Women's Pumps

Timeless and iconic, the high-heeled shoe remains a reliable staple in women's fashion, exuding glamour, chicness, and sexiness. Women of all ages wear them with charm and poise to elongate their silhouette, make an impression both in the city and at work, and add a sensual effect with a hint of authority to their elegant evening attire.

Adored by women who enjoy the firm and regular click-clack of each step, which literally and figuratively elevates them, the pump has established itself as a wardrobe essential with the same ease and impact as it did in the mid-20th century, a period when it was reinvented and brought back into vogue. It was Christian Dior's House, riding the wave of post-WWII euphoria and introducing a new approach to femininity, that restored the "décolleté" shoe to its former glory with the presentation of its first New Look collection in 1947.

Pumps for All Ages and (Almost) All Styles

Far from renouncing the spirit or character of this untouchable standard, today's pumps have not discarded a certain academicism and come in a vast array of styles and shapes: round, open, or pointed toes; back-strap models; stiletto heels; block heels; or wedge heels. The pump adapts to its era and, with its creative flexibility, meets an increasingly broad demand, more adept than before at finding the right balance between aesthetics and comfort.

Besson Shoes’ online catalog showcases all these variations, offering an eclectic choice for both the young and the less young, allowing them to find pumps that reflect their personality and match their tastes while keeping in touch with long-standing or more fleeting fashion trends.

A sign of its democratization, the contemporary pump is also, and increasingly, worn during the day with casual outfits and is no longer just a rare and precious item reserved for chic evenings, paired with a strapless dress or a cocktail dress.

Pumps: The Ups and Downs

Surprisingly, contrary to popular belief, pumps were not always an exclusively feminine attribute. As a symbol of elegance and social distinction during the Monarchy, they were worn indifferently by both men and women who, at the Court of Versailles, had the privilege of interacting with Louis XIV, who himself occasionally wore elevated heeled shoes. While height is not the original characteristic of the pump (the term, derived from the Italian 'scarpino', originally referred to "small, light shoes" with thin soles), the collective imagination now associates this shoe with the "greatness" of its often dramatic heels, especially in the most elongated versions (the famous "stilettos").

There is no standard height for a pump. The highest ones reach over ten centimeters, while the more classic heights are around 7-8 cm, and the lowest, often recommended for those new to heels, do not exceed 5 cm.

A Cascade of Pumps at Besson

Among the pumps featured by Besson Shoes, you'll find models with stiletto heels (the most demanding to wear but also the boldest), as well as square or wedge-heeled models that ensure better foot support and greater stability.

The diversity of products available in our online store allows for numerous combinations of designs, colors, and materials (leather, fabric, or synthetic): why not pair block heels with a rounded finish at the end of the shoe? These "round-toe" pumps are particularly appreciated by younger wearers for their comfort. For a more "femme fatale" style, try pointed-toe pumps or, for the less reserved, "open-toe" models that subtly reveal the toes. You might fall for the absolute charm of "back-strap" pumps, whether simple, double, or crisscrossed over the instep (where the heel remains exposed).

Don't miss out on the Orsay pumps, recognizable by their characteristic two-part design, one part encircling the heel and the other covering the toes.