One of our friends (and a reader!) asked for our opinion of what we think is the perfect black pump. There are many different kinds of black pumps, round-toe or pointy toe, staggeringly tall or manageable. We'll go through our personal favorites.
Disclaimer: We should start by saying we are shoe addicts. Years ago, we only dreamed of scoring a high-end designer pump on sale at Saks on the morning after Christmas. (In fact, one year Lisa DID score the classic Campari Manolo Blanik mary-jane pumps; we have the same shoe size, so it took a lot for me not to rip them out of her hands.) In more recent years, we've splurged a little more on wardrobe 'staples'; once we find something we LOVE, it might just be worth the designer price tag.
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| Image from nordstrom.com. |
Plain, simple, really comfortable. I knew I wanted a pointy-toe, black leather pump with a 3 1/2" heel. Over the course of a year, I tried on many pairs at lower price-points but kept coming back to these. I know I will have them (and wear them) forever and they will never go out of style. (And just FYI, my foot is wide in the front with a narrow heel - tough to find perfect-fitting shoes that won't squeeze my toes or, conversely, slip off my heel.)
But that price-point is more painful than a pair of bad stilettos to say the least. There are other options out there. Lisa fell in love with this pointed-toe pair Valentina pumps by J. Crew last spring. She bought them in red and swears they are completely comfortable. This winter, they are carrying them in a black patent (which works well for inclement weather). With a 2 3/4" heel, they are a GREAT height that should keep your toes happy through holiday cocktail parties.
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| Image from jcrew.com. |
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| Image from piperlime.com. |
A few years ago, I went on a shopping mission for a friend who needed a dress pronto. I purchased 10 dresses, a couple of jackets, and these pumps, after I learned that she had no classic pumps. She kept 2 (or was it 3?) dresses, a jacket and a cardigan as well as these Calvin Klein simple, classic pumps, which have a 3" heel. She said they were really comfortable and, at $69, the price is definitely right. They must be a great seller since they are still on the market and now come in a whopping 22 colors on Zappos!
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| Image from zappos.com. |
Finally, let's take a page from Kate Middleton's book and look at the L.K. Bennett 'Sledge' Pump. The Duchess of Cambridge wears these day-in-and-day-out, which says something about the comfort and wearability of them. While the heel is 4", the 1/2" platform brings you down to 3 1/2". I have a pair of L.K. Bennett pumps from about 6 years ago that I still love and wear. The shoes run narrow, so if you have a narrow foot, this might be a great choice for you.
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| Image from nordstrom.com. |
Those are our favorites. Hope you find a pair you like! ~ JH
