Comfort or style? If the shoe fits, it's your call

Feet hurt?

These days, stylish shoes come in two heights: flat and towering.

Fashion magazines and stores are showcasing more flashy 3- and 4-inch heels than ever -- and sometimes adding on platforms that we once thought only Elton John would wear.

The pinch of high heels isn't an issue just for fashionistas. At the office, high-heeled pumps are the feminine equivalent of wingtips. A woman who wants a power shoe -- or added height -- will usually wear heels, even if they leave her wriggling her tingling toes underneath her desk.

But in recent years, a small but fast-growing group of shoemakers have tried to combine height and comfort, seeking solutions in orthopedic and athletic-shoe technology.

To see which were most comfortable for a full day of work, I bought six pairs of shoes ranging in price from $89 to $495, with heels from 2½ to 3 inches high. I wore each one all day and even hiked through airports with two of the pairs.

There was a clear winner for comfort married with style: Taryn Rose, the most expensive shoe in the group. With contrast piping, metallic leathers, slim wedges and peep toes, the shoe line looked highly stylish. The $495 price for the Daphne model I chose could make such shoes prohibitive for some pocketbooks, but special built-in supports made it a cradle compared with the others.

I also looked at Naturalizer, Aerosoles and Ecco -- brands that have focused on comfort for years. Of the three, the $84 Naturalizers blended comfort and style most effectively, and, given the price, they were the best deal of all six pairs. Aerosoles, $83, and Ecco, $144, had more limited offerings for office looks, though they had wide selections in lower heels and walking shoes.

Helmsley stash auctioned

The clothing and shoe collection of the late billionaire real estate magnate Leona Helmsley, best known as the "Queen of Mean," will be auctioned off starting May 18 by Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in Chicago.

Hundreds of pairs of Ferragamo heels, Bob Mackie gowns, 10 fur coats and even the Chanel suit Helmsley wore to prison in the 1980s will be up for bids.

As you may recall, Helmsley spent time in jail for tax evasion and was once quoted as saying, "We don't pay taxes. Only little people pay taxes."

To see or bid on the items, go to www.lesliehindman.com.