For several years now, the trend for watches has been to render them a little bigger each season, a little bolder, and–as a result–a bit more masculine (in my opinion). But since I don’t follow trends, I’ve stuck with my favorites and continued to wear thin watches. My gold Bulgari watch has long been a staple in my wardrobe; and for something more casual, I love Cartier and Hermès. Recently, however, I’ve noticed a move towards thinner, more elegant timepieces. Hmmm. It’s not that I’m a trendsetter–it’s just that I prefer a feminine look, and I wear what suits me. Here are some new favorites!

Nathalie Elharrar, the very talented personality behind LaRare, is the only woman designer I interviewed for this month’s on-going celebration of our regular feature, The Daily Shoe. Being a woman, Nathalie has an interesting perspective on feminine footwear. Her designs range from classic to extreme, but her signature touch is a piercing ring, which can often be found dangling from the sole or heel of a LaRare shoe. The ring represents Nathalie’s firm belief that a woman can and should be both strong and sexy at the same time.

Our readers love The Daily Shoe, and throughout November we’ll continue celebrating its one-year anniversary by looking more closely at five designers whose shoes appear on our site. All five of them took the time to meet with me during a hectic period (Paris Fashion Week for the Spring 2012 Prêt-à-Porter), and I had a great opportunity to visit their showrooms and preview their latest designs. First stop: The Hôtel George V and Sultan Al Darmaki.

We love beautiful shoes…and all the more so when they’re the work of a new designer. Sultan Al Darmaki, from the United Arab Emirates, studied public relations and marketing at school, but recently chose to follow his true passion: the design of extraordinary footwear. His company, DARMAKI, is based in London, and the shoes are handmade in Italy. Darmaki likes to quote another visionary shoe designer, André Perugia, who said “a woman’s personality is revealed by her shoes.” Darmaki’s dedication to his calling is obvious–indeed, the Victoria & Albert Museum has already added one of his shoes (a sandal called Lydia) to its permanent collection. We caught up with the designer over breakfast in New York (and via subsequent emails).