Falling for fancy footwear

It’s like a party for your feet, but you don’t need a special occasion to wear these shoes.

Footwear is getting fancy. Sparkle, shine, brocade, velvet and embroidery elevate mules and boots, spike heels and flats. Straps, bows, glitter and crystals take interest a step further.

It’s like a party for your feet, but you don’t need a special occasion to wear these shoes. Slip into a pair any day of the week, day or night.

“The top shoe trend this season is flat mule slides,” said Barbara Jansen, shoe and contemporary clothing buyer for Ballet’s. “Gucci put them back on the map a couple seasons ago, and they have taken the market by storm.”

She said this fall they can be found in luxe fabrics such as brocade, velvet, metallic and even adorned with sequins.

“Being flat, they are comfortable and practical yet fashionable at the same time,” Jansen said. “Flat mules add an instant cool factor any outfit.”

Mules may be getting a lot of attention, but they’re not the only showstopping styles. Cold-weather necessities have been reinvented. Look for shearling detail on hiker boots; jewels on biker boots.

“Details like these add instant interest,” she said.

“Finally, a major overall theme this season is velvet everything. This includes velvet boots, flats and pumps. You can’t have enough velvet!”

Boots are a mainstay in many women’s wardrobes, and this year there’s no lack of styles that stretch from the ankle to upper thigh. Bright white and bold red scream for attention. Combat, biker and cowboy boots are stylishly updated. Instead of tucking skinny jeans — another wardrobe staple — into tall, tight boots, consider slouchy boots. The 1980s favorite is back and looks even better in supple suede or velvet.

“No matter what your favorite silhouette is, this fall is all about texture,” said Betsy King, owner of Betsy King A Shoe Boutique. “Brocade, velvet, luxe suede, beading and sequins are all very important.”

Booties and slides reign supreme as the go-to style, she said, and many have details such as a cylinder heel or square toe that make them stand out.

[PHOTOS BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN] Model Cortney Smith wears Stuart Weitzman mules, Mcguire pants, Cinq a Sept top, Smythe jacket, Mignonne Gavigan earrings with Proenza Schouler bag from Balliets.

Shown are a Pour la Victoire Iris bootie with cylinder heel, Marc Fisher Grazi black velvet embroidery bootie and Seychelles Catwalk taupe suede bootie with bow from Betsy King A Shoe Boutique.

Featured are a Via Spiga Arina velvet pump, Andre Assous Janie leopard suede pump and Marc Fisher Lailey brocade slide with square toe from Betsy King A Shoe Boutique.

Featured are a Loeffler Randall sequin mule; Nicholas Kirkwood metallic silver mule; Joie velvet mule; and Joie brocade mule.