ARTICLE SERVICES            Reprint this article     Print this article       Send as an e-mail     Send Feedback       Comment on this article on our Vox Populi blog     RELATED STORIES   How you can own pre-owned bags ‘There is little creativity and too much business’–Valentino Asia gets cozy with luxury shopping GALLERY 1 Next   Zoom    ARCHITECTURAL heels by Miu Miu Missing Michael By Ruel S. De Vera, Associate Editor Sunday Inquirer Magazine LIKE a twist in one of his books, news of Michael Crichton’s demise arrived as a shock. No one knew the a ...More Jewelry sales light up dim financescape Free will Women resell designer bags for fast buck ‘Plate it’ for women’s health Shoes have replaced bags as ‘It’ item Showrooms at LRI Plebeian shopping at its best Building walls and walks Gaupo brings back the waist Charms for the good life More Stories » Showbiz and Style Gastronomic treats from the north More on the ‘Twilight’ movie Math innovations Women resell designer bags for fast buck Music in war Plebeian shopping at its best Shoes have replaced bags as ‘It’ item Beat water-retention weight gain Fixing a broken heart Bored wife has cyber-BF Showbiz and Style ABS-CBN: Diether still in Star Magic More on the ‘Twilight’ movie 'Twilight' poised for box-office killing Madonna and Ritchie granted divorce High marks for Regine’s ‘Low Key’ Ridiculous game shows Karylle vs Marian Fixing a broken heart Miriam Quiambao steals the show Marvs writes from Paris From screenwriter to director Staying home   Showbiz and Style Most Read RSS Hottest Tags Fashion Lifestyle & Leisure WHAT'S THIS?                 More >>

MANILA, Philippines—Early this summer, Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow made a series of public appearances to promote her film, “Iron Man,” in sexy, ultra-short mini dresses.

What grabbed fashion mongers’ attention more, however, were her choice of gravity-defying, kinky footwear—a different style each day, each provocative as the last: Alexander McQueen, Givenchy, Christian Louboutin and Dior.

There couldn’t have been a clearer indication show-stopping footwear would take away the spotlight from the handbag, the accessory du jour of seasons past. (Bagaholics wouldn’t agree, of course.)

Gladiator sandals, which reigned all summer via knee-high, two-tone styles popularized by Nicolas Ghesquiere for Balenciaga, have modified versions for the new season—with stacked heels, for instance, or T-bar straps.

A woman can never be too tall, so that most design houses sent out platform footwear—with exposed or hidden plateaus—in the most show-stopping designs.

Some houses, like Prada (and its Miu Miu bridge line), focused on giving the classic pumps with an interesting twist at the heels. Other designers also gave their heel styles double-take-worthy looks.

• How you can own pre-owned bags
• ‘There is little creativity and too much business’–Valentino
• Asia gets cozy with luxury shopping

• Jewelry sales light up dim financescape
• Free will
• Women resell designer bags for fast buck
• ‘Plate it’ for women’s health
• Shoes have replaced bags as ‘It’ item
• Showrooms at LRI
• Plebeian shopping at its best
• Building walls and walks
• Gaupo brings back the waist
• Charms for the good life
• High-noon high fashion
• Amazing lace
• Must-visit haven for the holidays
• Practical gift suggestions
• Pick of the week
• Beat water-retention weight gain
• More picks of the week
• On men, street games and ‘Kulasa’
• Hairstyle that suits your face shape
• Sweet, hip gifts and the perfect pasta
• Culture tour of Macau
• Not so friendly to differently-abled
• Wellness not only proper diet, exercise
• Lecture on karma at 33,000 feet
• Art of the scenographer
• Here’s my early feng-shui take on 2009
• Pink Sisters hold Eucharistic Congress
• Bored wife has cyber-BF
• Food and wine galore at 'Harvest Moon'
• Jupiter trial hits home with a bang
• Artists’ haven
• Dangers of high technology
• Ballet Philippines gala
• Awestruck at Kathmandu
• How to make leaf imprints
• I’ll always be the poor boy from Borongan who social-climbs
• Pesticides harm babies
• The secret of a classic
• Influencing behavior through the art of feng shui

• Street Smart :  Showrooms at LRI / Mandy Navasero
• Lotus Pond - Bismark :  Free will / S. Bismark
• Discovery :  Building walls and walks / Massie Santos Ballon
• Medical Files :  ‘Plate it’ for women’s health / Rafael Castillo, MD
• Without Batting An Eyelash :  On men, street games and ‘Kulasa’ / Maurice Arcache
• Makeover 911 :  Beat water-retention weight gain / Kinny Salas
• Knockout! :  Practical gift suggestions / Ria Francisco-Prieto