Happy feet for the winter

on trends in ladies' shoes this season.

Pretty girls in long coats with warm scarves wrapped around their neck and a pair of long, sexy boots encasing their feet "" the perfect winter picture.

Only this year round, boots aren't as hot as before. The latest fashion accessories are ballerina and court shoes which complement every outfit, be it jeans, skirts, dresses or tights. The best bit? You don't need to wear them over your jeans to show them off... they're visible any which way.

Considering India's expansive territorial coverage, weather conditions vary from city to city, and thus, so does fashion. So, while you might still find people picking out a pair of knee-length boots from the top of a shoe rack in Delhi, in Mumbai, court and ballerina shoes make the statement of the season.

Pankita Bhavsar, manager for Rinaldi shoes in India, says, "In Mumbai girls are mostly going for court shoes and high heels, though comfort is also very important."

Designer Rina Shah of Rinaldi is using a lot of crochet and brocade on the court shoes, lending a unique character to the shoe.

Now Mumbaikars may feel a tad too warm if they strolled around the city in boots, but jetsetters travelling to cooler climates like to be well covered and often pick their boots from the city. Rinaldi's high-heeled, knee-length boots are the first to go off the shelf. Ranging from denim to zardozi embroidered and leather to suede, they start at a price of Rs 5,000.

Round toe, high-heeled shoes and flat ballerinas are a rage up north. Deepika Mehra, owner of Ashley shoes, reveals, "Our range of round toe shoes and ballerinas are selling really well. Women are picking up boots as well, but not so much as a fashion statement than as a necessity."

Da Milano, famous for its leather products, is also importing shoes from Spain. Visit an outlet and you realise they haven't stocked up on boots. Instead, their shelves are decorated with round toe shoes, court shoes and ballerina shoes.

Animal prints, especially the leopard print, are a favourite with the hip crowd, as are metallic leather shoes since they go well with the dark colours associated with winter. For those attending weddings and other such functions, there is also a range of shoes ornamented with sequins and stone work.

Small bows or a little flower on the ballerina shoes in golden, silver, pink and black and even flat school girl shoes in black with a tiny ornament could cost you anything between Rs 900 and Rs 3,000. Backless, well pointed court shoes would fall in the same range. High heels, being the order of the season, must not be block or platform.

The sleeker and taller the heels, the sexier the look, even though with the round toe shoes, the heels tend to be a little thicker than ususal. In keeping with the ongoing trend, comfort brand Woodland also launched its winter collection with round toe and flat schoolgirl shoes priced within the Rs 2,000-3,000 range.

Now when you step out this winter for a casual outing or even to grab a few drinks and dance moves at a club, make sure you're styled and comfortable in a pair of ballerinas.

Unless, of course, you're going for a formal dinner, in which case the court shoes will really come in handy.