March 27, 2012

Key Item: Wedges


My favourite construction - the wedge!
Wedges have been the biggest area in a lot of shoe stores for a couple of seasons now.
Although I did still see a lot of platform espadrille wedges (they were looking so so old though!), the newness was really to me, evident in the smarter, net sole versions.
Covering both shoes and sandal commodities, wedges are big, big, big for Summer'12.

Chunky wedges at Steve Madden

Chinese Laundry window at Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas


Patent bow wedges seen at Zara


Jessica Simpson espadrille wedge seen at Nordstrom


Plain slingback cork wedges seen at Nine West

Chunky platform wedges in the ALDO windows




Stud detail at Via Spiga
Sample bought from Michael Kors - with gorgeous angles to the wedge



Sample bought from Steve Madden in the raw edge new bold blue


Key Items: Courts


Summer'12 is going to be a lot smarter and cleaner in styling that the last few summer seasons we have been through. This trend did start with winter and will most surely carry through and have an effect on what is usually in this country, a more casual time of year. 
With this my feeling is that court shoes are going to be very strong. 
I still saw an abundance of platform courts - in closed and peep toes as well as slingback versions.
The newest area is really in the net sole iterations and this is going to get bigger and bigger as the season progresses!

Shoes by Stella McCartney


Courts seen at Nordstrom


Easy colour blocking seen at Macy's







Seen at Kenneth Cole

Steve Madden window in Las Vegas






From the Prada instore booklet



Peep Toe slingback platforms seen at Zara
Steel pin heels seems at Zara
Toe cap court seen in the Zara Soho store window



Some of my bought samples

Key Items: Boat Shoes

Boat shoes were also a big item!
Many shoe stores that them in at least 5 different colour and fabric iterations.
More for the casual spin on summer - but an item for sure....






Boat shoes as seen at ALDO


Steve Madden sample I bought

Vince Camuto sample I bought