Trend alert: sensible gets sexy

Nothing tops off a power career look like a towering pair of heels ... and nothing's worse than the throbbing, aching feet they leave you with at the end of the day (if you can make it that long without kicking them off in desperation).

Sure, there are alternatives out there; you know, those "sensible shoes" your mom's always advising you to don. Unfortunately, the average built-for-comfort pump looks like something your eighth-grade gym teacher (the scary one) would wear for a big night out.

Now a select group of designers is looking to change all that by blending high style (and sex appeal) with cleverly hidden comfort features.

Browse through catalogs for the likes of Stuart Weitzman and Via Spiga, and you'll find sleek, stylish options with foot-loving features like extra padding and supports, more stable heels, and more space in the toe. Cole Haan has even teamed up with Nike Air to create a line that counts Oprah among its devoted fans (Fiona Air Pump shown here).

So the next time you slip off your toe-strangling pumps at the end of a long day, consider adding a pair or two of the new comfort heels to your collection. No one ever has to know how "sensible" they are.

(Source: Wall Street Journal)