It’s only fitting that my last post about the Milan fashion week should conclude with something I actually liked: Alessandro Dell’Acqua’s shoes. I liked them, despite their stiletto ways, because of the strong statement the colorblocking (a major trend this season, as Jitterbugbaby already pointed out). Again, you’ll notice the ubiquitous combo of hard/soft, opaque/shiny materials–suede and patent in this case, the heel detail (understated for the season, but still there), and the strong contrasts made by the buckles, straps, and tights. A visually satisfying experience, I must say.

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DSquared’s anklebreakers were not the only ones on the runway in Milan this week; take a peek at the shoes Donatella Versace sent her models in down the runway. To her credit, I believe these ones are a tad more original than the DSquared ones, though probably equally uncomfortable. I for one could and would get vertigo in these things. I am but a delicate flower. Quickly, pass the salts!

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Ok, so the twins of DSquared2 put on in Milan this week a sexy-librarian show with tight pencil skirts, plaid, tacky fishnets and mile-high stiletto heels that we’re supposed to fall gaga over. You will excuse me if I don’t. For one, yeah, yeah, I know, it’s just about every horny man’s fantasy, and as such, is as trite and commonplace as it can be. For another, even the models couldn’t keep these anklebreakers on their feet and several, in fact, paraded on the runway while holding the shoes in their hands. ‘Cause everybody knows that’s the oh-so-sexy alternative to the sexy ankle-cast! Brrrrr! One reviewer for Style.com called this trend “sinister eroticism”–it has seeped into every collection for the fall, and it’s something to be mulled over.

On the other hand, I thought the lightning bolt heel was pretty cool. You know, if it was about 4 inches lower or something.

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As loyal Shoeblog readers know, I’m a die-hard fan of Project Runway. And of all the PR final collections we’ve seen, my very favorite is still Season 1’s winner, Jay McCarroll. So you’ll forgive me if looking at the shoes in the Marni Fall 08 RTW show in Milan put me immediately in mind of the fabulous Jay.

It’s true, colorblocking is popping up everywhere this season. Toe caps, heel caps, patchwork patterns. It’s certainly something we’ll be seeing a lot of come fall. I like it. It has an organic quality that’s right in step with Jay’s stylish brand of eclectic sass. Look at these outfits of his (first from his Project Runway winning collection and second from his Spring 07 show):

Even though this pieced-together look is showing up on a lot of the Fall 08 runways, Marni’s take on the trend has offered up a lot of pieces that look like they’d have been right at home on Jay’s runway. You’ve got your mix of natural and machine-age materials (wood, metallics, rubber, snakeskin, wool). You’ve got your quilt-inspired patchworks. You’ve got your contrasting textures (shiny/matte). And you’ve got the playful use of all of those to make for some excellent shoes. Take a peek.

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Phew! Just when I thought oxfords were going out of fashion, Dolce & Gabbana comes to reassure me that no, they’re very much in, and not only that, but they’re now permitted to be chunky and flashy at the same time! There is something reassuringly autumnal about the collection (tweeds, ribbed tights, knits, and brogues), and the masculine flair of the shoes is tempered by the exuberant mix of textures, colors, and materials. All the trends of this past season are mixed and mashed (metallics, animal-textures–croc-embossing and pony hair–, razzle-dazzle rhinestones, toe-caps, colorblock) into a delightfully eclectic and likeable collection.

By now you’ve probably noticed that wedges (almost entirely) and platforms (only to a certain extent) are being fazed out of the fall trends. Hm… I wonder what’s next!

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