After a fascinating Part 1 of Fall/Winter 2015-2016 Shoe Trend report, the good stuff keeps coming in. Here are more trends that will be worn this year from day to night!
#1: Low-Heeled Shoes
Despite the dominance of high heels in many of the runway shows, many shoes appear almost flat. These pretty short footwear come in kitten heels, platforms, and a whole slew of designs. Some of our favorites were Nicolas Kirkwood’s (Erdem) platforms that came smashing down low on the boots and, of course, Oxford and Michel Kors shoes that stole impressions for a damn good reason. They are comfortable, sturdy, have a small amount of thick heel that adds style and femininity.
#2: Narrow Shoes with Extra Long Noses
If you have long and very thin feet, then you will love them. Wear a pair of these shoes and you will look fantastic with the narrow and long nose complementing your legs so beautifully. Although we saw quite a few designers devoted to fashioning footwear with this style, I can’t help noticing that engineering shoes with this idea slightly defies the whole comfort aspect that was the focal point of the 1970s fashions baptized with a modern flair. That aside, Versace boots are literally spellbinding. In three materials and two colors, they draw attention for sure. As for another favorite fashion house, Dolce & Gabbana, we got a good glimpse of charming slingback red shoes with feminine touches and furry body for added texture. Finally, the Miu Miu collection has lots of absolutely quirky and fun pointy-toe shoes we just can’t afford to miss!
#3: Jeweled or Beaded Shoes
Bead embellished and line-up jewel patterned shoes is another huge trend. Definitely intriguing, these pieces throw in a ton of fab glam attitude, making you feel like a real diva! We saw some really crazy designs on heels (see Kate Spade designs and Rochas ankle strapped pieces). However, the one that stole out hearts was Roberto Cavalli’s collection of iceberg heels with the incredible glided art. Of course, Dolce & Gabbana could not be left out of such a party! On the other hand, leather shoes got an impressive transformation with the use of appliqués playing the role of embellishments (see Delpozo).
#4: Slides, Slippers, & Mules
Truth be told, we were totally flabbergasted the minute we realized mules were making such a strong comeback with amazing pin-ups! We did see slippers parading the runways, but Derek Lam’s thick heeled mules made a grand entrance! Of course, these shoes are not everyone’s favorites, especially considering the fact that there is an imbalance between the front and back. However, Thakoon definitely impresses with the mule booties with the leather and velvet lacing! Among the strangest and funniest pieces, though, are Vionnet’s fur slides that are oh-so-charming with the ribbon strapping that embraces the legs all the way up, and Proenza Schouler’s woven mules with the raw edges design that matched excellently with fishnet stockings! Once again, fur is a big thing that concerned designers such as Maison Margiela, Tibi, and Antonio Marras. Finally, the fur adorned crocodile skin printed mules stand out, for sure!
#5: Space Age Footwear
Many designers chose to turn their focus on the future rather than a revival of the past, which is why we saw lots of heelless platforms with strange, quirky, ankle-strapped, and completely space-age geometric shapes (see Iris Van Herpen and H&M boots) in metallic silver.
#6: Thigh High Boots
The Fashion Week runway boots either enjoyed climbing all the way up to the mid-thighs or ended at mid-calf, including the lovely quilted, Eskimo-style, bulky, and warm Moschino boots. The pieces that blew our minds? MSGM’s bright boots with the capped toes and graphic heels that tucked the legs up to slightly over the knee. In fact, thigh-high boots were seen in many collections. See Gareth Pugh, for example, who made his chunky shoes look awesome if you are into wading through water, and Dior with the marble patterned latex boots that embody the “love at first sight” concept so perfectly! However, Emilio Pucci and Calvin Klein also sent a breath of fresh air with their patterned options.
#7: Sandals with…Socks!
I would never have imagined that I will be saying this right now, but the idea of wearing sandals (or shoes made with the open concept in general) with tight and stocking options would seem somewhat appealing! I mean, if you think of Versace’s gorgeous platform sandals sported with matching tights in red and black and lovely ankle straps that made the overall look more girlish and sexy and feel more stable, then the marriage is not so hideous after all! Rick Owens also managed to leave us with our jaws hanging with the eye-catching gladiator boots fashioned with stockings, and the same applies to Saint Laurent’s black sandals with the gorgeous silver embellishments and buckles, spikes, rivets, and fishnet stockings. Finally, Stella Jean and Tory Burch have provided us with comfy and super cozy platform sandals matched with thick socks that are ideal for the colder days in front of us!
