Pumps are one of fall's biggest shoe trends

High-heeled shoes are a lot like mango ice cream.

How, you ask? Has the writer taken too many dips into the frozen-food case?

Think about it. You either love or you hate mango ice cream. Most women, some with more zeal than others, either love or hate wearing high heels. But since the court of Louis XIV -- maybe even dating to Neanderthal women trying to gain dominance over their chest-thumping mates -- heels are here to stay.

As with any other fashion element, the size, shape and height of heels change, sometimes dramatically, from year to year. What should women expect in heel trends for this fall?

"Fall 2011 sees the return of the PUMP!" says Ken Downing, senior vice president and national fashion director for Neiman Marcus stores. His emphasis is clear due to the capped lettered words in his email. "Sexy stilettos, kitten heels, chunky heels with a '70s influence, peep toes, closed toes, on a platform, or a single sole, the PUMP is the shoe of the moment and addresses the 'lady chic' message that many designers embraced."

Style, personal taste and need all help in the buying decision, he says, but elegance is a timeless trend. "Classic elegance defines the return to a single-sole pump, often with a mid or kitten heel," says Downing.

"I think that heel shapes and heights are really all over the place right now," says Amy Puchowicz, owner of the popular and stylish Amy's Shoes in the Old River shopping district in Rocky River and Eton Chagrin Boulevard in Woodmere. "There is not one dominant style. Kitten heels have definitely made a comeback this spring, especially in a sling back. I saw a little bit of the kitten heel again for this fall, but I just got back from my buying trip for spring/summer 2012, and I only saw a few."

French heels are popular because "a midheel is sometimes hard to find in a fashion-forward shoe," said Puchowicz. "The curved-in heel gives interesting detail."

Sometimes, the deciding factor in the size and shape of heels comes down to a very basic personal decision. "I have discovered that everyone is different," said Puchowicz. "Give me 20 ladies, all the same size, and let them try on the same shoe, and they all will have different feedback."

When it comes to heel styles, French heels may have a higher comfort level for some women. "I would say that many people find a heel with more substance more comfortable because they feel more stable," says Puchowicz. "Also, a midheel can definitely be considered more comfortable because there is less pitch. A curved heel can also position you (and your back) a little differently, which might feel better for some because the heel is sitting a little underneath."

In addition to comfort, kitten-style heels work well with many of today's fashions. "Kitten heels can be worn especially well with pencil skirts, skinny pants and jeans," says Sherri Knuth Bryan, co-owner of Knuth's shoes, fashion and accessories stores in Pepper Pike and Westlake. "They offer a sexy silhouette, but a manageable heel height. All ages can wear them. They are classy and classic."

That said, "They are not always best for general fall wearing because they are trim and delicate," says Bryan. "I do not see French/Louis heels as a strong trend. Fall is full of heels of all shapes and sizes. The biggest trend I see is the wedge heel, which can be low, mid or high, and also prevalent on a platform."

The wedge heel, says Bryan, is "comfortable because of the support of the wedge and can look trendy and contemporary."

"The wedge continues to be an important fashion heel," agrees Downing of Neiman Marcus. "On shoes and boots, the wedge is chic and very of the moment."

Color-wise, the trendiest colors in shoes will be black, white, stone, metallic, beige, burgundy, dark blue, chocolate, deep violet, khaki and red, according to FashionTrend.me. Top materials are leather, patent, faux reptile, suede and satin.

"Today's footwear designers consider comfort as well as design," says Downing. "Beauty and comfort can co-exist in today's fashion footwear."

So what should be the overriding "Buy it!" factor for fall shoe shoppers?

"An individual's style, personal height, need and desire all dictate the style of shoe she embraces," says Downing. Pick the height and style of heel, he says, in which you feel most comfortable and beautiful.

Now that is fashion forward.