My absolute favorite Christmas story is A Christmas Carol. It’s the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, grouch
and miser, who is visited by the ghost of his old business partner one cold
Christmas Eve. Jacob Marley is covered
in heavy chains—each link a bad deed he committed in life.
The Back
Chain Shoe by Jeffrey Campbell has eight draped chains over the
back of the heel—gold woven with black suede. (Note the tiny gold links around the bottom of the pointed toe too! Marley was a busy, evil man during life.) The rest of the pump is black suede also, and the heel is about four
inches high. Find them at Karmaloop
for $164.
Marley urges Scrooge to change, lest he spend his
afterlife with a chain as heavy as Marley’s.
Marley sends three more spirits to change Scrooge’s heart—the first, the
Ghost of Christmas Past, who is a constantly-morphing humanesque figure in white
robes, with what looks like candle-flame on its head.
White, with a tongue of flame (or rhinestones)…
the Daryn by Badgley Mischka is very
reminiscent of the Ghost of Christmas Past!
I just adore these all over. They’re
also available in black, but they’re not as ethereal as the white. Your choice for $158 from Zappos.
The Ghost of Christmas Past shows Scrooge his
early years, and the events that made him the Christmas-hating man he is today. Scrooge is then handed off to the Ghost of Christmas
Present, a tremendously jolly giant in a fur-lined green robe and a holly
crown.
The Collector
by Gianmarco Lorenzi embodies the fun and warmth of the Ghost of Christmas
Present—and his green fur-lined robe too!
The boots are green suede with a heel and platform that make these
shoes, uh, not a good choice for heel amateurs, but no time like the present,
right? Yours for $1396 from Farfetch.
The Ghost of Christmas Present opens Scrooge’s
eyes to both the joy and the sorrow around him, especially the plight of his
loyal employee Bob Crachit and Crachit’s struggling family. (Struggling in no small part due to
Scrooge, thank you very much. Founder of the feast, indeed!) Scrooge is then handed off to
his final spectral visitor, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, a tall,
forbidding, silent spirit robed in black, like Death.
A little frilly for death, maybe, but the draped mesh
bow on the Penny by Zigi Soho gives
the feel of the flowing robes of Scrooge’s final haunter. The satin upper cuts away at the peep toe and
up the front, and attaches around back with a buckle. A 4.25-inch heel and half-inch platform
complete the look. Yours for $50 from DSW.
The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come shows Scrooge
what his sad future is likely to be should he not amend his ways. It all proves too much for Scrooge, who
swears there and then to change. And
when he wakes up in his own bed on Christmas morning, he does change, bringing
light and joy to those around him who he had wronged, and enriching his own
life through friendship and love.
Which is what I wish you this Christmas. (And shoes.
I always wish you shoes.)
How perfect are these for the holiday season? The Turner by Jeffrey Campbell has two-tone grey suede (how I love gray), leaflike cutout features, a platform and 4.5-inch heel, and plenty of mini-studs for sparkle. Yours for 
Ah, Christmas in the mountains. The Northview by Lucky Brand has a leather upper with plaid flannel on the inside (cozy!), a 4.5-inch stacked heel and three-quarter-inch platform, and a nice round toe. Available in sequoia leather with this lovely red plaid, or black leather with a black/white/gray plaid—your choice for 
The Zealous by Jeffrey Campbell has a six-inch heel with two-inch hidden platform, shiny silver upper, leather sole, dual tassals—it runs small, so get it a size up. Can’t make it to Kennett Square? You can also find them at 
The Ryder by Dansko has a leather lining and upper, three-inch heel and a three-quarter inch platform4 and adjustable side snap closure. I love the stud detail—it really makes this special. Pick up yours for 
The Sadie by Delman has a leather upper (reptile print!) and sole, criss-cross straps, a quarter-inch heel, and a removable beaded bracelet embellishment. (But really, why remove it?) A little touch of summer. Can’t make it to ViVi G.? You can also find them at 
These make me want to sign up with the USO; it’s ridiculous. The Marina by Leg Avenue have four-inch white heels, a blue striped upper, bits of red threaded through eyelets around the foot opening, and—oh yes—a big red bow on the peep toe with a white star on top. About $40 on 
A cork and braided rope wedge, bright blue and white stripes—the Bowtye by BP has summer written all over it! It has a four-inch heel with a one-inch platform, and has a striped fabric upper and a nice big bow at the toe. You’ll be wearing these all summer—but only if you get them from 
How cute are these? The Jelly D’Orsay by Missoni is a blue jelly flat with a red, white, and blue woven bow at its peep toe. It makes you want to shout “Hooray for 4th of July picnics! Pass me a hot dog!” Yours from 
The Converse Women’s One Star Oxfords are about as all-American as shoes can get. Rubber cap toe, contrast stitching, canvas upper... and they’re available in just about every color under the sun. Pick them up at your local 
The Star Gazing Sandal by Poetic License has a leather upper studded with stars (it closes with Velcro). And you know, I believe I count fifty stars on there! Perfect! It comes in taupe (shown), grey, and pink, and you can find them at 
I pledge allegiance to the Lita by Jeffrey Campbell. It’s got everything: stars, stripes (I love how they go all the way to the ankle), a 5.5-inch heel and a 2-inch platform, and patriotism to spare! Yours from 
