This is the final installment of trends week on YLF. After discussing directional trends, colours and patterns, themes and silhouettes, and jeans styles, it’s on to footwear. There is a lot of happy tension between opposing trends right now, and this is especially apparent in footwear. You will see it all. It’s very hard to find a shoe that looks dated these days.
The refined, colourful, white, pointy toe, dressy and dainty footwear of the ‘80s is just as on-trend as the chunky, neutral, stompy, square toe, casual, platform and flatform footwear of the ‘70s and ‘90s. Think stilettos and lug soles, flats and heels, brights and neutrals, dressy and casual, and thankfully a strong movement towards foot comfort.
Footwear silhouettes that look the most “new” to my eye are gladiators, light blue footwear, square toes, slanted block heels, ornate heels, chunky loafers, interesting espadrilles, puffy slides, mules, shoes with glitzy hardware, ballet flats with a lot of foot coverage, strappy flats, asymmetrical designs, clogs, casual brogues, rain boots, Birkenstocks, platforms and flatforms, colour-blocked fashion and athletic sneakers, contrast lug soles, sporty sandals, toe-ring sandals, slingbacks, and any type of hybrid. Of course, the classics are strong and if you just wear those, that’s fab too. They look extra fresh when remixed in fun and unexpected ways.
I’m quite set in my ways with footwear and basically stick to low and hi-top fashion sneakers, dressy and refined low-heeled boots, pointy-toe ballet flats, and loafers. I have two pairs of white sandals that I haven’t worn in years because I’m just not a sandal gal. I choose white sneakers or loafers instead of the sandals because I like the comfort factor and covering my toes. I suspect I will purchase very few pairs of shoes this year.
Over to you. Which shoe trends tickle your fancy?