#8: Shoes with…Letters!
It is not uncommon for fashion houses to brand their pieces usually by having their logo appear on their shoes (see Versace). Other times, though, they prefer to literally have the words spelled out, which is precisely the case with Moschino, whose famous gold letters appeared on their warm-looking, bulked up, lace tied, quilted boots with the swinging tassels popping from the mid top edge!
#9: Punk Shoes
By the end of the day, you have two options: either go Goth or punk! All you have to do is add leather, buckles, studs, and a chunky body to the footwear to sport the theme of your preference. Want some inspiration? Check out Alexander Wang’s creeper boots that look much like buckled clompers with a touch of neo-punk than anything else. Saint Laurent and Marc by Marc Jacobs have gone for thigh-high leather boots and stiletto sandals with an ankle strap and spikes worn with fishnet stockings respectively. Into a more edgy look?
#10: Shoes with Toe Caps
Image: Chanel Paris Fashion Week
Chanel enchanted everybody watching the fall/winter runway shows with the toe-capped pumps. Of course, many other fashion houses followed, each one adding their personal touches, be it in regards to color, length, and design (see MSGM and Balenciaga pumps, for instance) that look fantastic both on and off the runway!). \
#11. Quirky Shoes
They come in all size and shape. However, we decided to throw into this category all the pieces that could make a separate category on their own for their…well…ingenuity! Take J. Crew’s tasseled styles, Jason Wu’s sculptural heels, and Sophia Webster’s pompom accented shoes with the futuristic looks. Lemaire has also dipped their toes in quirky looks by combining pump, kitten heel, and mule in a wonderful soft gray. Miu Miu flats are also interesting, quirky pieces with the large buckles and the white, orange, and yellow colorings. The shoes we loved? BCBG Max Azria’s unusual designs and Prada’s insane boots and shoes. There was something in the oversized buckles and funky heels that draw our attention and made our hearts beat fast!
#11: Graphic Shoes
Many of the pieces that sashayed the runways and turned heads included some form of graphic component. We saw shows that came in the shape of marbles, patching, and many more forms of graphic (see MSGM’s heels with the distinguishing zigzag design and Fendi’s ankle booties with the graphic patterned adorning the midsection). Boots also sported graphics (i.e. Vivienne Westwood collection) and it seems that lots of designers took the whole words and graffiti on leather trend quite seriously!
#12: Shoes with Transparent Lucite heels
I almost forgot! I have spoken so much about ice sculpture heels as part of a shoe’s overall design, but forgot that they are a category of their own! Block heels were undoubtedly in, and we knew that many designers would play around with the concept. What we never expected, though, was Fendi’s absolutely mind-blowing ice sculpture heeled boots with the furry bodies that brought a sweet taste in the mouth of all Carrie Bradshaw’s proud followers! Roberto Cavalli also made a loud statement with the gilded designs of their just-above-ankle-length, iceberg heels, despite the fact that they don’t look much like sculptures. Of course, we can’t complain about Christian Dior’s charming booties or Vionnet’s iceberg heels with the futuristic feel.
#13: Rubber Wader Boots
They were a favorite trend last year and are still in fashion. Can you ever say no to boots that won’t ruin if soaked in water! Gareth Pugh knows that, and this is why his straight cut rubber wader boots have such an appeal to us all! For more stylish rubber boots, though, check out Balenciaga and Hunter Original collections.
#14: Velvet Shoes
The Fashion Weeks were full of velvet, and it certainly reflected in the shoes. Models were seen wearing velvet loafers, gorgeous purple sling-backs, chunky heeled booties, glided designed, golden heeled booties signed by the most famous fashion houses, such as Dolce & Gabbana, Givenchy, and Stella McCartney.
For an even more complete look, check out the 2015-16 handbag trends for fall and winter and steal impressions!
For more Fall/Winter 2015-2016 show trends, check out Part 3!