Bay Area Fashionista


HOT Shoe Trend for Fall 2010

The hot shoe trend for Fall 2010 is the return of the dainty bow. Bows have been adoring the sides of Valentino pumps and Valentino handbags for the past several seasons, but the dainty bow was prominent in Fall fashion back in 2003. As designers return to proper dressing from the 1950s, the dainty bow bears an important part of completing the look. The full skirt paired with a short sleeved seater and vintage handbag make kitten heeled, pointed toe pumps with a bow, the perfect shoe to complete the feminine look.

Prada had the best show of bows for Fall 2010 with two tone leather high heels in varying heights, pointed toes and a sweet bow on top. The Prada bow is thin and reminiscent of the 2003 version that topped round toe pumps everywhere. Louis Vuitton showed a thicker version of the bow in a more formal, satin on velvet pump.Louis Vuittons’s high heels have a thick, covered stacked heel and sharply pointed toe. Miu Miu is showing a bold, two-tone platform with a small bow on top of the toes tied with a half inch thick leather. Christian Dior is topping off the Dior classic pump with a small bow, adding a bit of sass to the classic shoe. Of course, the holy grail of shoes designers, Christian Louboutin is giving Fashionistas a fabulous, kitten heel pump with a rounded pointy toe and a dainty bow over the toes in suede. Manolo Blahnik, the artist of shoe design, is giving shoe lovers everywhere a bow, of course Blahnik never does what all of the other designers are doing, so his bow is appearing on the back of his slingback high heels. So fabulous!

The bow is here for Fall 2010 and it is definitely the highlight for Fall shoe trends. Many Fashionistas in the Bay Area may already have a pair of high heels or kitten heels in the back of their closet from earlier in the decade, while others may need to make a trip to the mall! This is definitely a trend worth investing in. If you are concerned about the longevity of the bow, or if you may get tired of the bow, make sure the shoes you purchase have a bow that can easily be removed by a shoe repair. This can give new life to a pair of shoes that may otherwise end up in the back of your closet by 2012. Happy shopping and stay fabulous.


Kitten Heels for Fall 2010, The ‘IT’ Shoe

Kitten heels make a comeback for Fall 2010 as shoes fall back down to Earth after years of being sky high. The kitten heel was incredibly important roughly ten years ago as Fashionistas across the Bay Area shuffled between work and their cars. We were so busy starting companies and working for people who were starting companies, that a comfortable walking shoe was not required. Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blahnik were on the feet of every Fashionsta from Marin to San Francisco to Contra Costa to Alameda to San Mateo and Santa Clara. The kitten heel appeared on pointed toe, clog-like shoes embroidered with beads on silk that barely let Fashionistas shuffle from their desk at work, back to their car. The kitten heel was more wearable on slingbacks, which held on tight to the heel of the foot allowing Fashionistas the ability to actually walk!

Designers thought about women’s feet this time around and have designed amazing kitten heels for Fashionistas everywhere. The kitten heel is shown with a pointed toe as a full pump or slingback. Stella McCartney and Marc Jacobs dressed models in fabulous kitten heels with pointed toes and slingbacks on their Fall 2010 runways. Prada brought back the bow tie from 2003 and showed kitten heels in two tone leather; both as a pump and a slingback. Fashionista favorites such as Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin and Jimmy Choo all have kitten heel designs of their own for store shelves this Fall.

This kitten heel slingback will look fabulous with Fall’s throwback to the 1950s  when paired with the perfect vintage handbag. Kitten heels also give you the opportunity to shop your closet. If you do not already own a pair of kitten heels from yesteryear, this is the perfect time to invest in a pair of feminine. kitten heels. Look for a neutral color that will be timeless such as a shade of brown or black. Cole Haan and Banana Republic also offer affordable kitten heel slingbacks with pointed toes. Happy shopping and stay fabulous.

 


Fall’s Minty Little Secret

In a sea of black, white, grey, browns and red accents there was one color on the Paris, Milan and New York runways that appeared, shall we say, out of place? Sea green was on the Fall 2010 runways in a blatant attempt to trump preconceived notions that sea green is a Spring color, not a Fall color! What is next, white after Labor Day? Oh wait, that’s been done. Mint green is back in fashion and it is the new up and coming trendy color for Fall that may carry us into resort and Spring 2011.

Mint green seems an unlikely color for Fall given the trends shown by haute couture designers on the runways. Mint green can be an alternative accent color to red for Fall’s Minimalism trend. Designers such as Balenciaga and Proenza Schouler showed mint green high heels, platforms, ankle boots and structured handbags. Chanel is showing a fabulous tweed, mint green suit for Fall in sharp contrast to the mostly black line beginning to fill store shelves. Louis Vuitton is using mint green on their full skirts as part of a subtle floral design and accented with a mint green handbag in decadent alligator. Fendi and Balenciaga blended mint green into neutral fabrics with shades of brown and military green.

Mint green is not a color that compliments everyone. We here at Bay Area Fashionista favor mint green in the form of a small, structured handbag or beautiful suede high heels paired with a neutral outfit. Mint green is a color normally found in resort and Spring lines. This is a good time to invest in a mint green piece as there is a good chance we will see this color coming in stronger next season. Happy shopping and stay fabulous.