Faithfully Dull.
Far from bewitching, these are the shoes found in offices everywhere. They are the loyal companions of the pantsuit, from the smallest cubicle to the snobbiest of boardrooms. You don’t particularly like being average height, so you found the perfect solution: The shoe version of white noise—always there, serving the purpose of adding three inches, but going mostly unnoticed. Stand tall, little lady—everyone else thinks you are.

The Pain Inflictor.
Their piercing presence instills fear in the hearts of men everywhere. They may have their power ties, but you know what really takes command of a room—a wickedly pointed toe flowing down from an equally sharp heel. It gives you a little adrenaline rush every time you glance down and see that point jutting forth from beneath your perfectly tailored trouser. Look out world, look out boys! It’s irrelevant that your toes want to file for divorce every time you slide these killers on, because you wouldn’t trade them for the world. After all, ruling the world is your goal and these are the shoes you’ll be wearing when you conquer it.

Whatever your work shoes reveal about you, take Karn’s advice: “Live a big life. And wear cute shoes.”

Reprinted with permission of Red Wheel/Weiser LLC, Shoe-ology: From the shamelessly sensible to the wickedly pointed by Karn Knutson is available at local bookstores or directly from the publisher at www.redwheelweiser.com. Photo © Edward Rutherford/Fotolia