Party shoes are back in the conversation, and the Roaring twenties and beading trend is the reason I am paying attention. This is not an argument for dressing like a chandelier, but for letting one decorated shoe do the work of an otherwise sensible outfit. Beading has a useful sharpness when it is placed on a clean shape. It catches the light, gives a plain black dress somewhere to go, and makes a trouser suit feel like an evening decision rather than office clothes that stayed out too late. My rule is to choose the shoe before choosing the sparkle. A well-made sandal or pump with restrained decoration will earn more wears than a complicated shape covered in every available stone. Look at the heel height, the fastening and the surface you will actually be able to live with. Satin is beautiful and completely unforgiving in a wet pavement situation. Raffia and leather can handle more real life, while crystal belongs to the nights when you know the floor is dry. I also like a lower shoe in this category, because comfort makes the decoration feel intentional rather than desperate. The best party shoe has a second act with dark denim and a good jacket. Below, the embellished shoes that make a case for spending, with enough range to cover dinner, dancing and the inevitable taxi home.

Aquazzura understands that a decorated shoe still needs a proper line. The collection runs from useful flats to very high evening shapes, and the signature move is a delicate sandal with the ornament doing the talking. The embellished raffia thong sandals at $950 are the holiday version I would wear with a white shirt and nothing else. For a sharper evening look, the ribbon kiss 85 crystal embellished metallic leather sandals at $1,635 have the right amount of theatre. The Mystic Stone 75 embellished mules are easier to live with than a strappy heel, while the wild bloom embellished 105 satin pumps at $1,570 make a simple dress feel considered. I would start with the mules if this is your first serious party shoe.

Crystal is the most obvious finish, which is precisely why the shape has to be disciplined. This group is for anyone who wants the shoe to register across a room without adding a full costume to the outfit. Gucci's Bombshell crystal-embellished mesh mules at $1,650 have a clean, leg-lengthening line. The Miss Z 100 crystal-embellished satin mules at $1,995 are more overtly evening and worth the height if you can walk in them. Roger Vivier's strass b crystal embellished metallic leather sandals at $1,175 are the sensible middle ground. The mistake is buying a busy shoe with no strong outline. Shine needs a frame, otherwise it just looks like an argument with the light.

Beading and pearls soften the mood, making this the group for people who find crystal a little too formal. The mika bead embellished cord sandals at $185 are the good-value entry point, with enough texture to make linen look dressed. At the other end, the kasasan 90 bead embellished satin sandals at $1,085 bring the same idea into evening territory. The rockstud bead embellished suede sandals are less sweet and more useful with tailoring. I also like the bead embellished suede sandals for their relative restraint. Look for decoration that follows the upper rather than sitting on top of it like a separate object.

Sequins and glitter work best when the shoe has a little irony. This group is for the person who wants a party shoe that can survive a black trouser and a blunt coat, not just a matching evening dress. The le loafer 110 cassandre embellished leather slingback pumps at $1,450 are the cleverest buy here, because the loafer reference keeps the sparkle from becoming precious. TOM FORD's 105 crystal embellished satin slingback pumps at $1,390 are more classic and very good at making a plain hem look deliberate. The sage 90 bead embellished leather sandals at $660 add colour through texture without needing a sequinned dress. Keep the rest of the outfit quiet and let the shoe be slightly ridiculous.

The shopping list is for the pieces that refuse to fit one neat party category, which is often a sign that they will get worn. The Babylone embellished gathered patent-leather mules at $1,200 are polished enough for dinner and strange enough to be memorable. Gucci's vittoria 75 horsebit embellished leather pumps at $1,220 have the sort of familiar shape that earns repeat outings. The bow embellished leather pumps are the softer choice, while the zutosan 90 crystal embellished slingback satin sandals are for a proper late night. I would also keep the Embellished 45 sandals in mind for anyone who wants decoration without a high heel. These are not background shoes, and that is the point.

Party shoes need a little planning. I keep them in their dust bags and never leave them in the car, where heat and pressure make delicate embellishment come loose. Before an event, wear them around the house on a clean floor, not for comfort testing but to find the point where the strap starts to rub. A thin gel pad can rescue a long night, although it cannot rescue a bad fit. My honest view is that one memorable decorated shoe is more useful than three polite pairs that disappear in photographs. Wear it with a plain outfit, carry a small repair kit, and accept that satin should not be taken seriously near a puddle. Phoebe