It's time to banish those negative connotations when it comes to white stilettos, as the trendsetters welcome the much-maligned shoes into their wardrobes.

Like many styles of shoe, the white stiletto has a subtext. But unlike the dainty Hepburn-esque glamour associated with ballet pumps, or the gritty, sub-cultural connotations of brothel creepers, white stilettos have been plastered with Eighties gaudiness and, latterly, a jocular attribution to Essex-based poor taste.

It was rather a surprise, then, when we noticed that of all the many, many trends adopted by the fashion pack and showily demonstrated throughout the international Fashion Week season, white stilettos have by far been the most popular.

From tastemaker Taylor Tomasi Hill, artistic director of Moda Operandi, and 'Man Repeller' blogger Leandra Medine (both sporting pairs by Céline) to supermodel Karolina Kurkova and It girl Harley Viera-Newton — plus numerous other fashion editors and stylists — the sightings of these once-berated shoes have been countless.

Kurt Geiger tell us they've experienced a noticeable surge in interest for their styles that are available in crisp white, with high-profile bloggers such as the aforementioned Leandra Medine, Shini Parker of Park & Cube, Ella Catliff of La Petite Anglaise and members of the WWD team all snapping up their "Elliot", "Ella" and "Anais" colourless styles. Similarly, Selfridges have included a whole section dedicated to white shoes in their new Shoe Carnival initiative.

But the most popular style, it seems, is Manolo Blahnik's BB pump, a classic pointy-toed, spindly-heeled number that is available in a rainbow of colours and is perennially popular with the fashion set. So what does its iconic creator have to say about the soaring sales of the style in white?

"They were not so much in fashion in the last decade or so and they seem to be popular again," Blahnik tells us. "I have to say they don't look good on everyone. It takes a certain woman and style to pull this look off."

Take heed, ladies. This is one style that requires caution.

— The Telegraph