Spring '11 Shoe Trends- The Rundown

By Jason Bui

Bejeweled six inch platform booties? Nowhere in site. The Mercedes-Benz Spring 2011 New York Fashion Week marked the end of the “statement” shoe saga popularized by mega celebrities like Lady Gaga and Rihanna. With silhouettes becoming longer, looser and more refined, women’s shoes are following suit. The boldest statement made by shoe designers was hardly a statement at all: flat sandals and oxfords appeared in virtually every show. The overall color palette was also subdued: in various shades of nude, dark brown, sand stone and butter scotch.

The most vibrant take on the men’s oxford shoe was seen at Rachel Antonoff, in which models lounged around the cozy West Village show locale in spectator inspired oxfords made by Bass, most known for their fishing shoes. Each pair was clout in a mix of leather and canvas floral motifs that resembled wall paper prints. At Tibi, there was a fresh take on the fifties teddy boy oxfords with black and white leopard print, and Richard Chai paired his slightly androgynous dresses with metallic brown leather styles that resembled bowling shoes. For the faint of heart that might find metallic leather too daring, flat sandals in plain leather provides a similar alternative.

Both Matthew Ames and Vena Cava showed an updated version of the gladiator sandal, but void of grommets or bulky trims. Instead opting for open-toed ones with ankle strap details and simple metal buckles as fasteners. The audience was in for a special treat at Malandrino, as macramé tribal-inspired sandals were wrapped up to the knee to resemble a sort of a warm-weather combat boot.

There was also a strong 70’s influence that floated throughout the week seen both in footwear and clothes. Certain designers paid tribute to the decade of free love and frothy glamour with leather platform wedges. Both Michael Kors and Anna Sui took the American West and California desert as inspiration, yielding sand-color wedges with cork or wooden bottoms and a modest 3 inch platform. Some designers such as Yoanna Baraschi styled ankle-socks in bright colors with espadrilles and wedges, adding a fresh, flirtatious flair to the iconic style.

Regardless of which direction fashion is heading, there are still certain well-heeled women who wouldn’t be caught dead in a pair of flat shoes when attending a social gala. Not to worry, sexy heels and pumps still maintained a strong presence on the runway, and there are many options to indulge in. Carlos Miele’s gold double- strap stilettos were paired with flowy cocktail dresses, which exuded easy elegance. For those not willing to compromise sexiness, platform Mary Janes with chunky heel and ankle straps at Peter Som fit the bill. For an easy switch from day to night, opt for Christian Louboutin’s patent leather round-toe pumps in basic black and nude, as seen at the Araks presentation.

The “piece-de-resistance” prize this season however belonged to Christian Siriano and new comer Sally Lapointe, so much so that these designers’ shoes resembled wearable works of art. Siriano’s line for Payless continued to tantalize and amaze via sky-high platforms in faux-croc, lizard and metallic leather as models walked on teetering seven-inch platforms with heel contraptions that mimicked pyramid structures. One particular style in ombre red leather had a carved floating platform with a column-like plastic pillar holding up the shoe for dear life. It was a floral explosion at Sally Lapointe, as it was noted in the show’s program that the designer hand-crafted the floral appliqués herself onto the shoes, and the ice blue platform shoes were like giant bouquets on the model's feet. That, coupled with the rigorously tailored clothing sent the ecstatic audience away gasping for air.

Although not every woman will be able to buy into all the new trends, it's definite that the variety of styles will have shoppers digging into their wallets for the latest indulgence in footwear come Spring. Can't afford an entire new wardrobe? Invest in shoes instead, as they are the key accessories to turn what is old into new again.