Spring 2012 Shoe Trends: Buckles and Gold

The shoes keep on strutting down the runways, and we’re starting to see some recurring patterns that are making me happy.  If Spring 2012 brings these to bear fruit, we shall all be well-shod little ponies, friends.

Buckles, Buckles, BUCKLES

The models at the Christian Siriano (left), Duro Olowu (center), and Band of Outsiders (right) shows trotted out pretty pretty shoes that combine texture and color and material beautifully.  And WITH BUCKLES!!  I love me a shoe with buckles in lots of places.

Shiny Shiny Gold

Some designers are deploying this trend sparingly, like at the Erin Fetherston show (left), and some are going full-on Midas, like Cynthia Rowley (center).  And there there’s Jill Stuart (right), who’s doing some of both (note the mixing of pastels and gold on the front model’s shoe and the more prominent gold on the retreating model).

Not only do I love me some buckles, but I also never outgrew the little girl lust for SHINY, so the gold trend will also probably be gracing my shoe collection come next spring/summer.

SS12 Fashion Week Footwear: Past-Present-Future

New York Fashion Week marches on, and I’m happy to report that I’m relaxing a bit after yesterday’s worries of boredom.  Apologies for the lack of shoe detail shots (we use what our sources provide), but click any of these pics to see them larger.

Interestingly, there seem to be inspirations from lots of different time periods starting to parade down the runway.

Imitation (cousin to designer Tara Subkoff’s first fashion foray, Imitation of Christ) made repeated use of a shoe I love, with a vintage vibe that reminds me simultaneously of the Victorian/Edwardian era and of 30s/40s Old Hollywood glam.

Lacoste’s kicky color-blocking is probably my favorite footwear styling we’ve seen so far.  Clean and sporty like their clothes, and also stylish but practical and versatile.  Just right for today’s recessionista.

And as far as looking forward to the future for some shoe inspiration, both Prabal Gurung (on the left) and Sally LaPointe (on the right) showed us footwear that would look right at home on Blade Runner’s replicants.

SS12 Fashion Week Footwear: STOP THE SNOOZEFEST!

OK, caveat #1: it’s early in Spring/Summer 2012′s New York Fashion Week, and there are still plenty of designers to come.

Caveat #2: this is ready to wear, not couture, and couture always brings home the bacon when it comes to snazzy shoes.

Caveat #3: it’s Spring/Summer, which veers less dramatic than Fall/Winter.

THAT SAID… the first few shows’ shoes have been so dull, I’m afraid I’m staining them all with my drool as I nod off while perusing.

But to paraphrase the pseudo motto of the currently-embattled United States Postal Service, Neither humidity nor rain nor hurricanes nor dullness of shoes stays these bloggers from the swift completion of their electronic rounds.

BCBG sent their models out in these clunkers, over and over and over again.

(more…)

Shoe Deja Vu: Louboutin’s Spiked Clou Noeud

You may remember Louboutin’s Clou Noeud with the girly bow on the toe & the all-over spikes….If not, here’s another peek:

Christian Louboutin Clou Noeud  (sold out) , original retail $1195

Well, since these have been out for over a year, I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised that mainstream imitations are available at lower-end prices.

(more…)

Runway to Retail: Maison Martin Margiela

I wanted to write about the Maison Martin Margiela* SS2011 RTW show right after the original runway photos came out. Unfortunately, every time I looked at the press photos, a certain television theme song would, inevitably, begin playing in my head – suddenly, all bets were off and I’d have to call it quits for the day.

But,  the shoes have been available since mid-year and I need to get my ranting and reviewing over with already.

First Impressions: Love or Hate?

:

Maison Martin Margiela ‘Defile’ open-toe sandal pump $930 $371.99 via Saks & $465 via the Martin Margiela e-boutique

more review details after the break