Bloomingdale's leans toward pumps. Loeffler Randall's strappy embellished sandal opens the group at $210, and Aquatalia's Aloha pump at $395 is the practical one with a low block heel. Stinaa.J's Jackie is $550 and built on an orthopedic last, which is unusual at this end of the market. Nodaleto's Donna mule is $595, Gianvito Rossi's Eloise slingback is $597 and the Gianvito 105 pump is $850, both in true red. Santoni's mid-heel pump sits at $679, and Balmain's Sync patent stiletto tops the group at $1,295.

Saks covers the designer end more deeply. Badgley Mischka's Yohana in cherry satin is $245 and Bernardo's Hartley sandal in dark red is $248. Tory Burch's Lock kitten-heel sandal at $350 has the lowest heel here at 55mm and is the easiest to wear for a full day. Above that: Valentino Garavani's Panthea pump at $800, Manolo Blahnik's 70mm suede pump at $895, Alexandre Birman's Nicole in cherry lacquer at $925, the Dries Van Noten eyelet slingback at $985, and Isabel Marant's Luza in scarlet velvet at $1,250.

Red is not one colour, and that matters more than the heel height. A bright true red like the Gianvito 105 or the Valentino Panthea reads as a statement and fights anything patterned. The deeper reds, the cherry on the Alexandre Birman and the ruby on the Dries Van Noten, behave almost like a neutral and are easier to wear twice a week. Heel height then decides the occasion: the Tory Burch at 55mm and the Aquatalia block heel are genuinely walkable, the 105mm pairs are not. If you take one thing away, pick the shade for how often you plan to wear them, then pick the height for where.