Once known for pants suits and pantyhose, Washington women have developed a real sense of style, says Robin Givhan in her return to the Washington Post this weekend. The Pulitzer Prize-winning fashion columnist discusses the evolution of “power dressing,” and how the city’s female power brokers now embrace fashion–or at least, wear clothing that’s more imaginative than a shapeless suit.  I’d even argue that, fair or not, a woman is almost expected to wear quality clothing that flatters her body and her personality if she wants to be taken seriously in a high-powered job.

I’ve never owned one of these “power suits”–and while I’ve always said I’d never take a job that required me to wear one, I’m glad it may never be an issue. Sure, I work in communications and media, where creative attire has always been appreciated, and now, I feel I better represent the fashion industry in, say, one of my Andy Warhol print dresses than the stereotypical Washington outfit. And while I’ve had my fashion misses, I firmly believe that the so-not-me suit would diminish my confidence, and thus my career opportunities, more than a flamboyant dress ever could.

And that’s the point. As one Justice Department attorney told Givhan, “I dress to feel confident. I dress to feel secure. I dress to make me feel good.” My clothing has always helped me project that confidence, but accessories really make me shine. Whether I’m wearing that flamboyant dress, or my daily uniform of a black blazer and black skinny jeans, my “power handbag” and “power heels” give me a boost both in terms of fashion and confidence.

As a fashion writer, I’ve seen a lot of shoes. And let me tell you, nobody does “power heels” like Manolo Blahnik, the Spanish-born, London-based shoemaker whose designs make a statement, but are actually comfortable enough for 12-hour meeting marathons. I had always appreciated the brand’s designs, but I had never taken the plunge–after all, my shoes get torn to shreds walking around the city. Yet, after learning about the brand’s heritage and craftsmanship, and meeting the minds behind these walking works of art, I decided to invest in my power wardrobe, and myself, with a pair.

Manolo Blahnik Spring 2014 (Credit: Samantha Sault)

As I wrote in the Weekly Standard, the spring collection was a lesson in the globalization of fashion. The candy-colored pairs inspired by  tango culture in turn-of-the-20th-century Spain were constructed of fabrics from Africa, which were stitched together in Italy, and then shown for the first time in London before they would be shipped to boutiques around the world.

Manolo Blahnik Spring 2014 (Credit: Samantha Sault)

These shoes are not just beautiful, but comfortable, too. If you’ve never slipped your foot inside one of Mr. Blahnik’s famous slippers, I know you’re thinking that the price for one pair cannot be worth it, especially if your pedestrian lifestyle has torn up a few lesser pairs. But, when you combine top-of-the-line materials and a perfectly balanced sole and stainless-steel heel with such exquisite design, you’re not just buying a pair of shoes.

Manolo Blahnik Spring 2014 (Credit: Samantha Sault)

You’re buying the most beautiful, the most comfortable pair of shoes, which, due to the superb quality, can be cleaned up and reheeled and resoled again and again. You’re buying a piece of art for your closet, and your body. You’re saying hello to improved posture and calf definition and a sexy swagger, and goodbye to aching arches and blisters and twisted ankles when the unbalanced heel gets stuck in the sidewalk crack.

Manolo Blahnik Spring 2014 (Credit: Samantha Sault)

And, if you’re anything like me, you’re investing in the confidence that comes from wearing such a pair of shoes, and all the successes that confidence will bring.