The motto for footwear these past few years seems to have been, “The Bigger, The Better.” At least that’s how it seemed for a while since finding any fashionable, single-soled heels felt like an exercise in futility. But happily in recent seasons—thanks to the return of mid-century-inspired designs—we’ve seen sky-high heels start to come down to earth.

Yet, even knowing that fashion is cyclical, nothing could have prepared us for the immensely popular Isabel Marant Spring 2012 “It” shoe, the Willow. This sneaker has become an obsession for many a fashionista—and we know how hard it is to pry those pedicured toes from exotic Viviers or Louboutins. Of course, they’re not just regular old sneaks, they’ve got 3 inches of hidden wedge. And while we’re glad to find an alternative to the ubiquitous Ugg (at least here in California),  we’re not so sure we’re prepared to shell out $760 for these babies—if we can find them. Word is, people are turning to eBay to snag a pair for a cool grand.

But not to worry. The shoe that launched a thousand fans from Beyonce and Alessandra Ambrosio to Kate Bosworth and  The Man Repeller, has also launched a thousand iterations: between Topshop, Ash, Nine West, and Chloe, Jeffrey Campbell, and Giuseppe Zanotti Design, mabye we’ll get to find a pair for ourselves after all?

Photos: roc4life.com, theblondesalad.com, marantphiles.com.