Heels have taken on many fashionable forms since the classic stiletto. But as heels continue to soar to new heights and most recent, vanish into thin air with the heelless shoe craze, there’s no doubt that taking major strides in any heel height can pose a serious challenge. There goes balance and comfort right out the window, a sacrifice we often don’t mind making for the love of fashion. But thank goodness our shoe prayers were answered and the fashion gods have given us chic stacked heels.

Now we can hit the pavement, take big steps and go the distance in style with some of today’s most fashionable chunky heel shoes…

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Source: Grazia.daily.co.uk

Today PEOPLE magazine’s “Most Beautiful Woman 2012” issue hit newsstands and inside the woman who took this year’s crown talks a little more about times when she didn’t feel so beautiful—like during pregnancy—and what was up with her walking around in heels the full nine months. Interestingly, Bey says she’s over the skyscraper heels she’s usually seen walking around in now, and that’s just how Jay likes it.

“I never thought there would be a day when I wouldn’t wear heels. Now that I have a child, I walk around holding her all day, I’m buying loafers and oxfords. I love them, because they’re comfortable,” she says. “And shorter heels too. I’d always thought, ‘The higher the heel, the sexier.’ But now I’m like, ‘These are really [swexy].’”

The bonus is hubby Jay-Z approves:

“He loves it when I wear flat shoes, which is surprising — he never saw me in flats before!” she says. “He likes me more natural — just the relaxed, natural me.”

Though she’s very comfortable being a dressed-down new mother, Bey admitted to trying to maintain the glam look right up until the end of her pregnancy.

“I wore my gloss when I arrived at the hospital. I committed to the end and wore my kitten heels. It makes me laugh thinking about it. After many hours of labor, I didn’t care about how I looked. It was all about the miracle that God gave me — the opportunity to deliver a human being.”

Now, she’s all about the D-I-Y beauty lifestyle.

“I recently cut two inches[of hair] myself — I just parted it and chh-chh-chh,” she said laughing.

Sounds like motherhood gave Beyonce a new perspective on what’s important in life.

Are you a stiletto junkie like Bey?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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photo credit: http://ramshackleglam.com/blog/

Dear Flats,

As a 5’4 woman, I’m not a huge fan. But as a woman who had to make the transition from a place where I drove (Los Angeles) to a place where I didn’t (New York), I had to welcome you into my life. My daily walking regimen in the big city required that I lower my expectations of my feet. I knew that putting aside my collection of heels for you would mean compromising my style but I also expected the transition to mean more comfort and agility in my everyday life. Or so I thought.

Oh, flats, where to begin. For something so simple, you do such complicated things to my feet. You misled me with your simple exterior and your promises of comfort. I soon discovered that it wouldn’t be an even exchange. For giving up inches from my frame, I got shoes that left me with bruises on the side of my feet and skin burns on my heels.

Before you, I didn’t have to keep a steady supply of band-aids in my home and in my purse. These band-aids help me barricade myself from your chafing ways. Recently, I’ve upgraded to Dr. Scholls Moleskin and I’ve also invested in insoles. I would’ve thunk that you would’ve thunk to equip yourself with extra padding since so many of us turn to you for comfort. My, was I fooled.

Flip-flops, which are supposed to represent the epitome of ultimate comfort, especially aggravate the area between my big toe and the adjacent toe. I have yet to downgrade stylistically to crocs, and I would hope that you let your manufacturers know that a woman who of my style substance shouldn’t have to turn to those just to get back and forth from work comfortably. In all fairness, it’s not bad the whole time with you. At times, after painful weeks of breaking you in, I’m able to work with you. But those first few weeks are a pain nonetheless.

All I’m asking of you, flats, is to meet me halfway. If I’ve sacrificed style for you, I think you can make good on your promise.

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Ladies, it’ll be Spring before you know it. And that means you’ll have to throw your boots to the back of the closet, make sure your feet and right and find a nice pair of heels that will accentuate your newly manicured toes and freshly shaven legs. If you’re looking for the perfect heel but don’t want to blow your budget, we’ve got just the solution for you.

Head over to StyleBlazer.com to check out this list of 10 fabulous heels for under $100.

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Looking for the next trend when it comes to heels? Try cap to pumps. Fashion forward ladies like Jennifer Hudson and Brandy have been spotted in this fly footwear.

If you like what you see, head over to StyleBlazer.com  to see how you can score a look like this for your own closet.

