Best Shoes of 2016

My feet are very anxious for a new pair of shoes. Really, it is not my fault if I buy tons of shoes. It's my feet's fault — they made me do it. Here are some of the top designer shoe selections for 2016, and there were enough of them that the guide runs to a second page: this first page covers the statement sandals, a raffia oxford, a duffel boot and the year's most desirable sneakers.

The range is the story. A leopard calf-hair cage sandal and a chain-link heel sit at the dress end; woven raffia oxfords bring the spring; a shearling-lined boot handles winter; and the sneaker picks split between honest running technology and metallic downtown flash. Six designs, five houses, four seasons of wear.

Amazoulo: The Caged Calf-Hair Sandal

The Christian Louboutin Amazoulo Caged Calf-Hair Red Sole Sandal in brown, at Neiman Marcus, is a leopard-print dyed calf hair (Italy) sandal with leather trim, a 4-inch stacked heel and an open toe design. The lace-up caged vamp laces the foot into the shoe, and the sole carries the signature red lacquer. The "Amazoulo" is made in Italy.

The house context explains the confidence: French designer Christian Louboutin introduced his namesake collection in 1991, and his powerfully feminine shoes soon became must-haves for stylish women everywhere — instantly recognizable for their vibrantly red-lacquered soles. By 2016 the collection also included a line of handbags every bit as covetable as the shoes, from evening clutches to everyday totes.

Vicolek Raffia Platform Oxfords

Robert Clergerie's Vicolek Raffia Platform Oxfords, at Bloomingdales, put some spring in the oxford: airy woven raffia and contrast wedge soles, an almond toe, and a lace-up fit with a 1.75-inch heel and 0.75-inch platform that feels like a 1-inch heel. The shoe is made in France.

The Vicolek is the thinking person's statement shoe of 2016 — the platform does the height work while the raffia keeps the whole thing light and seasonal. In a year of metallic flash elsewhere on this list, woven natural fiber reads as the quiet luxury choice.

Chain-Link Heels and the Duffel Boot

Giuseppe Zanotti's Chain-Link-Heel Sandals, at Barneys New York, are anthracite metallic leather multi-buckle sandals styled with a chain-link-motif metal heel: a 4.75-inch (120mm) heel with a 15mm platform, an open toe with slim adjustable buckle straps, an exposed zipper at the covered heel counter, and polished silvertone hardware throughout.

Winter gets its entry from Jimmy Choo: the Duffel Flat, a black pony and shearling-lined winter boot whose detailing is based on the traditional duffel coat. Lined in soft shearling, this fun buckle boot pairs a thick lug sole with a deep tread against a simple fitted upper with a chic, dressier feel — finished in black pony and made in Italy.

Most Desirable Sneakers for 2016

The Brooks 'Ghost 8' Running Shoe for women, at Nordstrom, earns its place on engineering: a new no-sew overlay provides an extra-close fit on a lightweight running shoe with moisture-managing lining and upper mesh panels to keep feet comfy and dry, an improved BioMoGo DNA midsole brings customized comfort to each step, and Omega Flex Grooves smooth heel-to-toe transitions so you can glide through each stride.

Giuseppe Zanotti returns for the fashion end of the sneaker story: the Maylondon Embossed Zip Slip On High Top Sneakers, at Bloomingdale's, project downtown cool in metallic-flecked embossed snakeskin with edgy zip hardware — round toe, functional inside and outside zips, a back pull tab, a 1.25-inch platform, embossed leather upper, leather lining and rubber sole. You may also want to check out the NinoBoo Oxfords; for men, the Neumel shoes mix trendy and classic elements, and the blog rounds up awesome winter boots for the cold end of the year. Do you think we missed any amazing shoe trends this year? Let us know.

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