Steppin’
Whether high, low, witchie or pretty, it’s all stylish this fall
Step into fall in high style this season with the hottest looks in shoes: chunky heels with feminine straps; suede with sparkly ornaments; animal prints with pearls and crystals; patent leather with zippers; argyle plaid; and buckles and bows. Also topping the must-have list are embossed crocodile and snakeskin patterns; heels of every height; and platforms and wedges.
“I’ve always looked at shoes as being immensely beautiful things.”
And as the season cools off with winter’s arrival, it’s all about boots, boots … and booties! “We’re seeing so many pretty, feminine touches — great black boots with paisley prints, covered platforms and lots of color,” says Jode Braxton-Hignight, managing owner of On a Pedestal shoes and accessories boutique in Gulfport.
Designers like Hale Bob, DKNY, BCBG, Donald Pliner, Beverly Feldman, Kate Spade, Juicy Couture, Martinez Valero and Sergio Zelcer are creating palettes of berry, mustard and bright purple and are adding glitter and glam with splashes of copper and other metallics.
But no one’s tossing out the neutrals, browns, blacks and grays just yet; they’re as popular as ever this fall.
When it comes to heels, there are some shoe fashionistas, like Stilletoes’ owner Dana Rubenstein, who subscribe to the “the-higher-the-better” philosophy. What goes this season, though, is a matter of preference. This year’s heels can teeter at heights of 5 inches or more, but they are easier to wear, thanks to half-inch-thick platforms giving a boost under the ball of the foot.
One of the most tantalizing twists on platforms this fall is a turn up at the toe. “It looks kind of like a witch’s shoe, and we’ll be seeing lots of it,” said Braxton-Hignight.
Like their loftier sisters, this fall’s ballerina flats add pretty touches like bows on the top or side or keyhole cuts to show a little skin. The same goes for peep-toe pumps, which work well year-round and glide gracefully from daytime to after 5.
By now, your toes should be tapping to get to the stores. Get steppin’!