If you’ve been a fashion fan for any significant period of time, you know that the times in which clothes, bags and shoes are released usually have nothing to do with what’s going on outside or what you might actually need to buy for the season. Despite the fact that it’s early July, we’ve been featuring a lot of boots and other closed-toe shoes in these parts recently, mostly because those are the new, cool things at most online retailers. We want to be timely, so we cover stuff as close to when it hits the internet as possible.

Except, uh, no one in the Northern Hemisphere is buying boots right now. Duh, we forgot. If you’d like to talk about some shoes that you might be able to wear right now and for several months ahead, may I suggest the Diane Von Furstenberg Opal Wedges?

Every time I see these shoes, I’m struck by them. The design is deceptively simple – it looks like a regular wedge, but the finishing of the multitiered wood heel and the ultra sleek leather straps elevate it far above most of the competition. This is a statement shoe that walks softly and carries a big stick instead of seeking out attention at every turn, which makes it far more relevant to the average shopper and far more versatile for the average wardrobe. Don’t get me wrong, though – this pair is anything but average. Buy through ShopBop for $295.