Mr. Van Noten's easy pieces were proof that smooth polished hair, plain sunglasses drawing a geometric line across the face and suede shoes with a sturdy, square heel do not have to suggest a matronly or — heaven forbid!
"They are blue snakeskin pumps with a shiny, square heel in red and yellow, just 2in high, that look like blocks of the extra-chunky Lego they make for toddlers.
Platform, wedge and square heel styles are the most practical for regular use.
Cubism, with all its graphic possibilities, brought solid square heels and blocks of color.
In the Balenciaga resort collection, which will start arriving in stores in November, designer Nicolas Ghesquière introduced the Cube shoes: patent leather loafers and mules with rounded toes, ripples across the top of the foot and very chunky, square heels.
The shoes with their blocky square heels and laces were just awkward enough, a sleeveless tailored jacket was sharp while two double-breasted trouser suits in pale yellow and blue, worn with white bra tops, offered something mannish.
After their brief introduction, she remembered thinking, "What do I want with a guy who's in from France for 72 hours?" He found her to be elegant, but, he said, "She had the ugliest shoes I had ever seen — huge square heels, like a poor crippled kid in 'Oliver Twist.' " In October 2009, Mr. Werthenschlag came to New York for a longer stay, and to mend.
Wear oval-shaped or square-toed heels if you have large feet.
By law in Carmel, Calif., any woman who wishes to traipse through the streets rocking shoes over two inches high with less than one square inch of heel surface area must pick up a permit from City Hall.
The Dublin Castle crowds saved their greatest roars of approval for Panti Bliss, Ireland's most famous drag queen, who strode gingerly into the castle's central square in high heels and a body-hugging floral dress to conduct a joint live interview on Irish TV beside Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald and Sinn Fein party chief Gerry Adams.
The feet might be in pumps with a square block of a heel and a ball as decoration.
