>> Despite all those shoe-induced falls on the Prada runway, the fashion industry's obsession with super-high heels is causing designers to go higher.

Manolo Blahnik, who for over 20 years has gone no higher than five-inch heels — and doesn't do platforms — is increasing his maximum height to six inches this year.  He says it's paying off — the six-inch heels already account for 30 percent of his business.  And Christian Louboutin, who has popularized extreme heels, is seeing his new six- and seven-inch heels sell so well that he has plans to introduce eight-inch platform shoes next Fall: "I hear they can be painful, but women keep asking for them."

Poor economic times mean longer hemlines, but higher heels?  We'll see — a model told reporters after the Prada show: "I was having a panic attack, my hands were shaking. The heels were so high.  Some of the girls were crying backstage they were so scared."  I love my vertiginous heels, but who wants to buy into that . . .
*image: source