Are you ready boots? Start walking
I don't know about you, but the recent frigid temperatures have me desperately awaiting spring. One thing about saying goodbye to the snow that particularly excites me is the thought of open toe heels again.
Runway designers and luxury shoe companies alike always come out with impressive new collections for the spring/summer season knowing cold-weather dwelling gals will glamour to get their hands (or rather their feet) on a pair of sandals that won't be destroyed by salt, or worse, make them fall flat on their face from the ice (we've all been there). Also, by February, who's not sick of dark colours and thick fabrics?
The spring collections bring a brightly coloured shimmer of much needed dazzle after the dreary winter. This season, the shoe collections lived up to the expectations and undoubtedly, Bergdorf already has a three month pre-order waiting list for some of the season's hottest.
Designers debuted their collections on the runway, and there were a few characteristics that are sure to create the summer trends. Sky-high heels were everywhere, and six inches is the new four. Platforms were popular too, possibly due to the height of the heels so the wearer's foot isn't angled so much as to make walking impossible.
Wedges popped up on numerous runways, all featuring interesting textures such as raffia, bamboo, wood and woven straw. Many sandals were also designed with jewels on the straps and created anything from a Grecian feel with turquoise stones to a Barbie girl's dream with rhinestones and Swarovski crystals galore. Although there were common trends, each designer respectively had their own personal taste injected into their spring shoe collections.
Yves Saint Laurent's famous safari-style shoe through this season with their wooden wedges that had a futuristic spin; black lycra-like fabric covered the foot in a trendy cut-out design. Patent leather and huge platforms made an appearance, but above the ankle studded gladiator-style sandals ruled the runway.
Prada, by far my favourite designer collection of the season, took shoes to a new height. Outrageously tall platforms made of snake skin were the most talked about shoe of the season. Pairing black with tan python skin and white with deep teal skin, these shoes made a powerful statement. Models struggled to walk down the runway (and a few ended up toppling right over) as the shoes were paired with slippery socks. Rumour has it that Miucca herself is fond of the socks, but is so concerned about the well being of the wearers that she is having the socks sewn in to prevent slippage. Secondary stars of the runway were wedges with cut-out designs in the heel that proved much easier to walk in.
Prada's more playful line, Mui Mui, also created some fantastic designs. Kicking off the pre-season with the much buzzed about paillette [covered in sequins] platform peep-toes, these shoes have started quite a trend. On the runway, two-tone toed pumps, t-straps and wedges complimented the designer's collection.
Not to be outdone, Christian Dior created a sandal that featured a tribal woman statue as the heel. The shoe created quite some publicity upon its debut and had critics wondering if it would translate into the real world. Easier to wear designs were also created and cut-outs (following their hugely popular extreme gladiator sandals), leather and Grecian inspired turquoise stones on gold strappy sandals will be sure to be seen on the streets in real life.
Over at Dolce & Gabbana, a surprisingly more muted shoe was what models wore to walk the runway. Classic, understated sandals were the most popular, with silk bows and platforms helping to jazz things up a bit.
Italy's most famous blonde, Donatella Versace, created a more interesting palette and was clearly not influenced by her nearby designers Dominico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana. Fire-engine red, almond toe pumps had models strutting. Bronze and nude strappy platform sandals were a little less bold, but still impactful nonetheless.
The much-talked about Kaiser (Karl Lagerfeld, for those of you less obsessed with him than me) finally debuted his much talked about pistol platform this upcoming season. With the heel modeled as a gun, every edgy fashion-obsessed woman is dying to wear these shoes that create a bang. Madonna was rumoured to love them so much, Uncle K gifted her with a pair before they were even available for pre-order. Less in your face designs included sandals with a twisted heel and heels with woven leather.
