Shoe Trends for Spring 2008

Prompted by a recent reader inquiry, I went over to Neiman Marcus’ Shoe Trend site, which I haven’t peeked at yet for this season. As per usual, I found plenty of tempting options. So, like any good blogger, I’m now here to spread the word.

Heel Detail

You may recognize a number of these from the runway shows, because they tend to go heavy on the dramatic flare. These Fendi cage heels walked the Great Wall of China and these Prada flowery sandals made an organic statement in Milan back in September. Now they can be yours for $690 and $790, respectively.

Metallics

Personally, I’m of the opinion that a metallic shoe is always a great way to spruce up an outfit. In any season. If you agree, you might want to snap up a pair right now, when there are so many options available. You can get your metallic fix in everything from a classic Kate Spade loafer to a pewter Donald J Pliner t-strap to a Valentino multi-tone platform.

Floral

What says spring more than floral-embellished shoes? Try a pair of cheerful Manolo Blahnik’s with the Marimekko patterns that we mentioned back here, or a pretty and understated Bettye Muller (whose designs we Shoebloggers always love), or–to be kinder on your tootsies–any color of these Costablanca suede thongs.

Woven

Here’s a trend we haven’t seen for a few years now, and I’m glad it’s back. Woven shoes have an earthy, organic sort of look that I always like for the warm weather months. What shoes are here to feel the natural inspiration? Well, there’s this Frye low wedge sandal (in a handful of pretty colors) and this Stella McCartney wedge (also note it covers you for the metallic and decorative heel trends, all in one fell swoop) and the Cole Haan Air Bria (in gold or silver and thereby also hitting the right metallic note), to name a few.

Gladiator Sandals

Nope, they’re not gone. They’ve been the ubiquitous trendy sandal for the past several years, but I’m not complaining. I always like a shoe that mixes elements. Refined and rough. Masculine and feminine. And the gladiator sandal does that, whether it’s a glamazon version by Stuart Weitzman, a buckled and studded strappy one by Claudia Ciuti, or a basic brown leather Dolce & Gabbana.

Safari

The final trend is the one you have to be most careful of. When you start getting anywhere near animal prints, you’ve got to be careful not too go too over the top. I’d recommend sticking with things that are a little more toned down like this Oscar de la Renta mini-wedge. Or get a safari-esque look by sidestepping animal prints in favor of wooden embellishments, like on this t-strap sandal by Shoesense’s guru, Robert Clergerie. Because, while I dearly love Taryn Rose shoes and all they stand for, their take on the safari style is WAY too much in my book.

So go, Shoeblog readers. Find your spring shoes armed with trend awareness. It’s a fine line between trendy for its own sake and trendy in a way that will last into future springs to come. But you can do it. You’re savvy people.

Oxfords, oxfords, oxfords!

Oxford (lace-up) booties and pumps are all the rage this season, perhaps reminding us that this fall women are all about business. Kick up your sexy librarian quota with one of these styles, which are in abundant supply just about everywhere:

Claudia Ciuti ‘Luella’ pump, $332 at Nordstrom.

Emilio Pucci black and gray patent oxfords, $579 at Zappos.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Oxford pump, $450 at Zappos.

Marc Jacobs cylindrical heel lace-up shoe, 508 Euros at Luisaviaroma.

Bally ‘Glania’ brogue pump, $575 at Nordstrom.

Stuart Weitzman ‘Cambridge’ pump, $285 at Nordstrom.

Christian Louboutin ‘Miss Fred Tacco’ booties, $695 at Saks.

I must admit that, by comparison, the low-heeled versions look positively dowdy:

For example, the above Paul Smith ‘Starr’ oxford (rosso dip dye silk), $469 at Zappos, is, well, quite repugnant for me. Not quite menswear and not quite a feminine style either, these shoes are forever stuck in…no man’s land (no shoe’s land?). I can’t imagine any outfit that these shoes would flatter.

I guess I would need a compromise between the flat and the impossibly high heel–something like this, perhaps, with a 2-inch heel and somber croc-embossed leather:

This Vittorio Virgili low-heeled oxford is 242 Euros at Luisaviaroma and is a barely acceptable compromise between a man’s and a woman’s shoe. Since I can’t wear the stylish high heels above, I guess I’ll keep looking!

Nordstrom’s Fall Shoe Trends

Shoe lovers, shoe lovers, hear ye, hear ye. Come one, come all and see the Nordstrom’s Fall Fashion Guide, a great friend to shoe fashionistas everywhere. Forecasting the prevailing trends of any given season is always a delightful thing, and when you can go buy those trends with a few extra clicks and all without leaving the comfort of your air conditioned, in-from-the-crazy-humidity-and-heat home or office… well that’s a foolproof formula, if you ask me.

So, what do we have in store for us this fall?

First off, the major trend (and we saw this at the WSA Show last week, too): booties! Think ankle height and you’ll be golden for fall on-trend status.

These booties are also great at bringing different decades of style into your wardrobe. How so?

Well, check out the 70s disco fever stylings of these mirror ball like MICHAEL Michael Kors silver Studio booties ($198).

Or if you’re looking for a little Victorian era Dickens style in your life, try these Jeffrey Campbell Cherry bootie ($110). Say it with me now. ”Please sir. I want some more.”

