Fashionable jandals get their day in the sun at last
Part of my role as a fashion editor is to be across all the trends that come to us first via the runways of the world, and then via street style in fashion capitals such as Paris, New York and London.
I then attempt to translate these trends into something we fashion fans Down Under can understand, and then of course, participate in.
This season, though, one such alleged international trend finally had me stumped: jandals.
Sure, they’re a staple in every self-respecting Kiwi’s wardrobe. We wear them everywhere, but no one in their right mind would say we’re making a fashion statement.
So where does that leave us when the fashion editors of the world proclaim jandals are the next big thing in footwear, and supermodels sashay down catwalks in our slappy little rubbery pals?
Our style rivals across the ditch have already fully embraced the switch: top Australian designers Dion Lee and Zimmermann both included jandals (sorry, thongs *shudders) in recent shows.
In typical Aussie style they’ve appropriated jandals as their own cultural icon (pavlova, anyone?), with Lee telling Vogue he worked with Brazilian jandal brand Havaianas to integrate ‘‘such a quintessential Australian footwear style in with the overall collection.’’
‘‘They are such an iconic Australian look, we loved being able to include them in our New York Fashion Week show,’’ he says.
Now that I’ve typed all that out, my thoughts are – let’s do this thing, New Zealand! Here’s our chance to flip-flop our way to global fashion dominance..
So pick a pair and make our proud wee nation your catwalk this summer.