he one area of fashion that is often neglected in this town is footwear. We seem to be a city known for snow boots and running shoes instead of slingbacks and stilettos. If I could afford to break out my favorite pairs more often, I would, but part of what makes a shoe attractive is only wearing it on special occasions. Some people will never understand the point of buying a shoe you can't wear every day. (If you are one of those people, read no further.)

My most beloved pairs are often too tall to walk very far in. You certainly wouldn't want to dance in them for very long. This doesn't mean I can resist a pair of mirrored silver Pradas when they come into the consignment shop I manage (unworn, in my size!). And now I have someplace to wear them ...

Hello Stiletto, a social club for shoe lovers, was founded in Boston by Melissa O'Shea, a.k.a. "Imelda Medford." Her favorite shoes, I gleaned from the website, are "the ones that are, inevitably, not on sale."

In my case, it's the most expensive pair, so I like her already. In fact, I'm pretty sure I'd get along quite well with all of Hello Stiletto's members, who now number more than 10,000, in cities across the country. They wear their favorite high, high-heeled shoes to venues ranging from bars to boutiques, and which shoe aficionados can walk the pink carpet and vie for the coveted title of "best in shoe."

Finally I have a place to wear my Guillaume Hinfray metallic snakeskin sandals, which have nestled patiently in tissue for longer then I care to admit. It's nice to know I'm not the only one in this city who has more than one pair of decadent high heels hiding in a glossy box inside my closet. The problem isn't that I have too many shoes; it's that I don't have enough places to wear them. Boston cobblestones are notoriously hard on pin-thin heels, and I'm not going to jeopardize the smooth leather covering my YSL steeples for dinner in the North End. It's time my fancy heels made some friends.

The next Hello Stiletto event will take place Thursday, July 15, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Lobby Bar & Kitchen (131 Broad St.), so you have plenty of time to decide which pair to wear.

In addition to enjoying some serious shoe candy, you can meet Zack Lo, a Boston-based shoe designer, who will be presenting a moving art installation showcasing his latest designs. And there will be an introduction to "Luscious Legs," a program at Equinox fitness.

The winner of the "best in shoe" walk off that night will stroll home with the prize of an Equinox membership (sweet!) or a pair of Zack Lo shoes. I'm not sure which I'd prefer.

It doesn't cost anything to attend. Just make sure you RSVP to melissa0509@shoeclub.us. See you there!

Off the Rack

The CRAVE Boston networking party, celebrating stylish women entrepreneurs, is Wednesday (June 30) from 6 to 9 p.m. at 369 Congress St., including giveaways and gift bags. It's free, but you have to RSVP.

Poor Little Rich Girl, which closed its Davis Square flagship store in April (there are offshoots on Newbury Street in Boston and Hampshire Street in Cambridge), is reopening at 374 Somerville Ave. in Union Square, Somerville, attached to Grand.

One Night In Paris, the Fiona Paxton trunk show, is next Tuesday (July 6) from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 450 Harrison Ave, Studio 305.

Additional reporting by Alessandra Carriero

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