Considering that my boyfriend makes them, I don’t really worry about handbags. And considering my dry-cleaning delinquency, whenever I drop a significant chunk of change on clothing, it usually ends up backfiring (with the notable exception of pants custom made by Adam Arnold. Those just get better and better, and I wear them so constantly—right now in fact—that they more than pay for themselves.). But shoes, SHOES! My whole life I’ve been obsessed. The higher, the crazier, the better. Discomfort is no concern. I’ll resole my favorites for as many years as possible. And according to this article, the rest of the world is coming around, ending the reign of “it bags” and ushering in a new era of it shoes. Like I needed an excuse. Here’s a sampling of some of this season’s best. (And yes, they’re expensive, and no, I don’t care.)

Shoes are considerably more adept at sorting the sheep from the goats. They are less likely to be displayed on a restaurant table, and are more demanding in terms of maintenance. Not only does their practical purpose mean one needs to buy more of them (eight pairs a year, according to recent figures), but the right footwear can also conspire to make the wearer appear taller, slimmer and fetchingly ball-breaking.

(Prada, with built-in spats!)

(Chloé)

(Alexander McQueen)

(Valentino)

(Lanvin)

(Miu Miu)

(Balenciaga)