Shoes


Street Style Trends for Spring 2014: slip-on sneakers

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Photo: Slip-on Sneakers: Joie

The casual flat has a new rival for the spring 2014 season; the slip on sneaker. This skate-style sneaker began emerging on fashionable feet last fall and for the spring 2014 season has been the ultimate go-to casual shoe for style-savvy women everywhere. Fashion editors and insiders alike were spotted at New York Fashion Week attending shows in, gasp!, slip-on sneakers! This was not due to the snow; slip-on sneakers do not grip the ice and are not ideal for snowy conditions. These casual shoes were worn for show and comfort.

Slip-on sneakers are so hot for the spring 2014; they are flying off of store shelves! Designers such as Prada, Christian Louboutin, Lanvin, Saint Laurent, Philip Lim, Alexander McQueen and more have designed their own version of the traditional skater shoe for the spring 2014 season; and they feature pricing which rivals fine leather flats! It is clear on the street, and on store shelves, that the slip-on sneaker is the ultimate casual shoe of the season just out-pacing the flat dโ€™Orsay shoe; another hot spring 2014 footwear style.

Spring 2014โ€™s slip-on sneakers are fabulous shoes for Fashionistas who need a comfortable walking shoe on casual days. Since designers have created their own versions of the skate shoe for spring 2014, even the most discerning shoe lover will find a style on the market which suits her discriminating taste.

Slip-on sneakers are adding a little bit of street edge to the spring 2014 wardrobe. Traditionally, this shoe is associated with teenage boys on skateboards who hang outside coffee shops and turn outdoor stairways into skate parks. This season, expect the fashionable feet of 20-somethings, 30-somethings, 40-somethings and older to be spotted in the same shoe style as any die-hard skater near the local high school campus. Of course, the teenagers will be wearing Vans while Fashionistas will turn towards Prada, Christian Louboutin and the like.

Of course, in every fashionable crowd, there is a women looking for 100% authenticity. Do not be surprised to see a 40 year old woman wearing a Marc Jacobs top with 7FAM jeans and a pair of Vans. After all, Vans are the real deal and it does not get more authentically street than that. ๐Ÿ˜‰

I found a few fabulous pairs of comfortable and beautiful slip-on sneakers for the spring 2014 season around the web and assembled them into the shopping widget below. I hope you love them! Happy shopping, and stay fabulous ๐Ÿ˜‰


Spring 2014 shoe trends: mules and slides

mules slides spring 2014

From top right: Alexander Wang / Stella McCartney /Sophia Webster / Manolo Blahnik

Mules and slides are back! Get ready to scrunch your shoes as you walk! Mules and slides were huge in the mid-1990’s and Fashionistas everywhere learned quickly how to scrunch up their toes in order to keep their shoes from flying off their feet. Oh memories. . .

Mules and slides stayed in style until the early 2000’s when pointed toe mules had their moment. After enduring pinched toes inside of shoes which were next to impossible to keep on ones’ feet, mules and slides ended up in the back of the closet; and the d’Orsay Pump took its’ place.

Well, for spring.summer 2014, the mule and the slide are back. Hold on tight! Mules and slides look amazing and are actually comfortable when you are standing still. There isn’t anything in the back of the shoe to rub and cause blisters, nor is there a strap which could break or become too tight as the day wears on. Mules and slides are easy to take on and off when driving as well as underneath ones’ desk at the office. (of course, when no-one is looking!)ย 

That being said, mules and slides are not meant for sight-seeing, long walks or cardio shopping at the mall. Mules and slides are perfect for events where you might find yourself standing such as at a fundraiser, auction, luncheon, wedding etc. Since they are actually comfortable, and hot off the runway, it would be wise to own at least one pair of mules or slides this spring/summer 2014 season!

Mules and slides were most popular on the Milan and Paris runways; although designers around the globe are favoring the style this warm weather season. If you kept a pair from the 1990’s or early 2000’s, go ahead and move them to the front of your closet. If not, look for a fabulous pair of mules or slides in a neutral color. If you find them easy to walk in, then more power to you; buy all the colors you can find! If you are like me and prefer mules and slides for less mobile situations, look for a neutral pair which will take you through the trend.

I found a few fabulous pairs of mules and slides and assembled them into the shopping widget below. I hope you love them! Happy shopping, and stay fabulous ๐Ÿ˜‰


Chunky heels for spring 2014

The chunky heel is back! Chunky, thick and stacked heels graced the runways for spring/summer 2014 in New York, Paris, Milan and London signaling a slow end to the tall and skinny heel. (The skinny heel will never disappear, but it is not the only choice anymore!) Ankles everywhere are thanking designers as we speak ๐Ÿ˜‰

Chunky heels for spring 2014 bring a new feeling of stability to fashion; allowing Fashionistas everywhere to walk with confidence and stand for long periods of time without tipping over. Love that! Heels on the runways for spring/summer 2014 were shown in varying heights from 1″ through to 4″ and they were generally shown with flat soles. The design of the heels varied according to the designer and his/her inspiration for that particular collection.ย 

The most popular versions of the chunky heel included stacked heels, wooden heels, sculpted heels (think Dolce & Gabbana pillars) and leather/fabric covered thick heels. All versions of the thicker, chunkier heel are on trend for the spring/summer 2014 season. If you have any chunky or thick heels hiding in the back of your closet this is the perfect season to bring them back life! Just make sure they are not platforms ๐Ÿ˜‰ Think flat sole or “single soled” shoes.

The shorter versions of the chunky heel, 1″ to 2″, offer a vintage vibe which reflects many spring/summer 2014 collections that have a 1950’s and 1960’s flair. The taller chunky heels, 3″ to 4″, offer more of a 1970’s vibe and look amazing with the flowing wide pants of the season.

This is the beginning of the return of the chunky heel, so you can rest assured this trend will continue for several seasons to come. To build the perfect chunky heel wardrobe, find the heel height you are comfortable in and then invest! Look for neutral shoes first and then add one or two colorful pairs to the mix. You will find yourself wearing this style all the time since they are actually comfortable! Imagine that?! Fashion can be comfortable and practical; who knew?!

I found a few fabulous pairs of chunky and thick heeled shoes around the web and assembled them into the shopping widget below. I hope you love them! Happy shopping, and stay fabulous ๐Ÿ˜‰

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