The French may have Louboutin, but it’s still hard to beat the Italians when it comes to sexy shoes. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that their country is shaped like the ultimate sexed-up shoe: a thigh-high boot. Sergio Rossi is one of my favorites but so difficult to find in the U.S. So I’ll be ordering these direct from Fiorenze!

Fall welcomes a return to the delicate pump after many seasons of thick heels and platforms, but dainty these pointy pythons are not. Wings give these shoes a feeling of flight – and they’ll also give your ankles a feeling of serious seduction. Usually, when you refer to a certain shoe as a “staple,” it’s along the lines of something basic and everyday-wearable. But these Staple pumps are pierced with a series of oversized, stitch-like staples, for a no-nonsense hardware effect that toughens up your traditional ladylike-pump and catapults you into man-eater territory. On Luisa Via Roma for $1,195

Pair with: Theyskens’ Theory’s take on the furry bag has me suddenly craving some fluff. The goat-and-satin Wessiline clutch ($490) is femininity at its most savage.