B.W. COOK -- The Look

If your shoes are square and chunky, you have definitely missed the

point for fall. Actually, you may have literally missed the point, as

shoe designers are elongating and exaggerating the toe on everything from

sandals to slings to slides to heels to boots.

Take for example the look of the Italian-made brand Via Spiga, a

division of InterShoe. Via Spiga, a deluxe shoe and bag brand whose

parent company is headquartered in New York City, recently opened a

boutique at Fashion Island, Newport Beach.

This West Coast salon opened to a local celebrity crowd earlier this

month. Hosted by Elle Magazine, the store opening attracted Via Spiga

devotees from all over. It is amazing just what some people will do to

make their point.

Caption One

(Crowd shot from store opening)

Sharon Williams, left, Via Spiga’s marketing director, poses with

Anjali Augustine of Elle Magazine, which hosted the Via Spiga opening at

Fashion Island.

Caption Two

(Another Store opening shot)

Two designers compare notes as shoe designer Ernesto Esposito and

handbag designer Annamarie Mongillo smile for the camera.

Caption Three

(final shot from opening)

Ernesto Esposito gets in the shot with Via Spiga store manager Nan

Huber, center, and Bill Baum, president of InterShoe Inc.

Caption Four

A classic Via Spiga bag and boot, with pointed toe and tapered heel.

The style is known as “Amelia.” The handbag sells for $240 and the boot

sells for $265.

Caption Five

“Poncho” is the name of this sling-back shoe, again with a pointed toe

and buckle over the arch. Poncho sells for $162 and comes in three

colors. The shoe is made of both leather and suede.

Caption Six

This little slider is called “Page.” It sells for $162.

Caption Seven

The classic Via Spiga look known as “Gabby” sells for $170 and comes

in a selection of two-toned leather.

Caption Eight

Try on this glove calf-suede boot called “Galan. “ It comes in several

colors and sells for $226.