The thing that’s great about watching all the various Fashion Week shows is that we get to see the viewpoints of the individual designers.

This may sound self-evident, sure, but think about it.  When you go to a non-designer shoe store (in person or online), you can pretty much count on seeing repetition of the same trends for that season.  Ballet flats galore.  Oxford booties coming out the wazoo.  More strappy gladiator sandals than you can shake a stick at.

But when you watch several Fashion Weeks’ worth of shoes parade down the catwalk, you can see individual style coming through instead of just the trends.

A current example?

Look at these Stella McCartney platforms.

Stella McCartney Paris fall 08 1  Stella McCartney Paris fall 08 2

They’re fantastic.  Chunky and super stylized with the shaping and the mixed textures and the metallic accents on the sole and heel.  And, of course, containing no animal products.

And then look at Sophia Kokosalaki’s dainty footwear.

Kokosalaki fall 08 2  Kokosalaki fall 08 1

Kokosalaki fall 08 4  Kokosalaki fall 08 3

Ladylike and refined with a hint of an insectile webbed feel to it with all those knots and twists and curls.

You just never know what those fashion designers will come up with next.  And don’t we all just love to wait and see what it’ll be.