As a general trend, trendy footwear is becoming more refined. The writing was on the wall when this started happening on runway shows a few seasons ago, and the silhouettes are now filtering down to mainstream retailers. Note that every style of shoe has its “more refined version”. It’s important to understand the concept because refined footwear does NOT boil down to a pair of stiletto pumps. We’re talking about a style sensibility that is less chunky, coarse and clunky overall, especially in the heel shape. The visual effect is more elegant and tailored. Although it sounds counterintuitive, even shoes like sneakers, boots, shooties, booties and oxfords can have a more refined interpretation.

More specifically, here are the top 20 shoe trends for Spring and Summer 2013. Interestingly, the Fall 2013 shows across fashion weeks in New York, London, Paris and Milan all suggest to me that most of these trends also apply to Fall. 

1. Pointy Toes: We’re talking pointy toes on ALL types of shoes. Ballet flats, booties, shooties, heels, oxfords, closed toe sandals — you name it. This is one of the trends in footwear. 
2. Peep Toe Booties: Booties and shooties with peep toes and closed heels are very strong.  
3. Caged Sandals: We’ve seen this type of “covered” sandal at retail for a while. The style can also be thought of as a less covered peep toe bootie or sandal bootie with lots of straps. Your heels are usually exposed.
4. Booties: It’s amazing how the bootie has become completely seasonless. These days it can be worn with just about anything. 
5. Shooties: Just like the bootie, shooties are seasonless. High in the vamp but with less coverage than a bootie. 
6. Ankle Straps: Think both broad and narrow ankle straps on shoes like pointy toe pumps, flats, sandals and shooties. 
7. Low Heels: Dainty kitten heels, low block heels, and low wedge heels. 
8. Wedge sandals: Hectically high platforms, which were “the fashion shoe of the season” are on their way out, making room for lower platforms and wedges with no platform at all.  
9. Flat Oxfords: There are many versions as the trend becomes stronger and the assortment keeps on growing. 
10. Slipper Flats: These are the new loafer or high vamped ballet flat. 
11. Classic Loafers: Think Gucci-esque loafers and penny loafers.
12. Lucite Trim: Lucite is the transparent material found in the heels, straps or vamp of a shoe. 
13. Metal Toe Caps: Either in silver, pewter or gold on footwear styles like booties, shooties, slipper flats, oxfords and pumps. 
14. Patterns: Think floral and animal prints. 
15. Pastels: Pastel and mid-tone clothing is extremely on trend and this applies to footwear too. 
16. White: White, in all its shades from optical white to stone, in all styles of footwear. 
17. Sci-Fi: It’s about a very particular metallic shine that resembles a mirror in order to create that space-age vibe. It’s shinier than the metallic footwear that has been around for years. 
18. Stilettos: Both in high and low heels, and especially in the form of a pointy toe. 
19. High-Tops: Low wedges, high wedges, flat, bulky, tailored, studded, suede, patterned, distressed, crisp. Think sporty sneaker fun. 
20. Flatforms or “Creepers”: Flatform sandals, oxfords, sneakers, loafers or booties are very in. No arch but lots of heel height. 

You can cover a handful of trends with one shoe. For example, a mint pointy toed stiletto with a metal toe cap covers four trends. A floral slipper flat covers two.

Round toes are still in style so please don’t think that you have to stop wearing them! I’ll certainly continue to wear mine. Casual corked wedge sandals sans the high platform, gladiators, boat shoes, espadrilles and ballet flats are mainstream classics and absolutely in style. Chunky moto boots, although not as fashion forward as they used to be, have also become a mainstream basic that is always in style. And although ultra high platforms are on their way out, retailers will continue to sell them to a smaller market so they won’t disappear overnight. 

The styles below are just single examples of some of the trends. There are thousands of versions so don’t think that this is the only representation. As always, if you like a trend, you have to find the versions that work for you.

