This summer's fashionable footwear is an eclectic mix of masculine and feminine, high (and even higher) heels, summer flatties, look-at-me platforms and wedges. Find them in the new nude tones of the season, or eye-popping hues of blue, pink, orange, purple and yellow.
Many are adorned with all-over prints, feathers, petals, ruffles, gems and beads, accompanied by some of the wackiest footwear designs ever seen on the fashion runways.
Extreme Shoes
Crazy footwear has become a mini trend, with designers almost outdoing one another with their surreal shoes. From Basso & Brooke’s towering platforms to Celine’s sandals with a cut-out sole, shoe shapes have become a feat of engineering with gravity defying heels. Materials like perspex, plastic and acetate (Gianfranco Ferre) vie with exotic animal skins, leather and suede.
One shoe feature prodominent in many of this season's platformed footwear is the way platforms are slightly smaller in size to the rest of the shoe.
The Day-to-Night Sandal
Providing a well deserved rest from the highest of heels is the versatile summer flattie littered with jewels, gems and bows. It will transport you from beach to bar in comfort and is the ultimate day-to-evening shoe. This season you can also find these embellished beauties in pale pastels and blush shades, muted metallics and nude tones of soft buttery suede.
The Gladiator Sandal
Just when you thought gladiator sandals could get no more popular than 2008, this season sees new variations on the theme, with more embellishments, bolder colors, higher heels and strappier designs. The gladiator sandal has evolved as a perennial favorite given its versatility in terms of accessorizing outfits. This popular shoe is the perfect partner to many of the summer must-have pieces. Wear them with harem pants, peg-leg trousers, all-in-ones, structured dresses and soft safari shorts.
Take note of the "minimal gladiatior, less strappy than its bigger sister. the minimal gladiator is a tough yet feminine low-heeled summer sandal with a touch of class.
Shoe Boots
This season’s most instantly recognizable shoes are Yves Saint Laurent’s caged booties. These have spawned look-a-likes aplenty, with lattice, mesh and cut-out designs.
The Boho Wedge
The ultimate summer sandal with a 70’s vibe, in all manner of materials. Wedges are made from wood, raffia, bamboo, cork and rope, the higher the better. Uppers are decorated in this season’s tribal prints, bold bright hues and exotic animal skins.
Exotic Skins
Footwear goes wild with crocodile and snakeskin. A new twist for this season is clashing colors and vivid hues, with animal skins in all the colors of the rainbow. Show these off with short dresses and cropped trousers. Remember to store exotic skins in tissue and never wear them in the rain.
The Mid-Heel
For those tired of teetering in skyscraper stilettos or those who simply do not wish to aspire to such heights, the new buzzword in footwear, according to Grazia magazine’s Big Fashion Issue of 9 February 2009 is “double-duty” heels.
These are mid-heel sandals, wedges or pumps which can be worn day or night. High enough and stylish enough to give you fashion-cred but low enough to wear comfortably for long periods. Showcased on the spring runways of Anna Sui, Oscar De La Renta, Roberto Cavalli, Calvin Klein and Chloe, these double-duty heels are sure to be a winner with the footsore!
Ballet Flats
Tried-and-tested ballet flats are far from boring this season, with cut-out designs in mouthwatering colors of lemon, lime, tangerine and raspberry.
Summer Brogues
Dubbed part of the Boyfriend Dressing trend, Oxford brogues have re-emerged as a fashion statement. According to Grazia, brogues have been on the back-burner for a while but are set to become huge.
Many of this season's shoes are a work of art. If you are looking for an investment then avoid styles or colors which will tie you into one season. With a pair of feminine jewelled flats and some strappy gladiator sandals, your wardrobe is updated for summer.
Gill Hart - Gill Hart is a fashion and image professional who specializes in women's fashion over 50.
