Cheap chic: fall back in love with the espadrille!
HOW TO DRESS LIKE A GROWN UP
CAN I manage to walk in espadrilles? This is the burning question as I look for lastminute holiday shoes with two swollen and rather painful ankles.
Oh, how people laugh at the sight of a fashion director hobbling about on crutches — especially when they hear that the ankle injuries are fashion-inflicted. On the right foot, an unsightly Tubigrip sock is the result of falling off a pair of Celine flatform trainers a month ago.
Two weeks later, the left foot received a chic plastic casing from the American Hospital of Paris, after I wrenched my ankle tendons while doing a spectacular World Cup-worthy slide when running for a fashion show.
‘Ha ha! Were you wearing heels?’ is the first thing everyone asks. No, I was wearing, erm, slides — flat, new, and therefore slippy-soled, Chloe sandals. This makes friends and family cackle more.
Even the physiotherapist couldn’t contain a smirk: ‘So, you were running backstage at a fashion show? The Dior couture show in Paris, which you couldn’t possibly miss? Right. Well, you’ve completely destroyed your ankle.’
FASHION, as I keep telling anyone who will listen, is a battle zone. And I’m not the only one to have suffered footwear-related injuries this season. As flatforms and chunky soles are on the up, so is the number of wounded.
One editor I know was unceremoniously dragged along by an Uber in her sky-high Alaia heels and now finds herself in a bionic-looking leg brace.
A fashion columnist ruptured her Achilles dancing in heels and lies in hospital in a postsurgery plaster cast. While a colleague at work is just out of support socks having tumbled off her platform trainers.
Thanks to my injuries, there is just one shoe I can wear — Birkenstocks. The horror! But it can’t be long before I can graduate to the elegant, versatile and comfortable espadrille. The cool jute soles and canvas uppers are ideal for preventing swamp feet in the heatwave.
No wonder they’ve stood the test of time — 700 years, to be precise. Espardenyes (their Catalan name) were invented in 14th-century Spain.
Forties Hollywood stars Rita Hayworth in The Lady From Shanghai and Lauren Bacall in Key Largo exuded exotic glamour in espadrilles, peasant blouses and dirndl skirts.
The flat, genderless shoe was also popularised by men, from John F. Kennedy to Don Johnson in Miami Vice.
But its catwalk revolution came in the 1970s when Yves Saint Laurent saw Castaner’s designs and asked the Spanish manufacturer to develop a wedge-heeled version with ankle laces.
This is the style that is inspiring me to complete daily physio to repair my ankles in time for my holiday. You can’t go wrong with a pair of navy Castaner Carinas with wedge heels (€98,
matchesfashion.com). They’re dead-ringers for the original YSL designs and will look smart enough for work come September, worn with a black midi skirt and white blouse.
But resist wearing them with white jeans or run the risk of comparisons with Elizabeth Hurley’s much-maligned wardrobe. Equally, avoid above-the-knee shift dresses, unless you want to resemble Kate Middleton in her alternative to the bland nude court.
And banish thoughts of the ladies who lunch in blackcapped Chanel espadrilles, and Toms ones worn by D4 school girls before they go on their gap year.
Instead, look for a classic version, such as Kurt Geiger’s Margo in red or navy (now €35,
kurtgeiger.ie) or Topshop’s blue Apex ones with rope ankle-ties (€36, topshop.com). I fancy New Look’s flat mustard suedette versions, too (€19.99, newlook.com).
Espadrilles could be my only footwear option this summer — stylish and safe. Even for the battlefields of fashion. Right, better get back to the physio.