Women's Shoe Trends for Spring/Summer 2009
From Caged Boots to Fringed Platforms to Skycraper Stiletto Heels
Feb 9, 2009
Statement shoes for spring are sky high and include cut-outs, bright colors, feathers, fringes and ruffles. Embellishments are bolder, heels are higher and platforms are chunkier. This season, die-hard fashionistas are in danger of doing serious damage to their ankles, all in the name of fashion.
Caged Boots
They’re black, they’re bold and they are causing a stir from Paris to New York — that’s YSL’s metal caged booties.Courtesy of YSL’s Stefano Pilati, these sexy open-trellis weave shoe-boots will re-boot any outfit ready for spring.
Embraces the caged footwear fetish, with trellis-weave caged boots or cut-out sandals with peep toe. This lattice-weave styling is really catching on across the fashion spectrum; find them in black and tan and in bold colors too. Women’s glossies are bowled over by the mesh trend, and YSL’s caged ankle-boots ($1590 Saks) are Elle magazine's pick of the month (UK February 2009 edition.) Best of all these caged beauties have a high but chunky trellis-like heel, one which you can actually walk in! A down-side for summer though, be careful not to wear them when basking in the sun, or you’ll get some very funny tanning marks!
Extreme Heels
This season’s shoe is the ankle-breaker. Towering stilettos which go as high as 7 inches. After the success of his 6 and 7 inch heels, Christian Louboutin has plans to create an even higher shoe. According to Ali Hall, editor of Look magazine, "All the main shoe trends are mega high — and even more death defying."
Who wears these heels? Well, not the average working woman. These are definitely “taxi shoes,” where traveling by car is essential even for the shortest trip.
Such is the demand for this mega-high celebrity shoe (courtesy of Victoria Beckham and Gwyneth Paltrow) that according to the Uk's Telegraph’"Great Depression, Skyscraper Heels are Back in Fashion" of Feb 9, 2009, despite the world’s economic woes, Selfridges in London’s Oxford Street reported huge increases in the sale of mega-stilettos from designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Louboutin and Balenciaga.
Platform Pumps
Platform courts for spring and summer are classic but far from boring. Flashes of bold rainbow colors and the skyscraper stiletto are the new height of fashion. Rounded-toes rule this spring. You’ll find them in patent, metallics, satin, suede and animal skin, plus crazy prints. YSL’s cages are also available in a platform pump with ankle strap ($995 Saks) and Christian Louboutin’s Short Tina Fringed Pumps in metallic gold sport one of the highest heels. According to Fashionishing.com's "Shoe Trends for Spring/Summer 2009", fringing on footwear is hugely popular this season, both in flat sandals and high heels. You'll also find fringing adorning this spring/summer's hottest bags.
Gladiator Sandals
Still big and bold, with buckles galore. The ultimate statement sandal. Maximum impact knee-high or mid-calf styles need to be worn with simple outfits like spring shorts and an oversized tee. Find them in pastel colors like pink blush, which look great with a tan.
Strappy Sandals
After several season’s the runways just can’t let go of studded embellishments and colored stones. Spring 2009 shoe styles continue to favor summery flats which are the perfect accompaniment for the season’s ankle-cropped trousers or utility jumpsuits. A pair of pretty strappy flats with this season’s ropes, ruffles, feathers and fringing are a way to make a statement without the pain of high heels. Check out Christian Louboutin’s Adona Flat Sandals ($1,265 Saks) for a neat way to embrace the ruffle trend.
Ballet Flats
Whilst ballet flats remain an oh-so-comfortable and timeless wardrobe staple they have taken a backseat to vertiginous heels this season. However, an antidote to super-stilettos is a foldaway pair of ballet flats for those times when high heels prove a real pain. Whether it's this season's soft and squishy banana flats in candy colors or dedicated designer pumps like Tipsy Feet, which are tailored made for shoe-swapping when super-stilettos get too much to bear! Tipsy Feet, are the brain child of the Rolling Sole Shoe Company, and fold away neatly in a pouch which then unfold into a bigger shoe-bag for the discarded killer heels.
With so many trends it is easy to embrace this season's looks, whether its fringed strappy sandals or some towering heels. For those who dare, then the caged-footwear fetish is the one to watch or invest in a pair of gladiators in flats or heels, as they have become a recent wardrobe staple which will take you through many seasons.
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