Emilio Pucci 794934 Prune Suede Pump

When the weather gets cold, you know what I love wearing? Wraps. I don’t mean like the old fashioned, 1950s style thick wool or fur wraps. Not that I’d wear fur anyway. I mean, come on. We’re not cavepeople anymore. There are plenty of alternatives nowadays so we don’t have to wear fur. And yeah, I know, I do wear leather, but I really don’t think it’s the same thing. I eat meat, too. Mmm…steak. So let’s not get into a philosophical debate here about the ethics of fur, leather, and meatatarianism, ‘kay? Let’s stick to the fashion. So—wraps. I’m talking about lightweight wool or synthetic wraps for colder days, and even lighter weight, colorful pashmina or similar wraps for days when it’s not so cold. Coats are nice, and can be a great part of an ensemble, but they can also cover up a fabulous outfit. If you want to show off your wardrobe, and even complement it, a lightweight wrap can be the way to go. So why am I talking about wraps when there’s a big photo of a shoe over there? Because even shoes can be adorned with gorgeous, colorful wraps, and that’s exactly what I love about this Emilio Pucci suede pump.

The actual name of the shoe is Emilio Pucci 794934, but whatever. They also call this color prune, but I think that’s off as well. Prune has more brown in it, not to mention it brings to mind unpleasant after effects. I’d rather not associate that image with such fabulous shoes. So let’s just call them purple, whaddaya say? The upper is made from one hundred percent suede, which you know I love for fall. Am I overdoing it with the suede on the blog? I don’t even care. I love it, and you can’t wear it in spring or summer. Well, you can, but it just doesn’t seem like a spring or summer material. Just like carrying a straw handbag in the winter would be weird. Wear white after Labor Day all you want, but let’s stick to the seasonal materials. Anyway, aside from the beautiful purple suede, what caught my eye about this shoe is that the vamp is wrapped in Pucci’s signature patterned satin in gorgeous shades of violet, lavender, peach, pink, black and white. I might not normally pair anything peach with something purple, but it works here. The satin wrap is knotted into an off-center, one-sided bow, and hides the one-inch platform. The 4.5-inch heel is covered in the same soft suede as the upper, while the sole is leather, perfect for mild scuffing. They’re made in Italy, naturally, so you know they’re fabulous. And if that doesn’t tell you how fabulous they are, the price will—they go for $625 at Piperlime.com.

Budget Saving Alternative 1

You don’t have to forgo the holiday gift-giving to afford this great wrapped platform pump look. The Boutique 9 Gia2 pump is slightly plainer with its solid color upper, and wrap in contrasting black, but it’s still a gorgeous shoe. Rather than suede, the upper is made from satin, from the one-inch platform all the way back to the 4.5-inch heel. I love it in this fuchsia. I’ve always like the combination of deep, bright pink with black. But it also comes in a muted gold with black wrap, and a total black option as well. The wrap is knotted into a more traditional bow that lays flat. The sole is leather, so you won’t have to worry about slipping on the dance floor once it’s worn a bit. These babies will go great with a pair of skinny black slacks, or a cocktail dress. Try them out for just $159.95 at Endless.com.

Budget Saving Alternative 2

To save a bit more, GUESS comes through with the Chief3 Peep Toe Platform Pump. At first, it looks like the upper is covered with lace, which would just be icky. But upon closer inspection, you can see it’s actually shiny black-threaded embroidery over a cream colored satin upper. The 4.25-inch heel and one-inch platform are finished in black patent leather, as is the wrap over the vamp, which is also knotted into an off-center, one-sided bow like the Pucci. The black patent accents paired with the embroidered details make this a gorgeous option for a night out on the town. The sole is rubber with a sueded synthetic panel for immediate sure footing. Get it for $109.95 at Endless.com.