Shoe blog

Tibi Features Chic, Comfy Brogues and Easy, Carefree Platform Loafers

I loved the Tibi Spring Summer 2011 show for New York Fashion Week. Feeling lucky to be one of the attendees, I filed into the Stage at Lincoln Center with the crush of devotees, including Olivia Palermo (photos of her at the Tibi show here).

The Fall 2010 Tibi show sprung forward with fro’d-out models sporting draped shorts and skirts and cute florals and plaids over maroon tights.  This collection was more polished and sophisticated, with tons of white, champagne, orange, yellow and a bit of paisley thrown in for good measure. One of my favorite looks was this, the Effortless Long Wide Leg Silk Culotted Jumpsuit in Cream, with a strappy flat and a beaded sleeveless cream jacket. I would’ve never thought strappy flat for this outfit, but it keeps it so casual. Lovely!

The best part is that I saw this gal immediately after the show.

She and one of the other models got on the subway very shortly afterward, giggling, still in their ponytails. No limo or car service here! A girl’s gotta take the subway and pay rent, I thought! This made me like the carefree, California-ish model gals even more.

“Spring is about beauty and classics with a thoroughly modern twist and styles that are simple with ease,” Tibi designer Amy Smilovic said. This is evident in their shoes as well as their clothes for spring.

I never thought leather loafers would be a good complement to a powerhouse dress like this, but the trick here is that they dress it DOWN. This dress could come off looking kind of hoity-toity with different shoes, but with the loafers they are uberrelaxed, easy breezy. I like that.

This t-strap wedge looked very comfy indeed, and kept the culotte at an appropriate height, elongating the monochromatic look.

How gorgeous is this romper? Sleep, simple, yet with touches of flourish near the neckline and waistline, and a simple front pleat. Hair pulled back, beautiful color, no jewelry, minimal makeup. J’adore.

This leather loafer platform, meanwhile, gives a bit more height to a classic casual. Personally, I’d like to see a wave of loafer wedges and platforms, because they’re for the kind of girl who says, “I’m fashionable, but I’m not trying too hard. I want to look good but not be in pain.” I’ve never thought I was a loafers and brogues, or even a platform kinda gal, but suddenly I am.

And now for my fave shoes of the lot, ones I’ll gladly wear with nearly anything when they come out!

These leopard brogues are just the thing for a chill Brooklyn girl to wear on the weekends, cruising her neighborhood. Or any chill girl in her nabe!

I’m really proud of Amy for sending her models out in easy, carefree flats and platforms in a year of excessive shoes. These are truly pret-a-porter, and I will gladly wear them when they come out!

Please send a shipment of them to my local, Shoe Market in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Ms. Smilovic! And thanks for the great show, everyone at Tibi! We love the easy, carefree, hip Tibi Girl for spring.