I have the feeling that the Pierre Hardy Leather and Suede Wedge Boots are going to be a bit controversial, but I absolutely adore them. They’re sporty, they’re sleek, they’re modern; these boots are like a forward-thinking version of the currently omnipresent sneaker wedges, except they look like they’re designed for someone whose personal style is more sophisticated than trendy. They make a reference to athletic design without putting an actual wedge in an actual sneaker. When you learn how to be a creative writer, teachers always tell you to “show, don’t tell.” That’s what these shoes do.

It can be genuinely difficult to make a non-literal reference telegraph to a casual observer, but I noticed the athletic undertones of this design immediately. How the colors are combined and structured gives you the familiarity of a pair of old school Nikes without stooping to stealing the old-school Nike look.

I realize, though, that this kind of thing is not something everyone wants. Lots of consumers want a grown-up, slightly more ladylike version of the awesome sneakers they’ve always admired from a far. And there’s nothing wrong with that! If it were up to me personally, though, I’d opt for this version any day of the week. What do you think? Buy through Net-a-Porter for $1375.