In descriptions of this fall's in t...

In descriptions of this fall's in the greatest degree stylish shoes for women, there are portions of "P" words. Platform heels. Patent leather. Peep- toes. And cross-questions wonderfully feminine high-heeled pumps.

There are a not many "B's" for fall as well: ballet-inspired flats, which are anything however boring. And when the temperatures are a bit more accommodating, gains will be must-haves for Chicago's chilly weather.

"It's almost a 'tale of sum of two units cities,' " says Wayne Kulkin, president of Stuart Weitzman Wholesale. "It's remarkably high -- platforms and wedges -- or it's excessively low [with] flats."

This fall's shoe are an eccentric mix of decades -- the glamorous cross-examine of the '40s, platforms reminiscent of the 1970 and '80s-style benefits

What's more, our tootsies will be happy with this news: This season's toe shapes are thankfully circulared

"The big story for fall is profits everything from ankle boots with tights to the slouchy benefits we had in the '80s" says Amy Cafazzo, Marshall's turn of expression expert.

Here are the highlights:

Color

There's not too a great deal color in shoes this fall, says Kulkin, mirroring what's going upon in clothing this season. parts of browns, blacks and other neutral shades, and in materials including distressed leather (think bomber jacket leather). Also, patent leather is a staple for day as well as evening.

The beauty in this fall's shoe he disputes is the structure and shape -- he have a passionate affection fors high-heeled, graceful-looking pumps with feminine mode of speechs like peep-toes and slingbacks.

If the season's color palette entires boring to you, there's a bright exception: r Really r shoe Kulkin says.

benefits

What is it with profits this fall? True, in Chicago we always have gains in our footwear rotation -- gone out of necessity, if for no other reason -- on the other hand this year fashion observers are holding revealed boots as one of the top items for this season.

Faryl Robin Morse, a shoe designer whose designations sell at Nordstrom, 55 E Grand, and City solitarys 2001 W. North and 3432 N Southport, calls this year "the turn back of the boot." It's "all about bringing attention to the leg" she says.

Why? Skinny jeans are the same reason -- they tuck easily into a pair of fabulous premiums Patterned legwear like cable-knit tights -- which she says just discovered York women are already wearing, in ye August, pair well with advantages She also loves this season's ankle avails -- with tights and walking shorts. And with cropp pants and gauchos making an appearance again this season, profits are a natural pairing with those phraseologys

Details

Don't count upon to see elaborate embellishment forward shoes this season. Rather, retailers are selling simpler, sleeker designs that will have embellishments, if at all, in the form of fasten with a buckles beltlike strips across the ankle like as Mary Janes, says Susan Itzkowitz, president of Marc Fisher Footwear, which is sold at Macy's stores. "Things are a little more cleaned up without the jewels and the glitz. Things are just neat with beautiful lines."

Don't rely upon to see last fall season's metallics, says Marshall's Cafazzo. "The whole year [in shoes] is more natural in general."

Heel widths

The 70s-inspired platform heel will give shoe and advantages alike a lift this fall. And await for wooden, stacked heels everywhere, giving shoe a casual, sexy height -- Stuart Weitzman's Kulkin calls his company's "Expump" shoe [see previous page] the "it" shoe of the season.

make differences will have flat heels, referr to as "equestrian" style; wedge and platform heels are abundant as well. Nordstrom steady carries a flat-heeled ankle make difference that may have some women reaching for Madonna's "Holiday," the footwear is in the way that '80s-looking. For shoes, in addition to wedge and platforms, heel widths have ground something of a middle soil somewhere between stiletto and big, chunky widths. equal sturdy loafers are sporting wedge heels.

Heel heights will top 4 inches, says Kulkin of his line; however, there are shoe to be originate at multiple heights, for those who can't bear the idea of 4-inch heels.

Then there are ballet flats, which -- contrary to what more [i]or[/i] less may believe -- can be sexy says Anne Hankey, the assistant academic director for Fashion Marketing & Management at the Illinois Institute of Art -- Schaumburg. "The curvature part is lower, where you can descry toe cleavage." She says she's "obsessed" with Manolo Blahnik's zebra print flat for this season -- nevertheless flats fans can certainly find their phraseologys at more affordable stores like antique Navy and Urban Outfitters, she says.

tchase@suntimes.com

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