Cheryl Shops

Fashion Week starts exactly two weeks from today, which means it's time to start planning my outfits! The challenge, as always, is finding footwear that strikes a balance between style and comfort; while I'd love for you to think I strut in 5-inch Louboutins from fashion shows to a private car, it's more like I hoof it by bus, subway, and foot from Lincoln Center to Chelsea and back. It's a glamorous life, I tell you. Anyway, I rely heavily on platforms and wedges during Fashion Week, and so I'm always on the lookout for a new pair. I'm not shy about my love of Jeffrey Campbell, and since he does those two categories quite well, I think these Fortuna platform sandals look quite promising. They combine a three-inch wedge heel with a 1.5-inch platform, which puts them just out of the flatform category--there's enough of a slope to be flattering, and what's essentially a 1.5-inch heel should be easy to walk in, especially with the slight upward angle at the front of the shoe. Another key to wearing a chunky wedge like this is having a light-colored sole--a darker color looks like cement blocks on your feet (thus making your legs look thicker), while something closer to one's skin tone color extends the leg visually. But a shoe's support doesn't come from the sole alone, and this one has lots of straps and a sturdy ankle that actually zips up the back. That said, the Fortuna is pretty stylish and, worn with the right outfit, will still hopefully get me snapped by the Japanese street fashion photographers (god only knows where those photos end up). And considering they're on sale for $99.95, I'd call this perfect marriage of style and comfort a Fashion Week–worthy bargain.