Why I love pointed courts

Both Grazia and Harpers Bazaar have declared in their latest editions that the platform shoe is heading for fashion Siberia, and a new shoe, the pointed court is THE shoe to be wearing from now on.  And I admit I did say a small prayer of thanks, as I love the pointed court.

I want to state up front I don’t dislike platforms per se, some of my favourite shoes are platforms.

Uber platforms

However what I do hate is the uber-platform, or “porn platform”, as my friends and I have christened them. Those 6 inch plus monsters that even normally sane A list celebrities are wearing (yes, I mean you Gwyneth) and have dominated the high street for way too long. The shoes that a pole dancer would wear, rather than a sophisticated woman. The shoes that make you hooble along, rather than walk with confidence. The shoes that a comment on Upper Street’s facebook post, “YES or NO to power platforms?”, summed up as, “There’s a fine line. Get it right = super chic. Get it wrong = stripper.”

So I’m delighted to see the return of the pointed court, the shoe that for many of us, has never been out of style.

Why I love pointed courts

1) A black leather pointed court is the shoe equivalent of a Little Black Dress. You can wear it anywhere, for any occasion and it will instantly make you look elegant. Even if you’re wearing a baggy grey T-shirt and tracksuit bottoms, pointed courts will transform your outfit. Every woman should own at least one pair. The smart ones, have more, so they can rotate them throughout the week. Don’t own a pair? Start designing your classic pointed courts now

2) You can walk in pointed courts, hell I even run for buses in mine. Upper Street’s pointed court shoe comes with an elegantly tapered 3.75″ heel: high enough to length your legs and low enough that you don’t worry you’ll fall over when you actually try to put one foot in front of the other.

Uma Thurman in black courts

3) Pointed courts are sexy. They add a sophisticated air of danger to the woman wearing them. Think film noir, Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction, Helmut Newton photographs.  The heel of a pointed court helps define the curves of your leg and when worn with confidence makes you a force to be reckoned with. Wear with a pencil skirt to raise the va-va-voom levels!

4. French women love them and always look chic, so if a pair of pointed shoes can lend me an air of Gallic sophistication, I’m taking it. Look at the collections of leading French designer, Isabel Marant and you’ll see she’s stayed constant to pointed courts, alongside her slouchy boots.

So while I’m not thowing my 3.5″ or 4.5″ platforms out, I am flaunting my pointed courts with pride and bringing back from fashion Siberia, my pointed kitten heels. (I’ll also be designing my Upper Street kitten heels when we launch them. Register with us to make sure you hear when they’ve arrived).

I’ve also ordered these beautiful zebra pointed courts I designed on Upper Street to give my new autumn wardrobe, a walk on the wild side.

So are you sending your platforms to fashion Siberia and embracing pointed courts? Or will you keep on wearing platforms regardless of what the fashion press say? Tell Upper Street all!

Take part in our facebook discussion,  post your comments on Facebook and tweet us @UpperStreetShoe

That’s my side of the debate: now read Amanda, The Online Stylist’s blog, “Viva La Platform” as she climbs on her (platform) pedestal in defence of the shoe shape that provides her that extra, all important fash-factor. Read her blog

Thanks for reading, Lisa Pettit, Marketing Manager, Upper Street