clothing design flirted with the well-behaved nude pump,  pairing nicely with even the most formal of events. As the trend flows forward, epic design from houses like Valentino Garavani now offer bolder, perhaps even hinting at naughtier, studded, strapped, and buckled versions of the blush, appreciating both the lovely line created by the hues in tandem with strong style statements. Valentino's Rock Stud collection further bares the foot, embracing

clearly naked vamp straps and panels embellished with sparkling Swarovski crystals, perched above clear Lucite heels in nearly all heel heights. The perfect punctuation for lavishly embellished couture, the newest and barest have gregariously broken the trend out of polite fashion to come of age. The evolution of the nude silhouette plays heavily in most footwear lines, as fabulous designs are shown the flattery of imitation in

ready-to-wear brands. None are more envied, and none more imitated or talked about, than Manolo Blahnik's classic, sexy, go-everywhere Chaos stiletto sandal. Variations on his themes are prolific, but only those with the most discriminating tastes will experience the comfort and durability of the materials and styling that far outlast the rest. Some artful interpretations of the most important footwear fashion designers deliver the look