So which footwear trends grab you and which don’t? Are there any that you wish you could wear but you feet flatly refuse to co-operate?

This outfit was inspired by the less structured trouser looks that are on the runways for Fall 2013. You’ll get a good sense of these proportions and silhouettes if you browse my pinboard. Fashion has been heading into an era of what I call “unstructured structure”. Outfit proportions are BOTH structured and unstructured, which creates an overall effect of casual chic, easy elegance and relaxed polish. I am all over this “new” way of dressing because it feels fresh, modern and no-nonsense. I can get on with my day in the utmost comfort and still feel pulled together. 

I usually wear the top part of this outfit with skinnies or black cigarette pants. But to create a more relaxed vibe, I switched to my favourite wool trousers of all time, which you’ve seen me wear here and here. I love their baggy-yet-fitted fit. I find them more flattering than skinnies and tailored bootcut trouser silhouettes because they are roomier on the thighs and skimming on the lower leg. Somehow, a looser cut looks best to my eye. And hands down they are more comfortable. 

This black dolman sleeve pullover is four years old. I do not normally wear low wide necklines, but bought the pullover with the intention of layering it over a button down shirt in order to secure coverage. That way it also creates an interesting layered effect both in the front and back. It’s loosey-goosey, cozy, and easy to layer over a shirt because it’s roomy. The waist welt adds structure and allows me to “faux tuck” and showcase a belt. I’ve been after a simple wide white belt for ages, and finally found it at Macy’s for $20 when out shopping with dear friends last week. 

Although you can only see the collar and cuffs, this is my favourite white button down shirt that you’ve also seen at Fashion Week and for a rehearsal dinner. I have to restrain myself from wearing it more often so that it stays special and looking as pristine. But it does come out to play when I shop with clients or go out at night. The exaggerated collar and cuffs tickle my toes, as does the workmanship and quality because it’s an Anne Fontaine. It’s a fun juxtaposition to mix up the strict structure of the shirt, which I button to the top, with the unstructured softness of the pullover. 

Pointy toes are the trend in footwear for the next few years so rescue your pointy toe shoes if they’re in the donation pile. I’m an ’80s fashion gal so I love pointy toes and almond toes whether they are on trend or not. They’re a little severe, which is why I like how these oxfords contrast with the soft drape of the wool trousers. 

I finished off the outfit with a brand new white clutch that was on my Fall shopping list last year. I couldn’t find one I loved back then so it slipped to a level 3 shopping priority. But Veteran forum member Annagybe spotted this Clare Vivier foldover clutch for me and it was love at first sight.  I’ve had it for a week and it’s been out to play daily. It’s non-seasonal so it’s going to be a wardrobe workhorse. 

It’s still cold in Seattle so Spring coats make a lot of sense. I opted for a classic citron peacoat that is a few seasons old but feels new each time I wear it. The dolman sleeve works fine under the coat because it isn’t bulky. No accessories other than my watch, wedding ring and specs. And a new punk do that I had trimmed into shape a few days ago. The spikes stay put all day with magic goo, but did get a bit bashed about on this windy day.  

There is something about the graphic and stark integrity of a black and white outfit that appeals to me. The white brightens the black and adds a big dose of crisp. I couldn’t wear black and white outfit combinations daily because I would miss my colours. But whenever I colour block black with white, I think of my precious Mum and my happiness factor goes through the roof.

Refinery29 has a nice roundup of eleven indie fragrances that “won’t have you smell like everyone else”. Bonus: a few of these scents are “green”, as many indie perfumers are also trying to source ingredients that are kind to the environment.

Although Dolce & Gabbana is not the first fashion house to release a scent targeted to toddlers, their new perfume for babies is causing quite a stir. Health concerns aside, this begs the question: is it really necessary to enhance an infant’s natural smell?

The minimalist Chanel N° 5 glass bottle is arguably just as iconic as the legendary perfume it contains. Design*Sponge gives us some background on how the understated design came about.

