Burberry Rubber Wellington Boots, $395 via Net-a-Porter

Sometimes, life necessitates that you wear a rain boot when you really, truly don’t want to be wearing one. A job interview? A date? An afternoon of high-end shopping? Sometimes you want to look just so, and wearing giant rubber boots that look at home on the farm screws all of that up before you even get out the door.

Thankfully, wellies have had something of a renaissance over the past few years. New colors, new styles, new materials – suddenly, staying dry doesn’t have to make you feel like you’re down on the farm anymore. The Burberry Rubber Wellington Boots are just the latest continuation of that trend. When I first saw them, I didn’t even think they were rain boots.

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Rachel Zoe Kayne Wedges, $375 via ShopBop

I remember back when I first heard that Rachel Zoe was getting her own contemporary line, the first thought I had was, “Well, the shoes are going to be positively stilt-like.” As it turns out, I was exactly right, although I probably don’t deserve much credit. Anyone familiar with Ms. Zoe’s personal style or her television show could have seen shoes like the Rachel Zoe Kayne Wedges coming a mile away.

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Miu Miu Faux Snakeskin Leather Wedges, $660 via Net-a-Porter

It’s really easy to forget that shoes are, in fact, made for walking. Lately, most of them seem much better equipped for sitting, if not outright lying down. If you look hard, though, you can still find designer options that lend themselves to extensive (or at least significant) foot travel, such as the Miu Miu Faux Snakeskin Leather Wedges. They may not be sky-high or particularly sexy, but you probably won’t hate yourself for taking these shoes for a spin around the mall.

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Giuseppe Zanotti Heelless Crystal Studded Sandals, $2140 via Neiman Marcus

I’ve written about Giuseppe Zanotti Heelless Shoes several times, and despite my general ardor for the brand’s recent work, I’ve never found myself completely enthusiastic about this design in particular. Although I appreciate experimental design (and I especially appreciate it when it’s accessible to people who can’t pay bespoke prices), the previous iterations in smooth, minimal metallic gold leather just left me feeling a tad cold.

The Giuseppe Zanotti Heelless Crystal-Studded Sandals, on the other hand, are all kinds of over-the-top awesomeness. The turquoise suede and seemingly random beaded embellishments actually do a little justice to the in-your-face structure on which they sit. Finally!

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Reed Krakoff Wooden Heeled Leather and Python Sandals, $795 via Net-a-Porter

What did I tell you guys? It’s going to be wall-to-wall wood for wedges this summer, and if you don’t like it, too bad. (Ok, there will be other things too. But lots more wood than normal!) We started off classic with a pair of Lanvin wedges, but what if you want to go in a more modern direction with your wooden heels? Well, you can hardly do much better than the Reed Krakoff Wooden Heeled Leather and Python Sandals if clean lines are your preference.

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Versace Metallic leather Platform Sandals, $1295 via Net-a-Porter

Don’t get me wrong; in a way, I actually sort of like the Versace Metallic Leather Platform Sandals. In a way.

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Christian Louboutin Meteorita Sandal, $1795 via Net-a-Porter

If you’ve never been to a Miami, you should really try and go. It’s a place unlike any other in the US, and the fusion of Latin culture with Art Deco architecture and the colors of the Caribbean make the town a feast for the eyes and ears. The heat and the beach also bring out some wild outfits, and the colors and structure of the Christian Louboutin Meteorita Sandals would fit in perfectly in a South Beach nightclub.

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Isabel Marant Betty Sneaker Wedges, $680 via Net-a-Porter

I’ve never been a huge fan of this look, but the sheer number of people who find our site every day by typing the term “Isabel Marant sneakers” into Google would indicate that I’m in the minority when it comes to the Isabel Marant Sneaker Wedges. Not only that, but seems like half of the high-profile fashion industry has been photographed in a pair of Marant’s trainers, and although last season’s velcro-closured version is long gone from store shelves, the Isabel Marant Betty Sneakers are now available for those of us who know how to tie our shoes.

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Bally Oasis Perforated Leather Brogues, $850 via Net-a-Porter

If there’s one footwear trend from the last few seasons that I have to choose as my favorite, it would definitely be the advent of menswear shapes to the womenswear side of the market. (A close second place would be the death of the platform stiletto.) Brogues, oxfords, loafers – versions of those ideas, both high heeled and low, have given the footwear business a huge injection of creativity.

Naturally, though, it gets a little bit difficult to do menswear for women once the temperatures rise. The temptation of a zillion sandals in all shapes and sizes and colors is just too great. With a shoe like the Bally Oasis Perforated Leather Brogues, though, designers might just be able to lure a few women away from their trusty espadrilles.

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Lanvin Watersnake Wooden Wedges, $1150 via Net-a-Porter

Ever since Chanel showed clogs for Spring 2010 (that seems so long ago now!), wood-soled shoes have experienced an enormous fashion revival. In fact, I can barely think of a brand that hasn’t experimented with the construction (maybe Alexander Wang?), and designers have expanded on the idea to include towering, 70s-inspired wedges a la the Lanvin Watersnake Wooden Wedge. In fact, with wedges making an even bigger surge for spring than they usually do, this shoe is very much indicative of what we can expect on store shelves once warm weather starts to sneak closer.

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