Yves Saint Laurent Spring 2009 Ready to Wear

By: Madelyn Chung

The sexiest shoe on the market this summer is the caged heel.

Similar to the gladiator, the S&M-style shoe’s dramatic nature is not recommended for those in company of a foot fetishist – the image of the foot trapped within the cage may be too much to bear.

And while some may compare these heels to a chicken coop, though a very fashionable one at that, this trend has been seen on some of the biggest stars in Hollywood, including Fergie, Ashley Olsen and Beyoncé.

It made several appearances at the MTV Movie Awards this year, with some wearers opting for more showy versions, while others went for subtlety.

The caged heel was first seen on Yves Saint Laurent’s runway for Spring 2009. Its strong, architectural, and futuristic design combined the gladiator with the look of a boot. Since then, many noted designers have incorporated the caged heel in their collections, including Christian Louboutin, Giuseppe Zanotti, and Jimmy Choo.

The trend has also made its way into mass retail stores everywhere, and can be found at affordable prices at Aldo and Town Shoes.

You can wear this heel to toughen up your summer dresses, or pair it with another one of this summer’s biggest trends: ripped, distressed jeans a la Balmain.

Will you dare to wear the caged heel?

Shop:

Calvin Klein at Town Shoes $130

Yves Saint Laurent Cage Platform Sandals, $695

Aldo, $120