Spring 2010 Fashion Week in New York, Milan, and Paris, were rampant with over the top shoes that were sky-high and ridiculously opulent with dramatic details and silhouettes. Designers went to great lengths to over exaggerate and super indulge us with the most unlikely, and possibly unwalkable, shoes ever. The silhouettes were bulky and fanciful with unique heel designs, odd geometric patterns, and kitschy embellishments. The designers who took the lead with a nod to the avant garde include Pierre Hardy, Dolce & Gabbana, and Camilla Skovgaard. But, the true trendsetters were Alexander McQueen and Bruno Frisoni who showcased collections with impeccable craftsmanship and creativity.
Wedges and stilettos with unique heels and soles made a big splash on the runway.
British designer Alexander McQueen’s “Titanic” ballerina pump was a fitting match to his Atlantis-themed collection with it’s antiqued brass heel that latched to the rear of the beige pump.
Balenciaga’s urban-inspired collection featured an ethnic looking multicolored leather lace-up bootie that had a reversed heel with the widest part being at the base and the narrow point beneath the heel of the foot.
Another edgy heel the orange “Saw” sandal with a zigzag sole came from Danish designer Camilla Skovgaard, who has garnered a celebrity following including Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry.
Geometric and cutout patterns were just as prominent on the runway.
Pierre Hardy’s designs were the most fashion-forward. The gold multicolor transparent sandals with geometric patterns filled with a transparent fabric were artsy and reminiscent of a Piet Mondrian-style painting.
Especially stylistic were the Pierre Hardy stretch boots with kneepads that had three sections to the boot, from kneepad to shin strap and down to the shoe boot. The sections were connected by a single strap of leather that ran vertically down the front of the boot.
In a more granny boot style was a perforated leather ankle boot with a lace-like cutout pattern from Marni. The exposed heel made this look a hybrid between a boot and a closed-toe sandal.
Elaborate embellishments made some shoes pop like Italian designer Roberto Cavalli’s metallic sandal with detachable chain ankle strap. The gold-tone shoe had a ribbed leather texture that sleekly complemented the metallic chains.
In contrast, French label Roger Vivier, whose namesake created the stiletto heel, had a smooth gray suede sandal with fringes that dangled over the top of the shoe and tassel ties that laced up the back.
Pierre Hardy’s more colorful “Mega-paillettes” wedge sandal was a blue oasis with transparent discs in varying sizes and shades of blue.
Louis Vuitton’s contribution had an ethnic vibe like a leather pair of crisscross clogs with tassels on each side — one fringed and the other with a hair-like fabric — and a pyramid-shaped heel.
Some looks were even animalistic in comparison like Parisian designer and creative director for Roger Vivier, Bruno Frisoni’s “Blow Up” heel with fringe detail that made it resemble a Puli, an Hungarian sheep-herding dog with dreadlock-like hair that falls to the ground.
When it comes to accessorizing an outfit, shoes are a simple way to jazz up any ensemble. But the shoes that graced the spring catwalk were anything but simple. Fashion designers opted for lavish designs and lofty details that took ordinary heels to extreme heights with unique designs, interesting shapes, and decorative embellishments.
Chicly Yours,
The Chic Spy