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So what if it’s still cold outside! There’s no reason you can’t start to stock up on the shoes you were lusting after in the Spring 2012 collections. Pockets need to be considered, we totally understand, so we compiled a list of the trendiest shoes from those collections with their very simliar look-a-likes (#WalletHappy). If you can afford the designer versions, go head’! But for those of us who want to look fabulous and not have buyers’ remorse, this is for you. Consider us forward-thinkers.

Uh oh!

Look who is stepping their fashion game up big time ladies and (maybe) gentlemen! I’m all about dresses, especially fly ones with long sleeves. Can you say two-fer???

But let’s hop to it. Dodging rumors that her engagement with David “Punk” Otunga is off, the actress and singer hit up the Michael Kors Celebration of Fashion’s Night Out in Tokyo. Looking and obviously feeling very fab, Hudson stepped out in a very popular print for this fall season: leopard. She rocked it on this knee-length, long-sleeved dress that came in at the waist. While very little skin is shown in the dress, which is appropriate (we’re not hating), she still got to show off her new and improved curves and some calf action. To help display the latter, Hudson kicked up her heels in some shiny satin pumps (I think I see some red bottoms!). And alas, as the trend seems to be going, she kept her jewelry very minimal. Dang, can we get a watch or something??? As for the hair, she kept it straight and sleek, and the makeup was fun and bright. For me, this is one of the better looks I’ve seen JHud rock since she dropped her weight. She usually has a thing for very dull, solid-colored tight dresses and skirts. But this leopard number is definitely a grown and hot look for her, so I call it a Style to Steal. Do you agree?

When the temperature drops, it’s easy to alter one’s wardrobe. Longer sleeves here, heavier layers there. Yet, when it comes to footwear, what are our options after sandal hibernation? Suede! Suede is the perfect fabric to provide warmth and durability. As an added bonus, this textile absorbs colorants extremely well, which results in endless shade options! These selection of suede shoes - and some faux – in various styles are to dye for! Peep our favorite suede’s for the fall…

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I haven’t heard Leona Lewis sing in a very long time. In fact, I’ve actually only seen “The X Factor” winner strut her stuff on red carpets and in Cotton commercials over the past year or two. But when you dress like this, who cares what you’re “supposed” to be doing, right?

The singer hit up the Doha Tribeca Film Festival all the way in Doha, Qatar over the weekend, and while many attendees went for bright colors, she kept it plain, simple and fresh in a white blazer with a black collar, slim black dress pants and what probably is a simple black tank underneath. With her hair pulled back and some dainty teardrop earrings, Lewis set this outfit off with some statement making red pumps that gave her both height and a nice pop of color.

I totally think this outfit is fun, and I like that she went against the grain and wore a bright white (or even possibly cream) jacket after Labor Day. The fact that she went for slim pants and not big, wide-leg joints is also pretty fab, and the red shoes are fly. AND her makeup with the pink pout and the dark eyelids is very fun as well. I’m calling this look a “style to steal,” especially since I’m a fan of menswear pieces. But what do you think?

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Is it just me, or is it that ever since Solange cut her hair off she has been stepping her fashion game up? Maybe it’s just me, because depending on who you ask, the girl could be dressing uber-fab, or dressing uber-tacky. I for one, have been very impressed with her looks over the year, and the ‘fits she’s rocked this week have been colorful and cool takes on fall pieces. Question is, well both questions are: Do you love them or loathe them? And which do you like better from head to shoe game?

On Sunday, while attending Teen Vogue‘s Young Hollywood Party in Los Angeles, Solange donned a yellow miniskirt that seemed to have jacquard print, and rocked it with a sleeveless button up that opened up to show a little boobage. On top of that, homegirl threw on some sick red heels, some chunky rings for her accessories, and a fun afro wig for a very playful look. For LA weather, this is perfect and very youthful.

DJ Solange, as Wire Image likes to call her, also hit up an event for the launch of the Burberry Body perfume in Beverly Hills. While other DJs would come laid back and chilled out, Solange came in the joint like the life of the party in head to toe Burberry. She paired a burnt orange and brown button up with a fun blue skirt for a mismatched but so right cocktail look. On her feet were Burberry’s newest Resort collection heels for 2012: some beaded stilettos that kept her looking high and mighty. Love that she continues to keep the jewelry minimal, because this time she did a small bangle and circular necklace. No big afro wig this time around! She went for her own natural fro and rocked it out!

To be honest, it’s hard for me to choose which one I like better. But if I had to wear one, the Burberry joint would be my pick! Not only because I’m mesmerized by this mix of color that works surprisingly well, but also because, it’s too damn cold in NYC for that other outfit (wink). But which do you prefer?

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