On your TOES
Sandals bring color and glitz to spring wardrobe
With temperatures rising, it’s time to think about peeling off those boots, packing them away for a few months and showing off some toe. And some color. Options are vast this summer, say two local shoe retailers.
The key, they say, is to be daring about what color of shoe you pair with your outfit. Don’t be afraid to mix and match.
“With a fun, red top don’t be afraid to wear a yellow sandal,” says Mariah Littauer, buyer for Gee Loretta! in northeast Albuquerque.
Or, “wear a black dress with a green shoe … and it’ll just make your dress pop,” says Katie Graves-Basile, area sales manager for the women’s shoe department at Dillard’s at Winrock Shopping Center.
Everyone has the neutral black or white shoes. Instead, add a little “punch” to your ensemble with color, Littauer says.
And, if wearing bright colors on your feet isn’t your thing, lots of nude/neutral options are available.
Everyone needs a nude shoe, Littauer says. Try on several different shades to find the one that most complements your skin tone.
At Gee Loretta!, a nude midheel sandal with a metallic edge, such as the Matisse, is a must-have to wear with most any outfit, she says.
Forgo the “matchy-matchy” look, she adds.
“It’s dated to match your shoes to your outfit,” Littauer explains.
This time of year there are so many colors in clothing, wearing a nude sandal or heel works well. Or, Littauer suggests, try wearing a colorful shoe that’s on the opposite end of the color wheel.
Graves-Basile says that colorblocking styles are in, too. For example, a shoe might have a green heel and white front.
“Color-blocking styles look good with summer dresses,” Graves-Basile adds.
While you’ll see sandals accented with lace or linen, “cork is still a really big fashion statement this year,” GravesBasile says.
Suede isn’t just for fall and winter, Littauer says. It’ll be a big trend because suede adds texture to an outfit.
As for thongs or flip-flops — depending on what you like to call them — “they’re not just plain flip-flops anymore,” Graves-Basile says.
They come adorned with bows
or ruffles, and in lots of bright colors.
“Embellishments are big, especially on flip-flops,” she says. “There are so many, they’re hard to resist.”
Thongs — popular with a cork wedge in colors such as mint and coral — go well with casual shorts or pants.
“We have every color you can think of now,” Graves-Basile says.
As for sandals, the glitz will come from rhinestones, as well as metal details, Littauer says.
Embellishments give it spunk — for example, the Desigual sandals at Gee Loretta! have a beaded design adorning the top of the foot. This shoe wraps up three trends in one — the embellishment, the color and the low heel.
The basic black flat sandals with sparkles at Gee Loretta! can be paired with a casual outfit or a dressier affair.
Those super-high heels causing women so many hip problems “are going to kind of peter out,” Littauer adds.
Heel heights are coming down to a mid-range, though you’ll still see the platform sole.
“Platform adds comfort to wearing a high heel,” she explains.
For comfort-seekers, the Sperry boat shoes are a popular choice and are far from being a basic comfort style. Graves-Basile explains that some of these flat, loafer-looking shoes sport sequins and come in a variety of fabrics. “College kids are going crazy over them now,” she says.
Dillard’s is known for its selection of comfortable shoes — from brand names such as Clark’s and Børne, she says. “Comfort shoes are a lot more updated so you can get style and comfort together.”