The Feet of Fashion Week
At New York Fashion Week, you can expect to see the most stylish looks, both on the runway and off, with footwear selections bringing the look together and driving the overall aesthetic home. For spring collections the possibilities are endless, thanks to the warmer weather. Silhouettes were able to run the gamut from sandals to peep toe stilettos, booties, hi-top sneakers, motorcycle boots, and more.
Several major trends kept resurfacing on the runway and on the feet of stylish show attendees, designers, hair, makeup, and nail artists working backstage. Here are our top five favorites that we spotted throughout the week.
Ultra-Pointy Toe Shoes
We’ve enjoyed a soft, rounded toe for many seasons, but the return of a sharper, aerodynamic silhouette in footwear is now upon us. With inspiration that harks back to the 1990s, it only makes sense that the shape of footwear from that decade also makes an appearance.
Pointed shapes look ultra sleek in black, which we saw in stilettos, kitten heels, and flats, but added some color and texture via suede or a woven material giving the trend a fresh and modern update.
Rainy Day Chic
Day 3 of New York Fashion Week was rainy and dark. A rare tornado warning threat in the area proved to be a challenge for show-goers. Moving from venue to venue was difficult as cabs became scarce and the subways experienced major delays. Besides the transportation concern, finding reliable footwear that could withstand the rain while pairing perfectly with runway-worthy attire was on everyone’s minds.
Several attendees wore dressier boots of all varieties, from motorcycle to cowboy to mid-knee wedges. Others opted for booties or leather heels that would at least be able to withstand a little wetness. I chose to wear my Sorel Medina Rain Heels to stylishly get through the day and reach each destination on time, by foot or with the aid of public transport.
Bold Pops of Color
Vibrant shades of acid yellow, electric cherry, and neon orange were popular footwear choices both on and off the runways. This comes as great news for those of us who invested in brightly hued shoes now, as they will definitely continue to be hot next year.
Several options coupled as two-toned, matching a neon shade with a taupe, beige or cream neutral, making the look more office friendly as well as versatile – to be combined with other prints and color combinations found in apparel.
Walking on the Wild Side
The abundance of animal printed-footwear found at fashion week this season was incredible. Wearers were spotted pairing exotic skin prints with everything from a little black dress to multi-colored paisley pants, striped tops, and tribal skirt. Some even went a notch above and rocked the prints bedazzled with spikes, studs, and sequins.
Previously considered a statement look, animal prints in leopard or snake, were incorporated with ease into a bevy of casual and formal attire, transforming it into a go-to wardrobe staple.
High Shine: Glitter & Metallic
Glamorous, flowing gowns, bodycon dresses, short shorts, jeans, and sleek black pants all had one thing in common: they all looked right at home with glitter and metallic shoes! It’s truly a moment for sparkling footwear and every style under the sun seemed to want a dose of metallic shine. Spotted around New York Fashion Week were oxfords, sneakers, wedges, heels, and flats that proved that nothing looks more modern and on-trend for 2013 than a coat of light-catching glimmer.
About Julia DiNardo:
DiNardo, a Pittsburgh native and New York City resident, has covered New York and LA Fashion Weeks for the past nine years while penning articles for a myriad of publications, including Clear, Primo, Redbook, and GQ Magazines, AM New York, The New York Sun, BagSnob.com, CoutureSnob.com, AOL StyleList.com, RunningwithHeels.com, StyleCaster.com, BeautyHigh.com, Makeup.com and held the title of Editor at Stylenotes.com. Ms. DiNardo has appeared on New York’s WPIX 11 News as a fashion and beauty expert, has her own web series, “Street Peek” on StyleCoalition.TV, and has been recognized for her editorial work in fashion and beauty by The New York Times, Fast Company, and The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette amongst others. For more info or to work with Fashion Pulse, please email Julia at: julia@fashionpulsedaily.com.
*Writer has received compensation for blog post, however, opinions expressed are the writers’ own.
