The Classic Pump Has Competition at Sam Edelman

The pointed pump is still everywhere at Sam Edelman, but it is not alone. Bianka comes in woven leather, Margeaux in flocked mesh, Finch in feathers and Esme with a peep toe, while Talula, Hazel and Vienna keep the classic shape in the collection.

There is much more range here than the pointed pumps alone suggest. Some styles keep the familiar shape and change the upper. Others open the heel or toe, lower the height or move into sandals and mules.

Bianka is where the weave comes in. The Bianka Weave Slingback Pump keeps the pointed front and open heel of a classic slingback, with Café Noir woven leather covering most of the upper. The weave runs across the shoe rather than appearing as a small trim, making it noticeably different from the smoother pumps around it.

Margeaux keeps the pointed toe but changes almost everything behind it. The black Margeaux Mesh Heeled Mule has a three-inch stiletto, an open back and a flocked mesh upper patterned with spots. Much of the foot remains visible through the mesh, so the pattern is easy to see.

Talula goes the other way. The Talula Pointed Toe Pump is closed, sharply pointed and set on a 4.125-inch stiletto heel. In Café Noir, there is very little decoration. Beside Bianka and Margeaux, it shows how little the classic pump needs to change to hold its place.

Feathers, slingbacks and a peep toe

Finch is the most decorative slingback here. Feathers cover the Sage Sky fabric upper of the Finch Feather Slingback Pump, but the heel underneath is only 1.375 inches. That low heel keeps the shoe compact despite the amount of feather detail.

Tegan is much simpler. It keeps the pointed toe and 4.125-inch heel, with an adjustable slingback strap in place of Talula’s closed back. There is no weave or feather detail here. Tegan is simply the pointed slingback.

Esme changes the front instead. The patent leather upper opens at the toe and is finished with a slim ankle strap above a 3.75-inch stiletto. Beside the pointed pumps, the combination feels distinctly vintage.

Mules, sandals and mesh

Jeanie moves further away from the pumps. The Chocolate Ivory Jeanie Heeled Mule has an open toe, a 3.375-inch stiletto and zebra Brahma hair across the upper. The animal pattern is the first thing you notice, and it gives the mule a very different character from Margeaux.

Ginny is less dramatic. The Ginny Strappy Heel Sandal uses crossing straps, an ankle fastening and a three-inch heel, leaving much more of the foot exposed. At £89.99, reduced from £160, it is also one of the deepest reductions in the edit.

Then there is Hazel, one of Sam Edelman’s established pumps. The black Hazel Pointed Toe Heel has a 3.75-inch stiletto, low-cut vamp and padded sock. It is an uncomplicated black pump, but the lower front leaves more of the foot visible than Talula and gives the shoe a slightly different line.

Warm Ivory Hazel Mesh keeps the pointed shape but changes the upper completely. Mesh covers the foot and crystal detailing is worked across it, making this a far more decorative version of Hazel than the plain black pump beside it.

A case for the lower heel

Pax and Presley share the same 2.375-inch kitten heel, but the straps set them apart. The Pax Kitten Heel Thong Sandal uses a toe post with leather straps and a buckled fastening, leaving most of the foot open. Presley adds more straps across the front, giving the Strappy Kitten Heel Sandal more coverage while keeping the same low heel. Together they bring a lower, more open shape into an edit dominated by taller pumps and stilettos.

Lace, metallic leather and another woven slingback

The mules also turn out to have more variety than the original product names suggest. Margeaux has flocked mesh and Jeanie has zebra Brahma hair. Iva adds lace.

The Modern Ivory Iva Heeled Mule has a fabric upper with lace across the front, an open back and a 3.5-inch stiletto heel. The pale colour makes the lace particularly visible, separating it clearly from Margeaux’s mesh and Jeanie’s zebra Brahma hair.

Ines and Lili share open toes, buckled straps and four-inch stilettos, but the materials separate them. The Ines Strappy Stiletto Sandal comes in Bright White fabric, with slim straps across the foot. Lili uses Amber Gold leather instead, giving the Stiletto Sandal a much stronger metallic finish. The shapes are close, but the shoes look noticeably different.

Essa is another woven slingback, this time with a 3.75-inch heel and cap toe. That puts it closer to Bianka than Tegan, although Essa concentrates the contrast at the front while Bianka carries the weave across most of the upper.

Isadora is built around its wraparound ties. They extend from the four-inch stiletto sandal and wind around the ankle instead of ending at a conventional ankle strap. That immediately separates it from Ginny, Ines and Lili.

Vienna is the lower-heeled pointed pump of the group. Its leather upper is simple, while the 7.1cm heel sits noticeably below Talula and Hazel. It gives Sam Edelman another classic pump without simply repeating either of them.

Our View

Bianka, Margeaux, Finch, Jeanie and Hazel Mesh are the shoes that stay with us. Bianka has woven leather, Margeaux flocked mesh, Finch feathers, Jeanie zebra Brahma hair and Hazel Mesh crystal detailing. None depends on the shape alone.

Talula, Hazel and Vienna are simpler, but they belong here too. They keep the pointed pump present while the rest of the edit moves through slingbacks, mules and sandals.

The pump has not been replaced. It just has far more competition than it used to.

Would We Buy It?

We would buy the Bianka Weave Slingback Pump first. The Café Noir woven leather covers most of the upper and gives the pointed slingback much more character than the smoother pumps in the edit.

The Finch Feather Slingback Pump would come next. The feathers are obvious, but the 1.375-inch heel underneath them is the detail we like most.

We would also take the Margeaux Mesh Heeled Mule. The flocked black mesh and spotted pattern suit the pointed, open-backed mule particularly well.

And the Esme Peep Toe Heel stays on the list. Its patent leather, peep toe and slim ankle strap give it a vintage evening look that none of the pointed pumps quite shares.