"There is a bit of Imelda Marcos in many women," begins the fascinating, energetic text of Shoes. This chic book taps into the obsession, the fetish, and the fashion of footwear, from the pump to the sneaker, the boot to the stiletto. There are no ancient Roman sandals in this book. Instead, noted author Valerie Steele speaks directly to modern shoe enthusiasts and delves into their soles.

Highly illustrated with cutting-edge photos and filled with quips and quotes from Tom Ford, Manolo Blahnik, Ann Magnuson, and other aficionados, this book stirs up the debate over high heels, bows to the joys of athletic footwear, and probes the power of shoes to convey status and sex appeal. This is an exuberant, often irreverent, contemporary history of shoes for the well- shod of every "style tribe."