Remember when heelless shoes were all the rage? (Except only Victoria Beckham and Lady Gaga seemed daring – or foolish, depending on how you look at it – enough to attempt Antonio Berardi’s and Noritaka Tatehana’s gravity-defying styles. Now Giuseppe Zanotti, never one to spare the drama, has conceived a pair designed for us mortals. That’s not to say his curved sandals don’t look totally otherworldly.

No optical illusions here. This shapely style has been engineered with an extended platform (so you aren’t walking on nothing) solves the aggravating problem of getting your heel stuck in grass and grates: no heel at all! The grounding ankle and T-straps are necessary for keeping your foot stable, but these aren’t as menacing as they might appear. You can still walk normally; when you step down, the back of the platform catches first, so you just flutter slightly – like a ballerina on tippy-toes. How feminine! Shiny metallic gold invites onlookers to take a closer look to indulge in the full impact of the spectacle. So all eyes will be on you! That’s why, just in case, I would keep the night to a two-drink maximum while standing in these heelless wonders. At Saks Fifth Avenue for $895.

Pair with: Want to really stand out? And I mean really. Lanvin’s bubblegum-pink silk-satin dress, with an off-the-shoulder neckline and Roccoco-esque accentuated hips, will equal maximum impact. On Net-a-Porter for $5,190.