Our own Alyson captured every lady’s current “Higher Calling,” a lust for platforms, and since too-tall shoes are far from going away come spring ‘07, I figured I’d sequel, and tell you -

Bruno Frisoni is my new Italiano lover.

“I’m speechless,” says Di Overton. “A part from to say this designer is Parisian - surprised?” 

Oui, oui, I am. No matter - check these Bruno Frisoni patent platform sandals and understand my obsession.

Pre-Bruno, Giuseppe Zanotti was my boy: sexy, charming, humourous, he’s a lovely man. Giuseppe Zanotti black patent pumps look like standard fetish pumps, only a chunky heel and ankle strap “work wonders!” says designer Marlene Salcido, to keep the shoe equal parts quirky and sexy.

As much as I love Giuseppe, I’d be remiss to pretend he’s the man largely behind the current crave for platforms. The dude responsible is Monsieur Christian Louboutin, and his It girl platform peeptoes. Christian Louboutin leopard platform pumps are very lady is a vamp, and make Leisa “take back everything I ever said about never wearing animal prints.”

Prefer your platforms more demure? Newport News platform pumps are a cheeky-chic pink with a slightly less intimidating heel, and Stiletto Jungle “spied these super stylish, and super affordable, leather platform pumps in the October edition of Shop Etc. magazine and set out to track them down. They are exactly the kind of color-saturated, round-toed, platform pump that is it for fall. Even better, they are priced well below the going rate for a comparable leather pump. I particularly love the slightly conical heel. It’s a great detail that makes them look more pricey than they really are.”

And these Chloé patent leather wedges - with their heavily luxe platform and glossy leather - look about as pricey as they really are, but what’s a price tag on priceless “delicious(ness),” says Stiletto Jungle. “The combination of shiny black leather and a wooden wedge on Chloe’s patent leather wedges is unexpected and fresh,” just like -

Orange patent leather, though Splash “Rivet10” patent pump “will hardly break the bank,” says Stiletto Jungle. “This adorable pump has the same platform styling and fun candy color as the big boys, but, with a price tag under $20.”

Steve Madden also gives you high design for low dollars - you’ve probably seen Steve Madden’s patent ‘Lalo’ peeptoe pumps, which pay heavy, seemingly illegal, homage to Christian Louboutin’s classic peeptoes, with a very similar and “very sexy” silhouette. “And the colors are luscious!” says Shop Diary. “Helloooo hotness in shiny shiny patent leather!,” coos The Delicious.  “And for about one-tenth the price of Louboutins!”

And before everyone from Mr. Madden to Monsieur Louboutin started catering to my lust affair with very high heels, I had a fetish for fetish shoes. 6-inch platform high heels make for fun on the weekends, and are really just as (un)comfortable as any heel I own - I’ve jogged across a four-lane street in them.

Fittingly, that street was Sunset Blvd.