Fab Links from Our Members

Ingunn has bought several pairs of Clarks shoes via Bells Shoes and highly recommends this British online shoe store. They carry nineteen other brands as well, the customer service is excellent, and — nice to know — they deduct the VAT when you order from abroad.

To what point does hair colour become unprofessional for the office? Kat over at Corporette investigates this question with her readership, and Angie thought the comments just as interesting as the blog post itself.

Vildy discovered the Gentleman’s Gazette, where you can read everything you ever wanted to know about quilted jackets.

London-born Cara Delevingne has been gracing many a catwalk and magazine cover. This twenty year old has even been called “the new Kate Moss”. Sarahbb enjoyed this short interview with “the model to watch”.

Ariel over at Artfully Awear puts together outfits inspired by artworks from different genres and eras. Ingunn was especially taken with her interpretation of Edvard Munch’s The Scream because she wrote her thesis on this famous painting.

RoseandJoan points out that David Bowie is once again exploring androgyny in the video for his new single The Stars (Are Out Tonight). It features the talented actress Tilda Swinton, and models Andrej Pejic and Saskia De Brauw. (Warning: the video contains some nudity so may not be safe for work.)

People seem to fall into three categories when it comes to wardrobe budgets: They follow a strict budget; they have a ballpark figure and try to work within it, unless something really fab appears that they can’t pass up; or “Budget? What’s a budget?” 

I used to fall into the last category. But my husband is a CPA and a CFP, and he loves budgeting almost as much as I love style. The best way to keep the marital peace in our house was working out a wardrobe budget. 

Surprisingly, I’ve found that staying within the budget is the easy part. What was tricky was deciding how to set a budget. Here are four steps I used to find my magic budgetary number:

1. Decide on a Range

Most financial sites recommend a clothing budget that ranges from three to ten percent of your net income (here’s one that includes a calculator). So If you have an annual net income of $60,000, you might figure on a clothing budget of $1,800 – $6,000. (Don’t get too excited — that’s clothing for the whole family for the entire year, not just for you!). 

2. Establish your Needs and Priorities

The three-to-ten percent range is a wide one, so the next step is to hone in on your exact number. Do you and your husband work outside the home and require both a work and a casual wardrobe? Do you have kids who outgrow shoes, boots and coats twice a year? We decided to take this step a bit further, and listed our priorities to ensure we were spending our extra money on things that mattered to our family, including clothing. What do you care most about? Vacations, dining out, movies, sporting events, piano lessons, home decor, travel, soccer for the kids, clothing, shoes, jewelry? If vacationing in Disney World has been on your family’s wish list for years, you’ll want to scale back on the wardrobe allowance and beef up the vacation allowance, and everyone will be happy as a result.

3. Pick the Number!

We settled on a budget of seven percent of our net income, which reflected the fact that we have two growing sons, but also that my husband had purchased two suits last year and thus did not anticipate major work wardrobe expenses, except for dress shirts and shoes. 

4. Test-drive the Budget

Does the number you picked actually work? Does it leave room for unexpected purchases? One month, my son managed to put holes in the knees of all of his track pants, and that resulted in a budgetary crisis that threw me for a loop! 

I’ve found that I’m happiest with some flexibility. Often, I’ll spend two months’ budget in one month, and don’t shop at all the next month. With a wardrobe that’s basically complete, I’m in the fortunate position of being able to add some higher-priced pieces when I decide they deserve a spot in my closet, and a flexible budget allows that.

The irony of it all? Budget in hand, I feel much freer about spending money on wardrobe items. I shop guilt-free as long as I’m staying within the bounds that my husband and I mutually agreed upon. No need to discuss purchases in advance, no hiding UPS boxes or shopping bags. Plus, setting spending limits gives structure to your style goals — and will help you prioritize your wardrobe purchases. 

Do you have a clothing budget? How did you find your magic budget number?