And if you’re digging the 80s revival, go with these Kenneth Cole Reaction Sexy Mrs booties ($129) and strut around with either leggings and a big belt over a tunic, or swing toward the punk side with some leather cuffs, skinny black jeans, and an old band t-shirt. What can I say, I’m a sucker for the punk look, and I just re-watched Sid and Nancy and got all geeked out on the style.

I’ll cheat for a minute and leave Nordstrom’s in the name of sharing my absolute favorite bootie for fall, the gorgeous Taryn Rose Dillian ($575). Super luxe, very posh, and good for your feet, too! And don’t forget the gray… also a big trendy color this fall… which brings us to…

Our next Fall Trend. That’s right: Gray, Baby! Since this is a color choice, there are lots of ways to work this trend into your shoe collection. Everything from this adorable suede and sequins Kate Spade Oz flat ($285)

to this divine Facade Eva wedge ($99).

Want to kill two trend birds with one stone? Grab this gray Connect bootie by Natural Comfort ($130).

I think the next trend might be my favorite of them all. Menswear Detailing. I always like shoes (and clothes for that matter) that have some androgyny to them. Lots of people are showing high heels with oxford lacing, like this beautiful Vince Camuto Maran peep toe ($130).

But if you’re like me and say an automatic NO WAY to a heel that high (that’s 4.5 inches, folks, and with only a .75 inch platform to help you out), then try something like the Circa Joan and David Dani skimmer ($99), which takes that classic of men’s blazers: tweed, and makes it sweet and feminine.

If you’ve been looking at all the delicious candy-colored patents shining around you and hoping you’ll be able to incorporate something so flash into fall, you’re in luck. Shiny Metallics for daytime wear are the next trend, and Nordstrom has some doozies on offer. Again, since this is a color story, you can find this one on pretty much any kind of shoe. These Via Spiga Vivo slingbacks ($198) could almost serve as a mirror to check your makeup. Just be careful wearing skirts!

And these Nine West Alyn flats (only $79) incorporate the shine of the metallic with the Yves Klein blue that will be making a big splash come next springtime. Snag this little shoe, and you’ll be set for several seasons to come. Seems like a worthwhile investment for that much trendiness.

And last, but certainly not least in our fall trend rundown: T-straps and Mary Janes. These are feminine classics, and it’s hard to go wrong.

Try something rounded like this Corso Como Candy MJ ($160)

or if you’ve got the feet to pull them off without intense pain, something sharper and pointier like this Claudia Ciuti Lilla pump ($295). T-strap: check. Shiny metallic: check. Super trendy: double and triple check.

Auction benefiting the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund

With great pleasure, I’d like to inform you of a great auction going on at Ebay. The ‘Collections at WSA ‘ is a two week long event on Ebay where you’ll find more than a dozen of our favorite shoe and handbag designers’ wares up for auction. You’ll be excited to discover designers like Thierry Rabotin, Botkier, Taryn Rose, and Tory Burch featuring shoes and purses with bids starting at only $25.

If I were a size 8, I’d bid on these cute peep toe Claudia Ciuti wedges . I’m surprised no one has bid on them yet.

Or what about these Bettye Mueller sandals, in size 36?

And I’ve saved the best news for last. 100% of the proceeds raised from this worthy event will benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF). I was saddened to learn that, despite the technological advances and developments we’ve already made, we still lose approximately 15,000 women / year in the US alone to ovarian cancer. So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and bid on a pair of shoes (or handbag). You’ll add to your wardrobe and even better, you’ll be supporting a great cause.

New shoe site: Endless!!!

Now that Zappos has gone all commando on us and only has 10% sales on anything (why? oh why??), I’ve been forced to shop shoe sales elsewhere, and so it is that I bumped into this new site: Endless.com. Not only do they have a great selection of brands, but these days they include FREE OVERNIGHT SHIPPING (and 110% price guarantee, just like Zappos). That’s right: order it today, you’ll get it tomorrow. Free. He-he. They’re an offshoot of Amazon, which, hey, can only be a good sign, right?

There are other features I like on this website. The search function, for example, allows you to selectively search only the brands you want, something I actually was looking for (and never got on Zappos). All the other search parameters (color, size, type, width, price range) also apply–but you can limit them to only 2, or 10 brands of your choice. The images are also pretty nice, and rival Zappos’s in that not only do they offer all possible views and angles, but there is a zoom function on each one of those views. Pretty sweet!

Even sweeter are the deals they offer. Today I found some really great offers on Claudia Ciuti footwear, such as these stone patent flats, with the graciously unexpected detail of a semi-buckle on the vamp, and the promise of style and comfort in every bite, uhhh, I mean, step:

They are reduced from $275 to $110. Not bad at all!

I also wouldn’t mind getting my hands on these babies:

These are Claudia Ciuti ‘Dustin’ boots, suede and patent, down to $200 from $482. Very stylish, in my opinion, and very comfy (I already have a pair of Claudia Ciuti wedge suede boots that are really, really comfortable).

They don’t have such great deals on bags, but I really liked their selection of handbags. Will take a closer look as soon as I finish this post.  

Well, happy shopping, you groovers!