Living Life on the Wedge…with WinkNYC!

Check out Blueprint for Style’s guest blog for Wink NYC (below) – a beloved, haute and stylish haunt for New York’s most fashionable!

I cannot hide my love for high heels!  I wear them on Saturday errands, to business meetings, to lunch dates, to sip n’ chats, through the airports (in spite of the advice I give which is to travel in flats) – I wear them with short skirts, business suits, jeans, long dresses, shorts, and vacation outfits.  I’m addicted and everyone wants to know why and how!  There’s a little piece of me that believes the ultimate measure of a woman’s womanliness can only be seen in high heels, so the advent of wedge heels has done much to even the playing field for my friends that teeter in stilettos and my clients that complain about the general discomfort.

And the winner is the wedge!  Woman have found a whole new purpose and meaning by living life on the wedge.  Designers are creating wedge heels that run the gamet from raffia to leather to lace; heels that are slim and ladylike to more meaty soles that can work all day long; and styles that can go from weekend errand running to red carpet ready.  With such endless choices, Blueprint for Style wants to provide a tad bit of guidance to make the right selection because, after all, one is never enough (so maybe two or three)!

1. Darker automatically looks heavier (especially in warmer weather), so opt for as little fabric and coverage as possible to keep it looking light and airy
2. A pointy toe will make your wedge look dressier even if it’s an open-toe shoe, so your work wedge should have a pointer toe to make it more business appropriate
3. Nix the platform and keep your heel narrow to make it dressier
4. Remember that a wedge heel can be bulky and sometimes heavy, so thicker straps or ankle straps will create the appearance of more weight!
5. Fabric matters: raffias are more casual; leather looks hot and can make your feet sweat; lace and cutouts are very feminine; fabrics are versatile depending on their color
6. If you’re like me and all about versatility, go for a wedge that has some coverage, neutral color, narrower heel, and made of fabric.  Why? Because you can wear it right into fall!

Let me share my top picks for warm weather:

1. Everyday Casual: this Rebecca Minkoff wedge has a cork sole that combined with the leather make it a sturdy winner as you travel to ‘n fro handling your stylish business.
2. Weekend Womanly Wedge: The weekends are made for relaxing so, a wedge that allows your foot to breathe and gives you enough support to be a weekend warrior is ideal. This second Jean-Michel Cazabat wedge is elegant but the espadrille lets ‘em know you’re keeping it casual. If you want to shoot for the stars or just gain a few extra inches, the Sam Edelman wedge with wood heel will get you there while keeping you fully supported with a buckle closure.
3. My favorite: Surface to Air has given me a little slice of perfection with this beige leather and canvas lace-up wedge!  I’m a camel girl so the color will go with anything; the lace up detail gives it that slight menswear edge that makes it work with pants; the narrower heel lets me feel feminine but lends enough support; and there’s just the right amount of coverage to wear with my short summer dresses all the way into early fall!

No need to live life on the edge when you have these wedges.  Go forth and walk confidently!