Archive 
If diamonds are a girl’s best friend, then shoes are her lovers. The creativity of shoe designers has been pushed to the extreme this season. The result? The spring 2009 shoe collections are anything but bland. Here are some of the hottest trends to look for this season.
This spring, you can expect ski-high heels with attitude. No more of the not-quite-flats-but-not-quite-heels look; this season's shoes are making a soaring statement. However, as fashionable as the sky-scraping shoes may seem, walking elegantly in them may prove to be a challenge, so make sure to pick shoes that are the right size so they won’t scuff. Designers such as Dolce & Gabbana and Gucci display many of these sky-high heels in their spring ’09 collections.
One trend with these haute heels category is an old friend of ours. Platform shoes are back, and they are bigger and chunkier than ever. This 70s style has shown up on the runways over and over again this spring. Wedges are also still occasionally seen, enhancing the chunky look when combined with a platform. Christian Dior, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton and Prada especially displayed a wide variety of platforms.
Ankle straps and ballerina-style tie ups have contributed to the bold look that is being shown. The ankle strap has been paired mostly with chunky, platform heels, although delicate flats have been sporting tie-ups as well. Many of these shoes also come with ribbons and bows for an over-the-top, attention-grabbing look. Elegant ballerina-style tie ups can be seen in Jean Paul Gaultier’s spring collection, while Givenchy, Chanel and Oscar De La Renta have more chunky and flashy options. Prada especially featured bows at the heels to accompany the straps.
The old phrase that “less is more” does not apply when it comes to this year’s spring shoe trends. Plain, boring shoes won’t cut it anymore. Ostentatious detailing is seen in an overabundance this year, showing extravagant amounts of stones, studs, fringe, lace and buckles. Gucci’s spring collection showed metallic trimming and buckles on top of platform heels, while Prada’s collection contained bows, ribbons and texturized heels. Louis Vuitton used nearly all of these elements, showing ribbons, beads and ankle straps. Also, fringe is being seen more than ever in 2009.
One of the most extreme forms of detailing is the “feature heel.” Exploring new horizons, taking an architect's license and an imploring an artist's vision for design, this season's heels includes carvings, designs and textures that are created into the heel portion of the shoe itself. They beg for attention in a more subtle way than the loud ribbons and bows, but are still every bit as trendy. Burberry, Christian Dior, Lanvin, John Galliano, Prada, Alexander McQueen and Gucci are among designers that have gotten on board with this trend. A similar look to the bold strap is the gladiator shoe. This has been seen in both flats and heels, and some with straps tying all the way up the calf. The new look of the season, the gladiator shoe channels sandals worn by ancient civilizations in a way only designers like Dolce & Gabbana can. See D&G's Back-Zip Gladiator Sandal.
A popular look that is being shown in department stores are huaraches, a type of Mexican sandal made from woven leather. These are both comfortable and practical, and have all ranges of prices. Dolce Vita, Cole Haan and Sam Edelman are designers that have displayed huaraches, find some of your own at upper-end department stores. A texture that is continuing to being displayed from last year is reptile leather. Alligator, crocodile, lizard, snake skins can look classy, but beware, fake imitations can look trashy. It’s important to consider quality when deciding to purchase reptile leather. Designers such as Matthew Williamson and BCBG Max Azria highlight shoes with reptile leather on only select parts of the shoe, such as the strap or the heel. Tribal influences are playing a key role in the design of the spring shoes seen both on the catwalk and in the retail stores. Natural leathers, beading and woven textures have been displayed along with brightly colored cloth.
These tribal bright colors seem to be the exception this season as the bold colors from last year are toning down, and pastels are taking their place. Versace showed a lot of neutral colors, with simple and elegant beading. However, for those who want to wear dark colors, Burberry displayed many darker options in their spring collection. Keeping up with recession chic remember, shoes don’t have to cost you your retirement to look fabulous. Keep in mind the basic rules – high heels, platforms and bold straps. Everything else you'll see this season is all in the details.
