As I mentioned today over at PurseBlog, the task of reviewing Dior Fall 2011 seems rather precarious, in light of the house’s recent turmoil and John Galliano’s very public and very offensive meltdown. But shoe lovers know that a brand’s footwear and accessories are often largely the product of a group of people who toil in obscurity (and for far more modest remuneration than the Gallianos of the world, it must be mentioned), and their work for fall deserves the same eye that we would have given it if the whole Dior debacle hadn’t happened.

And in this case, the results are almost uniformly positive. Dior’s footwear designers decided to spur the trend toward thicker heels and lower platforms to create a collection full of utterly luxurious, crocodile-trimmed over-the-knee boots and pale platform sandals befitting a very chic bride. The lace-up booties that fell somewhere in the middle will probably be the collection’s most successful retail category, but I preferred the offerings at either end of the spectrum.

Photos via Vogue.com.