Heels, shapes and leathers in Del Carlo shoes
Every Del Carlo shoe available on this page carries the same stated composition: one hundred per cent leather. It is the material that explains how a heeled shoe can stay comfortable, because leather gives where the foot presses and holds its shape elsewhere, which a synthetic covering does not. Over time the upper moulds to the forefoot instead of marking it, and a medium or high heel is exactly where that difference is felt.
Heel height in this selection runs from 5 to 9 centimetres, and the step between the two ends is not gradual. Up to 5 or 6 centimetres the weight stays shared between heel and forefoot and the walk is the natural one; past 8 the load shifts almost entirely onto the forefoot and the shoe becomes a choice for a seated evening rather than for crossing the city on foot. Knowing which of the two bands a model sits in is the quickest way to judge how many hours it can be worn.
The shapes on this page serve different occasions. The sandal with an ankle strap leaves the foot open and holds the ankle; the closed court shoe with a sharp toe lengthens the leg and is the most formal of them; the western boot with a zip is the shape closed to the ankle, the one that carries a heel into the colder months. If you are looking for other heeled shoes, the full range sits in the women's court shoes category.
The insole changes how a heeled shoe behaves over long hours. On this page there are full-grain leather insoles, which take the imprint of the foot and keep it, and padded leather insoles, which give a cushion under the forefoot from the first wear: the first improves with use, the second is more comfortable on day one. On a high heel it is the padding under the forefoot that counts, because that is where the load gathers.
