Snob or Slob: Derek Lam Resort 2011 Kitten Heel

Like most of his peers, Derek Lam has his eyes set on the perfect pair of kitten heels for resort–only his come with an architectural edge. Introducing his signature shoe for Resort 2011: an aerodynamically-designed low-heel slingback that is fresh and modern–and young–but which also retains an air of classicism and taste that the kitten heel has long been associated with. Derek showed it in a delicious tangerine hue that’s a sister color to his ready-to-wear’s much more shocking “safety orange.” What I find alluring about this design is its conservative front that, when turned on its side, reveals a thoroughly modern approach to the “new” heel height. It’s a seemingly never-ending flow of material that looks like it’s been carved from one large block. Oh how good design can deceive the eye!