Some designers have been thinking 'outside the wedge' when it comes to Spring's style. Opening up and playing with the space between the shoe's upper and the ground, designers are using the cut-out heel to give the season's wedges an architectural and ultra-contemporary look. Some, like Robert Clergerie's mod styles, look almost space-age while Calvin Klein's have a casual kind of boho-chic feel to them. Two other standouts are designers who have really integrated the look into their Spring and Summer '08 collections. You decide if they are at opposite ends of the style spectrum!

Michael Kors has been a champion of this style with many of his new sandals displaying the cut-out heel. Visually one can choose to see either the meeting of the top part of a heel and the lower part of a wedge, or simply a small sculpted window elegantly cut out of a solid wedge heel. However you look at it, it's uniquely and gracefully done, and with Kors' prices it's an easy way to get a piece of the fashion for Spring.

<a href="http://www.michaelkors.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod2870040&parentId=cat2502&masterId=cat121&cmCat=cat000000cat101cat121cat2502&index=0&tid=P6"> Michael Kors 'Deena' </a> – $245

<a href="http://www.shopbop.com/danger-patent-cutout-wedge-kors/vp/v=1/845524441811478.htm?folderID=2534374302024643&fm=browse-category-viewall-shopbysize"> Michael Kors 'Danger' Wedge </a> – $230

<a href="http://www.michaelkors.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod2560037&parentId=cat3002&masterId=cat121&cmCat=cat000000cat101cat121cat3002&index=35&tid=V1"> Michael Kors 'Debutante' Wedge </a> – $230

<a href="http://www.intermixonline.com/jump.jsp?itemID=20884&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C8%2C62&iProductID=20884"> Michael Kors 'Danger' Wedge </a> – $230

Giuseppe Zanotti has gone in a more sculptural and consequently fashion-forward direction. Less of a window and more of a cavernous hole, sky-high platforms and even higher heels mean room for lots of open space. The designs are a little bit seventies, a lot rock&roll and certainly aren't for the faint of heart.

<a href="http://www.giuseppe-zanotti-design.com/"> Giuseppe Zanotti Gold Lacquered Wedge </a>

<a href="http://www.giuseppe-zanotti-design.com/" > Giuseppe Zanotti Silver Lacquered Wedge </a>

<a href="http://www.giuseppe-zanotti-design.com/"> Giuseppe Zanotti Fuxia Leather Peep Toe Wedge </a>

<a href="http://www.intermixonline.com/jump.jsp?itemID=22963&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C8%2C62&iProductID=22963"> Giuseppe Zanotti Cutout Mod Platforms </a> – $695

Below you'll find more styles from BCBGirls to Stella McCartney who also gave a nod to the cut-out wedge:

<a href="http://www.barneys.com/b/browse/product.s?productId=712450&source=category&index=191&prodIndex=191&listSize=451&categoryId=543864"> Robert Clergerie 'Paradis' </a> $495

<a href="http://www.barneys.com/b/browse/product.s?productId=712431&source=category&index=189&prodIndex=189&listSize=451&categoryId=543864"> Robert Clergerie 'Paoli' </a> – $425

<a href="http://www.piperlime.com/browse/product.do?cid=19872&pid=556381&scid=556381012"> BCBGirls 'Proud' Pump </a> – $98

<a href="http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod45750037&parentId=cat15490733&masterId=cat13030734&index=29&cmCat=cat000000cat000141cat13030734cat15490733"> Stella McCartney Crocheted Wedge </a> – $1,095

<a href+"http://www.shopbop.com/cutout-wedge-peep-toe-sling/vp/v=1/845524441812506.htm?folderID=2534374302024643&fm=browse-category-viewall-shopbysize"> Belle by Sigerson Morrison Cutout Wedge Peeptoe Sling </a> – $315

<a href="http://www.shoeline.com/asp/dcpItem.asp?style=S1208823" Sofft 'Passage' </a> – $108.95

<a href="http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2951614/0~2376778~2372808~6004875?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6004875&P=2"> Calvin Klein 'Yosi' </a> – $89.95

<a href="http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=293906&CategoryID=19600"> Calvin Klein 'Yau' </a> – $80