SS12 Fashion Week Footwear: Derek Lam and Tommy Hilfiger

You know those multiple choice “Determine Your Style” quizzes you always find in fashion magazines and websites where they ask you a bunch of questions like “What essentials do have with you at all times?” and then they give you choices that run all the way from a) Wallet, phone, keys, and I’m good through to d) An extra pair of shoes, a change of earrings, 3 lipsticks, a rainproof trench, an Hermes scarf, the hottest smartphone of the moment, 12 credit cards, my e-reader, and the duffel-bag-sized purse to hold it all.

Yeah, those.

Anyway, I always come out of those being the girl who’s based in the classics and jazzes things up with accessories and mixtures of color and material.  So it should come as no surprise that as SS12 Fashion Week continues, my two favorite footwear collections so far have been Derek Lam and Tommy Hilfiger, both designers whose visions are based in the classics (of American sportswear) and jazzed up with mixtures of color and material.

Derek Lam took some simple silhouettes and combined texture and detail in playful ways, seen up at the top of this post.  And Tommy Hilfiger did this collection of loafers and boat shoes gone upscale in bright bold colors.  The mix of fabrics and patterns and patent leather and gold (love those stripes on the heels) have just about made me swoon.

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.

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.

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Nicholas Kirkwood for Peter Pilotto

Nicholas Kirkwood is definitely on my wish list of designers from whom I’d like to have at least one shoe – one fabulous shoe, of course – represented in my shoe collection.  Kirwood loves shape, color, and the juxtaposition of these elements into something fanciful and breath-taking.

So, here’s a chance to grab a stunning geometric shoe that references modern art elements in a playful – and wearable – way. (Think Piet Mondrian)

The following lovely creations are on sale at Saks. Woo Hoo!

Nicholas Kirkwood for Peter Pilotto Patent Leather and Printed Nylon sandals $596.99 $995

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Casadei’s Geometric Heels: Shoe Deja-Vu

I love intricate or carved heel details on shoes. So, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that I’ve been pining over Casadei’s 2010 fall line of boots & pumps with their delightfully-geometric, devilishly high, drop-dead gorgeous heels.

(Photo c/o Yoox.com, boots not currently in stock)

I mean, look at these! What’s not to love?

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