Shoe Trends for Fall 2008
Hot Looks in Footwear – From Banded Ballet Flats to Booties
With stylish, statement shoe-boots (definitely not to be hidden), banded ballet flats and bold-colored satins and jewels, shoes have a starring role this season.
This year’s runway fashion weeks are done and over, and summer collections are hanging in the shops. In the fickle world of fashion that means it is now time to turn up the heat on the new fall collections, to get a taste of the hottest footwear looks to come!
Hot Looks for Fall 2008
The Changing Shape of Toes
- Toes have become more pointed, almond shaped as opposed to the more rounded ones of last season. Cap toes, especially colorful ones, make a return; find them decorating 1920s style Mary Janes, slingbacks, shoe-boots or brogues, in a variety of colors and fabrics. Peep toes are still favored by designers to give brogues and chunky gladiator sandals a more edgy look.
Exotic Animal Skins
- Still there remains a penchant for everything reptile, from mock croc to patent python. See python or crocodile skins (such as Gaimbattista Valli's croc-platformed pumps) appearing mainly on the leading look of the season, shoe-boots or booties. This time seasonal colors are bolder and stronger. Chloé’s fall collection includes a number of fall themed booties in reptile skins and autumnal leaves, craftmanship at its best.
Bold Colors
- Bold, bright color is back in the shape of elegant satin. From purples and blues, to reds and oranges, and berry colors in muted hues. Bold-colored patent is also back, in some seriously shiny '80s colors. Wear strong colors with simple black or seasonal gray.
- Black and gold is sleek and chic for fall and winter. Wear this elegant footwear with sheer or opaque hosiery and to spice up a cocktail dress or a feminine tux.
Shoe-Boots or Booties
- Find them in all shapes and sizes, from ferocious gladiator to femme-fatal. Mirrored metallic- silver features on some of Balenciaga's more feminine fall shoe-boots, giving them a futuristic look. Shoe boots this fall are chunky and cuffed, or elegant and embellished, but make sure to choose a flattering style. If you have short legs or thick ankles, any footwear cropped at the ankle will do you no favors in the slim leg department. For the most flattering effect, go for a slimline, low cut, dark colored-style and wear them with matching opaques. That way your feet look as if they are an extension of your leg rather than resembling a pair of pig's trotters!
Motorcycle Babe Chic
- Think studs, think zippers and think chains. Chunky hardware is the order of the day in biker styles from slouchy Harley-set type boots to shoe-boots and heavy duty shoes. From lug-soles to chunky leather and suedes, with metal hardware, chains and pockets. Cuffed boots also make a comeback, Puss-in-Boots style.
Masculine Chic in Oxford Brogues
- Mix a touch of gender bender with a feminine feel and you get one of the coming season’s hottest looks. Oxford brogues in the form of shoe-boots or booties, with peep toes and coffee colored hues.
- Look for signature laces and ribbons, tartan and almond-shaped toes. Shoes are feminine in design but masculine in shape. Wear them with skirts or narrow-leg trousers. The hottest hosiery look for fall is to wear a pair of lace-ups over both layered tights and socks – schoolgirl-style.
1920s Elegance
- Without doubt one of the sexiest looks in footwear. Simple elegance in satin, with pastels, blues and purples. Feminine is the order of the day for eveningwear, but you can wear them at the office too. Team them with the sheerest of hosiery, or keep your legs bare. Vivien Westwood's fall collection features a pair of bright-pink satin pumps, with impossibly high heels. Create a really edgy look with bold printed stockings in matching colors.
- Bejeweled sandals also make a comeback, an absolute must for flirty cocktail dresses, full-flow skirts and satin evening pants, according to In style.com, in their online feature Fall Shoe trends. Be it T-strap, d’orsay pumps or closed toes, if you’ve got the legs, then don't be afraid to flaunt these flattering styles. Oscar De La Renta's fall collection oozes girlie sophistication with a pair of beribboned and jeweled satin pumps.
Little Bo Peep Banded Flats
- From Puss-in-Boots cuffs to Little Bo Peep (elasticated) banded flats. This nursery rhyme look has already been seized by celebrities such as Jessica Alba, in her black almond-toed strapped ballerinas.
- Very ballet school, with rounded toes, or go for more pointed ones for elegant eveningwear. These ballet flats need to be shown off with short skirts, narrow-leg pants and skinny jeans.Marc Jacobs satin banded flats ($325) are a perfect combination of two of this season’s footwear trends, satin and modern ballerina.
Warrior Women Gladiators
No surprise that with the current passion for everything Greco-Roman, gladiator sandals take on a wintry look, with wider straps and lace up shoe-boots. With chunkier heels and uppers and heavy hardware, says Styledish.com, in their article "Shoe Trends for Fall 2008", “think Viking Vixen or bondage femme fatal!”
Statement Shoes for Fall 2008
Above all, let your shoes make a statement this coming season. Keep outfits simple if wearing bold colors or chunky hardware. Footwear for fall is too good to be hidden, show them off with the shortest of mini dresses or over leggings or tights. Don’t forget the edgiest look when it comes to hosiery. Layer socks over tights!
The copyright of the article Shoe Trends for Fall 2008 in Shoes & Accessories is owned by Gill Hart. Permission to republish Shoe Trends for Fall 2008 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
