STEP OUT IN STYLE
As the cold weather hits, one thing we can look forward to is being able to forget about our toes for a little while. Pedicures become less a necessity and more an indulgence in fall and winter. We no longer have to worry about exposing cracked heels — an
It’s no secret that fashion designers influence and inspire one another — and nowhere is this more true than with fashion sneakers. This season Karl Lagerfeld and Raf Simons showed incredible sneakers at Chanel and Dior, embellished and in a range of colours and fabrics.
The trend may have started with Isabel Marant’s cult wedge trainers a few years ago and moved into skate-shoe territory last season with Givenchy and Céline’s ultra-luxe snakeskin versions. But there are a multitude of other styles by designers ranging from Pierre Hardy to Maison Martin Margiela to Prada.
There’s no disputing that the fashion sneaker is having a moment. “It’s putting comfort first, but in a really fun way that people can relate to,” says Lisa Tant, vice-president, Exclusive Services, explaining the popularity of the trend. “We’re on the go, we’re moving fast, and these shoes are comfortable!”
MAN UP
The chicest flat shoes this season are those that have their roots in menswear. From lace-up oxfords and wingtip brogues to smoking slippers, mannish shoes are the perfect way to anchor every ensemble this fall. Try pairing yours with feminine day dresses, or go head to toe in the look and wear culottes and a crisp white shirt with flat masculine shoes.
ALL ABOUT THE ’ 60S
If spring was about the ’90s, fall is about the ’60s, especially in terms of footwear. The round-toed, snakeskin knee-high boots at Gucci recall both the decadence and the insouciance of the swinging ’60s; pair them with an A-line dress in brown or camel for a full-on retro look, or wear them with bare legs and cropped pants for a 21st-century take.
For more shoe inspiration that will take you down memory lane, look to Jil Sander, Louis Vuitton and Tory Burch (where models wore lace-up shoes with thick knee socks), or think anything glittery or disco era (à la Saint Laurent).
DA BOOT
There’s no use denying it: “Boots in general are huge,” declares Tant. “There are a lot more tall boots, there are a lot of flat boots, and there are a lot more boots that don’t have a kitten heel but aren’t platforms, either.”
Indeed, when it comes to cold-season shoes, it’s easy to see why boots still reign supreme as the fall footwear of choice: They’re warm, they’re practical, and this season with so much choice, they’re super stylish.
Every woman should have at least two pairs of good boots in her wardrobe: a motorcycle boot for pounding the pavement, and a dressier pair of ankle or Chelsea boots that are suitable for pairing with skirts.