Before he made shoes, Giuseppe Zanotti was a DJ, and the label still has some of that night-out energy. He grew up in San Mauro Pascoli, one of Italy's best-known footwear districts, freelanced for houses including Valentino and Thierry Mugler, and started his own brand in 1994. He bought the Vicini shoe factory in his hometown, moved his style office there, and showed the first collection in New York. The first boutique followed in Milan in 2000. More than three decades on he still leads creative direction himself, and in 2025 he bought back the 30% stake held by L Catterton to regain full ownership. This first group is the sculptural side. The Intrigo 90mm silk stiletto mules and the Incanto Oro 105mm 3D-floral satin sandals are the dressed-up pieces, while the leather Rose high heel sandals and the 90mm leopard calf hair pumps and mules have the loudest personality. For daytime there are the Junney and 25mm leather combat boots, the Granplage and Sensorial booties and the Vernice Vague patent slingback. If boots are your plan, a guide to fall ankle boots is a useful second opinion, and the Vernice Vague slingback is the one to wear with them.

The second half leans into the jewel-like detail the house is known for. The 30th Anniversary embellished sandals, the Intrigo 105mm crystal-embellished calf hair sandals and the Clandestino 95mm crystal sandals are the showpieces, and the Nappa leather gem sandals and thin strap crystal jewel sandals are the lighter versions. The Raso Nero crystal-embellished silk flat sandals and the Hobby thong sandals are for anyone who wants the sparkle closer to the ground. Boots show up too, in the leather cap-toe moto boots, the Barbaro stretch leather booties and the 90mm square-toe booties. What I would skip is wearing the crystal sandals with a dress that is already embellished; let the shoe be the only sparkle in the room. For strappy ideas in a quieter palette, there is a roundup of silver heels, and sandals sorted by height helps when you are deciding between a flat slide and a platform. The suede golden cap-toe pumps pair well with the logic in the cap-toe slingback.

In our fashion dreams she is leaving dinner in a slip dress and the Intrigo patent leather stiletto sandals, with nothing else that needs to be noticed. By day I would swap in the combat boots with a plain knit and straight trousers. Zanotti began as a DJ who loved shoes, and the best pairs here still feel like they were made for a night that goes long. If the stilettos are what drew you in, heels and their long, odd history tells the story of how we got here.

For more in the same spirit, take a look at Malone Souliers Heels and Loafers and Jewel Tone Heels And Boots.