Decade of Shoe Trends – 2003

Prada showed a gladiator type sandal and a silver metalic wedge. When I look at these two shoes designs I think of the scene in Devil Wears Prada where Miranda Priestly explains to a smirking Andy Sachs how designer fashion trickles down to the masses.  How many shoes do we see today that look just like these? 

Alexander McQueen tried to introduce a new sandal with the toe strap placed in a different spot.  The sandal also has a definite curve in the heel.  While the toe strap didn’t continue, the heel silhoutte re-emerges several times in the years to come, usually a bit more extreme with each year, ending with the armadillo shoe.

Notice the toes are less extreme and sort of squared at the tip.

I just had to show how gorgeous this Valentino Couture pump is.  Velvet with a crystal embellishment.  How wonderful are they?

To show that everything old is new again, these were featured in the Valentino Fall Couture collection.  Where have we seen boots with the same size houndstooth pattern? 

Alexander McQueen houndstooth boots.

As I was looking through things I kept thinking, “Where are the platforms?”  Then I remembered John Galliano.

That’s better.

Decade of Shoe Trends – 2002

Boots were big in 2002.  Alexander McQueen showed his boots in five different colors.  Here a couple of the colors in his Spring Ready to Wear line.  I would LOVE to get my hands on a pair of the lilac boots.

(That first dress could prove to be a little embarrassing.)

Ralph Lauren Spring RTW featured a beautiful pair in chocolate brown. 

Balmain offered a Russian theme in it’s Fall Couture show. These oxblood boots were a part of that theme.

Valentino offered beaded, embroidered satin boots in it’s Fall Couture line.   

Prada RTW offered these d’ordays in suede.  Nice. 

Marc Jacobs heels got a bit high but still within reasonable parameters.

As an aside, the New York spring fashion shows were going full tilt by Sept 11.  Marc Jacob’s spring show was held Sept 10.   Oscar de la Renta’s was Sept 17, where he held a condensed show, distributed American flag armbands to the editors and his buyers,  and he also made sure his models wore them. 

R5Niece was in the subway on the 11th and had to walk for miles, like so many others had to do to get home.   We were just glad she was safe.

Happy Birthday Kate Spade

Kate Spade’s birthday cake will have 47 candles today.   Katheryn Brosnahan attended Arizona State University and met her future husband, Andy Spade, when they worked together in a menswear store in Phoenix.  A friend of mine said she named her line Kate Spade because she just KNEW she was going to marry Andy.  R5friend thought it was the most romantic thing in the world.    I suggested they were engaged when they launched the company and designs because the line was launched in 1993 and were married in 1994.  R5friend thinks I am cynical.   It doesn’t matter now, of course, because they created a successful line, then sold the company in 2007 for $775 million.

Here are some Kate Spade shoes for you.

Sierra Boot $383 at Endless.com

Gratis pump $325 at Endless

Nolan flat $295 at Endless

Kane bootie $450 at Endless

Andy Spade’s brother is David Spade.  In the television show Just shoot Me, Wendy Malick’s character Nina wore a lot of kate spade shoes and handbags.  To celebrate I am going to watch a couple of re-runs.

A Decade of Shoe Trends – 2001

 2001 offered some beautiful shoes.  I am including some of my favorite design houses and favorite styles.  I think I am stuck in 2001 because I still want to wear these styles.

Dolce & Gabbana  Spring Ready To Wear.  This is probably my favorite silhouette for pumps, and the slingbacks are wonderful. 

Ralph Lauren Spring RTW  This whole line is about geometrics and contrasts. I remember wearing a pair similar to the first pair.

Valentino Couture.  Valentino is probably my favorite design house.

Balmain Couture.  Kitten heels.  That WAS a long time ago.

A Decade of Shoe Trends – 2000

My mother used to say that ten years goes by in six months.  I thought she was nuts.  Last week Mr. R5 and I were talking about how fast the past ten years went by.  I have officially turned into my mother.  That isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  I went back into Style.com to see just how things have changed in ten years as far as shoes are concerned.  During the next few days we will look at designer shoe trends spanning ten years.   

Ralph Lauren Spring 2000 Ready to Wear

Valentino Spring 2000 RTW

It is interesting that the heels are not extremely high.  Yet.