Shoes - Fall/Winter 2010-2011 Trends

This season, the trends blowing across the catwalks have left a mass of different shoe styles in their wake. Going from retro to masculine to cozy, these designs oscillate between classical models and whimsical digressions.

From the Chanel moon boots (wearing voluminous, synthetic coats) to constructivist Balenciaga moccasins to the crested heels by YSL, visually strong models - which will surely bring joy to the street style photographers lined up along the edge of the Jardin des Tuileries - are not lacking in number this season. Above and beyond these fun eccentricities having little chance of becoming a part of the fashionista's daily wardrobe, other more practical footwear trends were identified, and are waiting for the new season to be invited into our wardrobes.

Seventies Boots

Starting in September, the mythical Annie Hall 70s look will be the order of the day more than ever. Those seeking to incarnate the Woody Allen heroine's style will be out searching for felt hats, tweed jackets, and above all, a pair of boots to go with the skirt and dress retro lengths of the moment.

Sporting a more of a square heel than a thin one, these boots should hug the calf, avoid rounded toes and come in a variety of key colors from that decade (e.g., camel, Bordeaux, navy blue). The classic Chloé model or the higher heeled ones by Lanvin will go perfectly with A-line skirts, flannel shorts, light chiffon ensembles with floppy neckties that float just above the knee, and the purebred, easy sweater dresses by Stella McCartney.

Also to be taken into consideration -- the all-purpose black shoes can be put away for once, making room for colors like bottle-green or cognac that will go perfectly with the color panel en vogue. Before giving in to a designer piece, consider rummaging about in your favorite second-hand store where these kinds of boots will probably be hiding.

Moccasins & Co.

Symbolizing a chic that is too stiff and too sensible, the Church-like moccasins have not been very well supported by the fashion world until recently. However, labels like Chloé and Alexander Wang have suddenly decided to bring them back, transforming them from a classic to up-to-date.

BCBG ("bon chic bon genre," i.e., "preppy") at Hannah MacGibbon, or 100% smart at (America's darling) Alexander Wang, moccasins can now punctuate looks that are deceptively uninteresting, going just as well with an oversized boyish blazer as with a straight wool skirt topped off with a soft denim shirt.

This being said, in order to give them a little youth injection, there is nothing better than wearing them with a pair of slim 3/4s, a slightly cropped pullover and a pea jacket, or even with a little baseball jacket and a pair of skinny jeans, worn short and zipped at the bottom. No need to hesitate about wearing brogues warmed up with a pair of thin semi high socks -- this will be the joy of the preppy look.

Hiking Boots

Going against the classical wave (to say the least), the heeled clodhoppers - a glamorized version of the good old hiking boot - have little by little, under the impulse of the very successful Rag&Bone collection, become a footwear possibility.

Having no reason to be jealous of the original model, these utilitarian shoes proudly sport their round laces, padded reinforcements and metal grommets, carefully preparing the urban girl for her future pedestrian hiking tours.

Their no-compromise appearance should encourage the fashionistas to mitigate their folkloric aspect by incorporating them into more casual looks -- e.g., rough cigarette cut jean worn short on the ankle accompanied by a shirt, a short pullover and a camel overcoat. In other words, avoid accentuating their alpine sprit by adding a Tyrolean pullover, thick socks and oversized shearling.

Shearling

Immediately won over by the coziness of the pieces in the latest Burberry Prorsum show, the fashion world quickly understood that winter 2010-2011 will be spent bundled up un the warmth of shearling linings. From this moment on, the reversible leather skin gimmick will quickly find itself taken in all directions, on H&M bomber jackets to the season's shoes, giving the latter a trendy air.

From now on, shearling can be used as a decoration - like on the Marni boots - or as an attempt to render the fall clog acceptable, but also to softly line the inside of shoe (Christopher Bailey) or even to take up with antiquated but attractively comfortable boots (Martin Margiela).

Attention: many boots and booties offered this season may have the right to their bit of shearling, but be careful to not be attracted by cheap-looking details, a far cry form the Burberry models.

Kitten Heels

If the 14cm (5.5") heels are still de jour, Christian Louboutin has nevertheless understood that the Mad Men heroines have given women the desire to try kitten heels. In the house of the red-sole shoemaker, a good number of pumps have lost in altitude. This season, go for a femininity devoid of masochism, where being seductive no longer necessarily demands wearing high heels.

To compensate for the lack of centimeters, the designers are offering deliciously girly models à la extreme sophistication, offering the ankle a much more feminine framework. The mix of materials, precious skins and whimsical bows sweep away all assumptions about kitten heels, rendering them as sexy as a good number of stilettos.

These shoes also possess an undeniable advantage of being wearable for a long time, without having to buy out the pharmacy's stock of Band-Aids. Only downside: kitten heels will make the less svelte among us seem shorter.

Laced Ankle Boots

Lightly touching the anklebone, laced in different ways, with either heels or platforms, the ankle boots are taking on all the trends. Between the heeled oxfords stylizing flared jeans, sensible 19th century looking ankle boots with a Chloé-esque flare pant, and the furred or studded versions (Jimmy Choo or Alaïa), this shoe style seems to be able to go as well with the 3/4 pants of the moment as with knee-high socks.

Easy to wear and right for fall, they can equally be worn with bobby socks and bare legs, in order to bring a collegiate look to our high-waisted skirts and other 60s style dresses.

Also noteworthy:

• Pumps will be available in lingerie mode, shunning leather in favor of a fine black lace (Alexander McQueen, Valentino, Dolce&Gabbana)
• Socks will fuse with shoes, creating an ultra cozy, hybrid, 2-in-1 model (Givenchy, Alexander Wang, Dolce&Gabbana)
• Leopard print remains a sure thing to brighten up a serious ballet flat (Tory Burch, Repetto)
• Suede will be seen on numerous pumps, demanding to be paired with a 3/4 jean (Tabitha Simmons, Isabel Marant)
• At Isabel Marant, sneakers will take on platform soles
• Elasticized masculine boots win over the female gender (Alexander Wang, Chloé)
• Square and rounded heels take over for sharper ones (Alexander Wang, Fendi)
• Fur takes a stand and will be seen as an opulent touch on many models (Chloé, Louboutin)
• Some designers will be having fun partially deconstructing boots and derbies (Alexander Wang)
• Thigh high boots are still around, even if they are no longer at their trendiness highpoint

By Coco in Trends - Post a comment