The Pursuit of Strappiness

Prabal Gurung for Target
$39.99

    It's undeniable: Women love shoes. "Why?," you ask.  They go with everything, last for years and never require a diet to fit in to.  They also put you in an instantly sexy mood- especially ankle strap heels.  Now, I admit that my obsession is not typical.  I have dropped a full paycheck on a single pair countless times and in the debate of taking a tropical vacation versus buying a new pair of Louboutins, I always choose the shoes! But I guarantee these shoe looks will have even those who don't get what all the fuss is about asking, "Where did you get those shoes?"

      March 20th marked the first day of Spring and while I'm sure you’ve already begun incorporating this season’s best trends into your style, it’s now officially time to make the transition into a new warm weather wardrobe. From the runway to the red carpet, ultra sexy and chic strappy heels are showing up everywhere for Spring.  Get leggy with a head turning pair (or eight!) in a single strap style for your next outing.

       Although ankle strap footwear comes in a variety of fashions, from chunky pumps to pointy toe kitten heels, my favorite style for Spring features a thick single strap over open toes. The best part about these chic lifts, which are both sexy and feminine, is that the fastener around your ankle helps elongate them.  In fact, the thicker the strap, the slimmer your ankle looks!

     Before you decide that these shoes aren't for you, first try on a couple of different styles for size. There are cross-strap and single strap ones. They come in all heights from stiletto heels to wedges. If you're not a fan of the bold colors trending right now, try a nude pair.  Regardless of which ankle strap style you pick, these shoes look great when worn with cropped, ankle-length pants.  A crisp pair of white ones will really put the focus on your shoes' details.  While wearing them under long pants is always an option, dresses can get an instant update with an ankle-strap shoe.

Take a look at these strap happy heels for inspiration in every price range.

Pierre Hardy
$765

Giuseppe Zanotti
$1350



Tibi
$365

 

Valentino
$995



Jessica Simpson
$89



Gucci
$685



Coach
$248

 

Gucci
$695



Givenchy

$850



Jessica Simpson
$79