of shoes with the colour description of "nude", take a moment to make sure that they are nude for you.  For example, I am very fair skinned (I say my skin is like fair alabaster, others might say I'm pasty white, but that's a matter of colour perception I think...)

Anyway....

Being fair skinned, a pair of shoes that are "nude" on my fabulously tanned friend will be more like a light brown for me; nude for me is the Biscotto below.  The nude shades have varying undertones such as yellow, beige/brown or pink.  So, using a current collection from Stuart Weitzman, here is a small sample of nude shoes but as always, the best way to get the ideal shoe for you is for you to go try on a bunch!

"Loire"  Color: Flesh Aniline

"Avignon"   Color: Adobe Aniline

"Caplitely"  Color: Biscotto Aniline

"Diplille"  Color: Moonglo Aniline

10 Shoes Every Woman Should Have

The right shoes can pull together an outfit and make everything you're wearing look stylish. On the other hand, the lack of this right shoe can make your otherwise well put together outfit look like it's missing something. So the question is which shoes do you absolutely need in order to take every outfit to the next level?

This is a list compiled from various very reliable fashion sources... but mostly my own opinion!  The exact shoes are my personal preferences but you should personalize to suite your own fashion style and personality.

1. Black Pump: This really should go without saying but I'll say it just in case someone doesn't know:  Every woman MUST have a pair of black pumps in her closet. Personally, I think she should have several...  The black pump is perfect for pretty much every outfit, everything from a wrap dress to meet his parents, with a suite at the office (skirt or pant suite), to jeans and dressy top for a night out with the girls.

Rocha, Nine West

2. Nude Pump/Peep-Toe: The nude shoe, whether a pump or peep-toe can add a nice touch of sophisticated class to any outfit and they are the ultimate leg lengthener. But, it is very important to have the right shade of nude to match your skin tone (typically they have yellow, pink or beige undertones so be sure to try on several to find your perfect shade). 

Tress3, Guess

3. Flat: Whether you get a ballet flat or a flat with a small built in heel or low support, it's the look of the flat that you're after here. Get at least one or two pairs of straight forward flats in a neutral colour with minimal embellishments to get the most versatility.  I like my Hush Puppies for every day; they're straight forward black, with a simple flower on top. My other favourites are my new Coach flats; in the warm pewter tone, they're neutral enough to go with anything but the embellishment on the top makes them more of an accessory to your outfit.  And who doesn't love accessories!

Lexi, Coach

Myleene, Hush Puppies

4. Evening Heels: This should be a classic, elegant shoe or sandal that will go with any outfit you have for an evening at the opera, date at a fancy restaurant or a formal wedding. 

Cody, Bagley Mischka

Dolce and Gabbana

5. Brown Leather Sandal: This is a necessity for summer. Perfect to wear with jeans, skirts and flowy summer dresses. There is no question about it, you simply need to have these. The only question is which exact style you like best. 

Shine on BL, Kenneth Cole

Aqqua, Steve Madden

6. Tall Black Boots: If you're only going to have one pair of black boots, than this is a great example of what that boot should be. Knee high, good heel height but not outrageously so, with a clean, sleek profile. You want to be able to wear it with a pencil skirt to the office and with a short skirt to the club.

Aggy, Nine West

7. Wedge: Another summer essential; adds height but allows for a day of strolling through Yorkville or the boardwalk along the beach. Go for the Espadrille style, like the Hugghins by Aldo, for a dressier look or a wider wedge like the Reiley for a more casual outfit.

Hugghins, Aldo

Reiley, Aldo

8. Tall City Boots (Riding Boots): There are so many ways to wear these boots, it's almost criminal not to have a pair in your wardrobe; wear them with a sweater/shirt dress with tights for a chic feminine look, over a pair of skinny jeans for a trendy fashionable style, or under boot-cut jeans for any look you feel like... seriously, these are essential, especially here with our long fall weather.

Catriona, Anne Klein

Chaminade, Miz Mooz

9. Canvas Sneakers: Comfy and chic. That's the short and sweet description and it's really quite accurate. They are comfortable and pair them with capris for a chic casual Friday, with shorts for a sporty day at the beach and a cute sundress for Sunday brunch.

Celeb Twill, Keds

10. The Statement Shoe: This is the shoe or sandal that makes you feel elegant, hot, sexy or super-what-ever-you-want-to-feel!  It should be a reflection of your personality, whether that be your inner vixen, sex goddess or quirky thespian. Whatever it is, it should be traffic-stopping!

Addyson, Coach

Doetzen3 Heels, Nine West Boutique 9

Stiletto Defined

Definition: (Noun) 

 1. A short dagger with a tapering blade, intended primarily as a stabbing weapon.

 2. A woman’s shoe with a thin, high tapering heel. A heel on a stiletto shoe. 

Origin: early 17th century: from Italian, diminutive of stilo: 'dagger'

With origins like that, is it any wonder that a stiletto is a painful shoe?!  So, what exactly qualifies as a stiletto?

A stiletto heel is a long, thin, high heel on shoes and boots usually intended for women.  Stiletto heels can range in height from 1 inch to10 inches (or more if it has a platform sole). The key distinction is of course the very thin diameter of less than 1 cm at the ground.  

Just because a heel is high does not merit the description stiletto. The original super thin Italian stiletto heels in the late 1950s and very early 1960s were no more than 5mm in diameter for much of their length, although the heel sometimes flared out a little at the top. 

So what happened? Mass production: The original stiletto heel has a stem of solid steel or alloy; and sadly, the generic method of mass-producing high heels using moulded plastic with an internal metal tube for reinforcement does not make for the best method of achieving the true stiletto shape.