If you’ve noticed, we’ve had a running theme on TalkShoes over the past couple of days: Versace and what is simultaneously so wrong and so right about its shoes. The brand’s love for lucite in particular tends to be a sticking point for some people, but really, there’s nothing inherently tacky about the material. In fact, I think it gets an entirely undeserved bad reputation when it comes to lucite as a shoe design element. After all, any material can look different when used by a skilled designer.

Don’t believe me? Take a gander at the Marni Leather and Wood Sandals. In between all the classic Marni-ness of this shoe lies a thin layer of thoroughly modern lucite, and to me, that little detail makes all the difference.

In an odd way, an argument could be made that Manri and Versace are actually pretty similar. Their aesthetics are just about as wildly divergent as they come, but both companies stick to one aesthetic so slavishly that they tend to inspire either great adoration or complete befuddlement, depending on the consumer. Marni and Versace are alike in that they have very little middle ground, which can be great or terrible, depending on your view of the company.

I happen to be a huge Marni fan, and the fact that creative director Consuelo Castiglioni thinks to insert a thoroughly modern element like lucite into a wood-and-leather sandal is what makes me love the brand so much. No only that, but check out that carved wooden heel – it’s like a piece of Danish Modern furniture, but for your feet. It doesn’t get much cooler than that. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $990.