No matter how many pairs you have, no matter how closely you follow the trends, you're bound to discover something new in this savvy and irreverent study of contemporary women's shoes. All the top styles and major players are here--from Manolo Blahnik, master of the skyscraper heel to Tom Ford, the designer who sparked the resurgence of the famous Gucci loafer. Not limited to designers and trends, the book also explores the shoe's relationship to sex and gender roles. Are high heels a symbol of subordination or empowerment? What is the fascination that shoes hold for fetishists? Nothing is left unsaid here, with candid commentary ranging from Rupaul to the Wall Street Journal. Written with wit and style, and sumptuously illustrated with 200 color photos, Shoes: A Lexicon of Style is a book for the well-shod of every persuasion.