A pair of pumps can turn any outfit from drab to fab. We wear them to work and to go out on the town. The word pump is often used to describe a lot of different types of shoes. Pumps have a medium to high heel and cover the back of the foot and the toes, without a strap. Visible parts of the foot include part of the arch, the top of the foot, and a bit of toe cleavage.

Early Heels: Chopines
High heels, some as high as 23 inches were in fashion for upper class women during the Renaissance. These shoes were custom-made and had intricate lacing. In contrast, pumps combined a heel and style with easy slip-on convenience.

Pompes and the Louis Heel
The origin of the word pump in reference to shoes comes from strapless and button-less shoes, "pompes" worn by men and servants in the 1500's. The pump was later elevated to royal status. Pumps with a low and curved heel could be found in the French royal courts of the Louis XIV.

The curved heel is one which comes in and out of style on a pair of pumps, and is called the Louis heel. This particular pump looks strikingly similar to the early pumps of the 1700s. Both styles are round and curvy, with subtle patterning.

In the 1800's more of the top of the foot was shown in silk court shoes. The heel was relatively low, and the Louis heel remained popular in the 1800's.

Modern Pumps
The modern pump, with the narrow heel at the bottom, that we see today first came into fashion in the 1950's.

Pumps were a formal footwear of choice for ladies, including fashion icon Jackie O. The pump, particularly in a plummy pink high heel is still popular, in no small part because of the Sex and the City TV and movie franchise.

Sources
Head Over Heal History, http://www.headoverheelshistory.com/pumps.html
Pumps, http://shoes.lovetoknow.com/Pumps

Some people say that when celebrities die, they tend to die in groups of three. Unfortunately, that has proven true during the last week, as entertainer Ed McMahon, actress Farrah Fawcett and pop superstar Michael Jackson passed away.

Two of the deaths were not entirely unexpected. Ed McMahon, 86, died after battling cancer and suffering a bout of pneumonia. Actress *Farrah Fawcett*'s heart-rending battle with cancer had become publicly known over the last several months. Fawcett's ex and father of her child, Ryan O'Neal, had expressed he and Fawcett's desire to marry in the face of her worsening condition. Unfortunately, they never got the chance. Fawcett passed away shortly after being readmitted to the hospital.

But the death which was most unexpected has also had the biggest impact: that of international pop superstar turned recluse Michael Jackson. Sympathy and fan tributes have poured in from all over the globe since Jackson's recent death, with radio stations who barely gave his music airtime playing it non-stop. Jackson, 50, was rushed to the hospital after he stopped breathing. Apparently, he never regained consciousness. An initial autopsy was unable to determine a cause of death; Jackson's family have requested that a second autopsy be conducted. Either way, his death came at an ironic time, when he was preparing for what was to be his international "comeback" tour. There are more questions than answers for his family and friends. Was his declining health to blame, or was it a dependence on prescription drugs? Was he simply not strong enough to be preparing to go on tour? And, most importantly, what will happen to his three children now that he is gone? Although most of Jackson's family and friends believe Katherine, Michael's mother, is the best candidate to raise the three children, Jackson's ex-wife Debbie Rowe is the biological mother of his two oldest. Her parental rights were terminated, and later restored. If she sues for custody, it could mean a nasty and protracted legal battle.

Here's a peak at tomorrow's fashion trends, today.

Cropping the Shirt
The long-waisted shirt may be seeing its end as cropped shirts make their way back onto the fashion scene. The waist will be emphasized again, with cute cropped tops and waist-emphasizing wraps and shrugs.

Meet the Browns
Move over gray, the brown family is here. Earth hues continue to dominate all aspects of color in our lives, from couches Coaches (yes, Coach bags), from carpeting to peep toe boots. Brown is also the color of the day for make up. Neutral eye shadows, natural to nude lips, with un-fussy eyebrows and center parts add to the natural look for Fall 2009. Non-chalance, carefree hair will soften the more harder-edge look of biker chic clothing.

1920s to 1950s
The Depression-era and 1920s vintage touches recently found in clothing will give way to more 1950s, Hitchcockian styles. The 1920s are still being used by some designers, in a modern way, including Alberta Ferretti, the more optimistic yet restrained clothing of the 1950s, are also making the scene.

On the Fringe
Fringe will continue to shake its way around women's fashion. Fringe is reminiscent of the 1920s and the 1960s.

Sweet Petite
There's no reason to be swimming in his jeans or to wear jeans that are not the right length. Expect to see more petite jeans made for women under 5'4" that fit a petite woman's figure.

Hats off to Hats, Not Scarves
Those long layers of scarves we've been wearing, even in the heat and humidity may have to go. Fun and bright hats are preferable, and add a sense of whimsy to an otherwise serious world.

Warming up to Red
The must-have fashion accessory right now is warm red. Warm red is cropping up in designer handbags, shoes and women's ready-to-wear clothing. The red is empowering enough for women, yet subtle enough for the boardroom.