Favorite Things Friday: the summer wedge

If you’ve hung around my virtual veranda for long, you realize I am a girl who adores a great shoe (and can’t seem to quit writing about them. I promise this is the last FTF shoe post for awhile.) I’m a girly sort. Food, flowers, fashion. Sporty, I am not. Nevertheless, I decided to be sporty on Sunday and it turned into a fashion fiasco. Or did it…..

I limped into the MD’s office on Monday in my cute black patent Tory Burch flats. I left with the Air Cast 3000 to secure my calf muscle which I had gracefully torn sprinting for a ball. The bad news, I’m in “the boot” for at least two to four weeks. The good news, the doctor took one look at my trendy no-heeled shoes and said,”You’ll need to wear a heel on your other foot to balance your gait. Do you have a higher shoe?” HA! Do I have a higher shoe? Apparently fashion prowess is not part of the medical record or he would know my collection of summer wedges is – to put in laboratory terms- “above normal limits”.

For moi, the summer wedge is the winter boot equivalent. It’s daytime. Its’ nighttime. Its casual. Its dressy. Although – I’ll be honest – The Angler finds them utterly ridiculous. Most men do. Except for the ones who matter most in the shoe world – you know Jimmy, Manolo, Christian, Marc and the original wedge designer Salvatore -as in Ferragamo.

Ferragamo designed the first platform wedge sandal for Judy Garland in 1938. His creation soon became all the rage throughout Europe during World War II and by the end of the war, women were standing nearly 5 inches taller than when the war began.

That vintage vibe and the soaring heights, no wonder I’m smitten for these beauties for Spring/ Summer 2010.  Join me on my virtual hobble through the internets…

My go-to wedges are in nude or metallic hues.  These make your legs look miles long

Nothing says summertime like a ladylike espadrille.  Love those ballet -esque ribbons to tie around the ankle

Of course, a little pop of color never hurts…

These are just incredibly yummy!

But then, again,  black and white has it’s own panache…

The tribal feel of these wedges would look great paired with natural linen and layers of wooden beads.

These little darlins make me want to plan a summertime soiree by the pool…

Orange you glad I didn’t forget  these Louboutins?  (sorry for my silly pun)

A new take on Missoni’s signature stripes, Dorothy would approve this rainbow.

Just think – these could have been the ruby slippers….

Bette Midler said, “Give the girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world”

For now,  I’m armed with ‘the boot” and  a cute wedge,  so world,  I can still take ya.

Have a fab ( and careful) weekend.  May it be filled with wedges of sunlight and a rainbow or two.

Cheers, Y’all!