Kate Walsh is known as one of the most talented actresses in Hollywood, not only for her comedic timing but for her ability to play passionate, sometimes complicated characters. As a woman who found her success in Hollywood after age 35, she’s in the zenith of her career — with the rare gift of being able to choose whatever she wants to do next onscreen and on the carpet.

As such, this summer Walsh decided to step out of her comfort zone with her style, starting withthe Emmys. All through her press tour for NBC’s Bad Judge and into the fall season, Walsh has continued to mix it up, with help from stylist Jeff Kim, experimenting with new silhouettes, designer pieces and, most importantly, shoes. As Walsh told us, “shoes are everything.”

During our chat with Walsh and Kim, we got to peek behind the scenes of her style transformation. “For me, personally, shoes are the signature to the letter that is your outfit; they really finish the look. As far as work goes, wardrobe is super important for me when building a character, especially shoes. They affect the way you walk, your posture and energy,” said Walsh. “A Birkenstock versus a Valentino heel versus a Timberland — each produce a totally different gait and physicality to a character. It’s like each shoe has its own soundtrack, so you’re going to move differently to each particular song.”

Kim concurred: “In truth, shoes can really make or break an ensemble. The shoe is a representation of the emotional part of any look. The color, the heel height, the pitch, and the shape are some of the often overlooked finishing touches to any look.”

So what does Walsh prefer when she’s off the carpet? “Isabel Marant ‘Dicker’ boots and Jenny Kayne flats for every day. But

,” she noted.

Check out what they both had to say about Walsh’s top five red-carpet shoe moments, below.

Emmys (pictured above)

The Shoes: A custom white satin, dyed to match in yellow, Stuart Weitzman Nudist heels

Kim: “The shape, the color and the drama are what I loved about this dress. It was the first dress Kate tried on — and of course, who can say no to haute couture!”

Walsh: “The color and silhouette are everything! This was the first dress I tried on. Jeff tailored it perfectly. The Stuart Weitzman Nudists are the best right now! They make my feet feel like a 17-year-old French girl who just got her curfew lifted.”

L.A. Opera

The Shoes: Rene Caovilla “Berlin” heels

Kim: “I remember I was in a car heading to JFK to head back to L.A. for my fitting with Kate, and Marchesa had confirmed this gown for our fitting. I knew when I saw the photo — Kate would love it because it was the perfect mixture between sleek and dramatic.”

Walsh: “This was for the opening of La Traviata. I wanted to feel a little 19th century, like a Sargent painting, and Jeff brought me this Marchesa and those shoes!”

SiriusXM Radio Appearance

The Shoes: Mesh and leather-laced Bionda Castana Stilettos exclusively for Net-a-Porter

Kim: “Boom goes the dynamite. The Walsh has arrived.”

Walsh: “Until this past season, I thought the only way to show midriff was with a half tee and a mullet.”

National Women’s History Museum Brunch

The Shoes: Brian Atwood nude “Besame” pointy-toe four-inch stilettos

Kim: “Young, fresh, tailored and a touch of Parisian sensibility. It was perfect for the occasion and perfect for one of our first looks out of the gates working together.”

Walsh: “Is it possible to feel like a French school girl in your 40s? Oui.”

Miss Golden Globe 2015 Reveal Party

The Shoes: Five-inch, ankle-wrap Giuseppe Zanotti black suede stilettos

Kim: “Kate and I had been waiting for the right event and moment to wear this Bibhu Mohapatra dress. It is the perfect mixture of sexy, classy and chic, but the ultimate finishing touch was the cross-strapped Giuseppe Zanotti heels.”

Walsh: “Jeff and I were obsessed with this Bibhu dress for fall. We wanted it to have the perfect red-carpet moment, like this InStyle/HFPA Golden Globes kickoff party.”