Photos: This season, women’s shoes don’t pussyfoot around

Red is on fire, both in clothing and footwear, and shoe designers are offering it in different shapes and price points. No one does the color better than Valentino, with his red patent leather D’Orsay bow pump, which makes the foot look like the perfect (expensive) little present.

Pictured clockwise from top left: Casadei open-toe heels with straps, $890 at endless.com; Christian Dior lace-up high-heel ankle boots, $890 at Christian Dior boutiques; Valentino D’Orsay peep-toe pumps with bow, $695 at Valentino boutiques.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

On the other hand, Nine West does a version for a fraction of Valentino’s price tag. The resemblance is remarkable, but since the style and color are classic, shelling out for the real thing could be a solid investment for shoe fanatics and collectors.

Pictured: Nine West heel, $89 at www.ninewest.com  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Red heels, like this bow-top Louis Vuitton ($1,350 at www.louisvuitton.com), tie an outfit together.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Ankle boots are nothing new, but the evolution of the bootee is astounding. Heel heights have spiked, the peep toe is a common feature and metallic details add some punch to conservative styles. Since it grazes the ankle it is versatile enough to wear with dresses and pants, but not as formal or stuffy as a pump.

Pictured: Dolce vita ankle boot, $200 at shopbop.com  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

But be forewarned: Some of the most eye-popping styles might not be for everyone. The navy blue patent leather lace-up oxford-style shoe from Proenza Schouler is perhaps the most intimidating ankle boot this season. At 5-inches-plus, the gold-tipped wood heel is as treacherous as it is amazing, giving a modern feel to a vintage style. For more futuristic footwear, Camilla Skovgaard has added a metal heel so thin it looks like a nail on a gray round-toed bootie. The pewter leather around the ankle of the Skovgaard shoe has a “Mad Max� appeal that fits right in with the 1980s resurgence that is affecting design in 2009.

Pictured: clockwise from top, Camilla Skovgaard gray and silver bootie with silver heel, $535 at endless.com; Proenza Schouler lace-up bootie with wooden heel, $1,360 at endless.com; Nine West open-toe pewter bootee, $99 at www.ninewest.com; L.A.M.B. brown bootee with gold zipper, $380 at endless.com.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

A new take on an old favorite: Modern vintage ankle boot, $325 at shopmodernvintage.com.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Shake that bootee: D&G low boot, $595 at endless.com  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Punk rock-inspired decorative metals have been a strong embellishment in fashion for several years now and don’t look to be going anywhere. Shoes are no exception, especially for Christian Louboutin, who smattered his red-soled pumps and flats with intimidating silver spikes and studs. His Pigalle pump is a high heel with a take-no-prisoners attitude; the wearer would seem to need a fierce personality to pull it off. His somewhat softer approach to the trend is the Candy, which has just a few gold studs on the toe, mixed with feminine black lace and a gold zipper tied in a bow.

Pictured left to right: Christian Louboutin red-toe pump with studs and zipper tie, $965 at Barneys New York, Beverly Hills; Rock & Republic gray pump with studs, $295 at www.zappos.com; Christian Louboutin studded pump with stiletto heel, $995 at Christian Louboutin, Los Angeles..  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

The mix of hard and soft echoes the aesthetic of collections from Alexander Wang and Balmain, which are informing much of women’s style these days.  (Jonas Gustavsson and Peter Stigter / For the Times)