Shoes, Shoes and More Shoes
For the past few seasons we've seen a battle for dominance among divergent trends, namely post-grunge edgy rocker, urban prep, modernized romantic, bohemian free spirit and ghetto-fhab-ulous. They've all held pace but with Spring comes change and a desire for a softer look. I think people simply get tired of in-your-face fashion after a while, or maybe the designers stop and shake their heads at their own creations. Surprisingly metallics are still going strong but collections are promising a more subdued line of golds, pewter and bronze footwear. So, if you just bought the most embellished pair of pointy-toed slippers or sequined platforms, you might feel a little like the shiek of Dubai at an Eddie Brickell concert or Tina Turner (circa 1984) amongst Kelly Clarkson fans.
One recurring trend is the flat shoe and ballet slipper. I know a lot of women, myself included, who groaned at the thought of wearing flats. At just a little over 5 feet tall, I need all the help I can get. But fortunately the styles have come a long way--to the point even a die-hard stilleto wearer like me has added a couple pair of flats to my notoriously teetering shoe collection. I guess that's a good thing, since celebrity stylist Misa Hylton, who is gearing up to launch her own online boutique in Feb. '07, says they're here to stay for a little while longer.
"Women need a break from wearing those four-inch stiletto's!" she says. "Designers have also stepped their game up with the variety of designs offered in the flat shoe, making them interesting and allowing women to still feel sexy and not like the soccer mom." So not even the "I-never-wear-flats" woman could resist buying a few pair.
"From ballet slippers to dress shoes flats will be all over the pages in fashion magazines," says Frank Patryn, president of Top Industries, a licensee for Playboy Footwear.
If you're all about comfort, you'll love this season's flats, which have a markedly preppy and comfortable feel, like the Espadrille ballet flats from Banana Republic. Some of the more tailored flats are appropriate for the office, like Banana Republic's Bedford' o-ring driving moccasins.
One recurring trend is the flat shoe and ballet slipper. I know a lot of women, myself included, who groaned at the thought of wearing flats. At just a little over 5 feet tall, I need all the help I can get. But fortunately the styles have come a long way--to the point even a die-hard stilleto wearer like me has added a couple pair of flats to my notoriously teetering shoe collection. I guess that's a good thing, since celebrity stylist Misa Hylton, who is gearing up to launch her own online boutique in Feb. '07, says they're here to stay for a little while longer.
"Women need a break from wearing those four-inch stiletto's!" she says. "Designers have also stepped their game up with the variety of designs offered in the flat shoe, making them interesting and allowing women to still feel sexy and not like the soccer mom." So not even the "I-never-wear-flats" woman could resist buying a few pair.
"From ballet slippers to dress shoes flats will be all over the pages in fashion magazines," says Frank Patryn, president of Top Industries, a licensee for Playboy Footwear.
If you're all about comfort, you'll love this season's flats, which have a markedly preppy and comfortable feel, like the Espadrille ballet flats from Banana Republic. Some of the more tailored flats are appropriate for the office, like Banana Republic's Bedford' o-ring driving moccasins.