Camileon Heels adapt to life's highs and lows

Any woman who has ached for relief from heels midway through the day, or who has yearned for the glam injection that comes with a few extra inches of height, should check out Camileon Heels. Available locally only at downtown boutique The Finerie, the shoes have ingenious convertible heels that go from 1 1/2 inches to 3 1/4 inches with the flick of a wrist.

While the phrase "convertible heel" sounds like something you'd read in SkyMall, the shoes are surprisingly sleek and classically understated. Crafted from supple Italian napa leather, styles range from the pointy Grazia pumps to vampier Mariella heels with open toes and ankle straps. Their common attribute is extreme comfort and, of course, a handy ability to go from high to low.

To transform the shoes from catwalk to walk comfortably, just grasp the aluminum-based lower segment of the heel to disengage it from its locked high-heel position, then fold it under the arch of the shoe and lock it into place.

Camileon Heels, which were developed by a New York doctor with an interest in musculoskeletal problems, range from $290 to $305 and make a great travel-wardrobe staple, not to mention a key component of day-to-night ensembles.