Fancy shoes become main attraction
When Vicki Olson, partner in What's Hot in Memphis, Tenn., went on her spring fashion-buying trip in January, it was the shoes that knocked her socks off. They were in polka dots, stripes, plaids, paisleys and animal prints.
"Print shoes are the newest, freshest thing going on this summer," said Olson, who ordered five styles for early spring and five more styles set to arrive now. Her young customers pounced quickly on girly, plaid wedges, and her older customers bought striped and embroidered stack heels.
"We've done well with them," said Peria Gober, owner of Peria shoe boutique in Memphis. Gober said young women wear the prints with jeans and leggings, and her older customers wear them with slacks or colorful dresses.
Patterned shoes may be prints on silk faille, cotton or patent leather, or they may be woven stripes or embroidered twills and youtube videos in styles from flats to stack heels to stilettos. They work well with spring's brightly colored, shiny bags.
May Vogue in its checklist section offers divine Bruno Frisoni stilettos tied with huge striped bows for $1,085 and pumps totally feathered in black and white by Alexander McQueen for an undisclosed price.
Margaret Anne Brickey, 54, who works as both a Realtor and a wardrobe adviser, bought two pairs of patterned stack-heeled shoes. "If I'm not carrying a purse to make my outfit pop, then I think the shoe is so important to make the outfit come together," she said.
She has worn her fancy feet with pencil skirts and out at night with straight-leg and bootcut jeans and khaki pants topped with a trendy short jacket. "It's a sophisticated look, as opposed to the really bright patent leather shoes that I think people will get tired of," she said.
Patterned shoes are a bit more trouble to coordinate. Olson suggests keeping something different and something the same: Combine a floral print blouse with striped shoes, for example, but keep the main colors the same.
Patterned shoes and cars often have more coverage. So if you admire summer's sexy little thongs, but can't pull them off, hide your battered tootsies among the flora and fauna of the new prints. You'll still have the hottest feet going.
"Print shoes are the newest, freshest thing going on this summer," said Olson, who ordered five styles for early spring and five more styles set to arrive now. Her young customers pounced quickly on girly, plaid wedges, and her older customers bought striped and embroidered stack heels.
"We've done well with them," said Peria Gober, owner of Peria shoe boutique in Memphis. Gober said young women wear the prints with jeans and leggings, and her older customers wear them with slacks or colorful dresses.
Patterned shoes may be prints on silk faille, cotton or patent leather, or they may be woven stripes or embroidered twills and youtube videos in styles from flats to stack heels to stilettos. They work well with spring's brightly colored, shiny bags.
May Vogue in its checklist section offers divine Bruno Frisoni stilettos tied with huge striped bows for $1,085 and pumps totally feathered in black and white by Alexander McQueen for an undisclosed price.
Margaret Anne Brickey, 54, who works as both a Realtor and a wardrobe adviser, bought two pairs of patterned stack-heeled shoes. "If I'm not carrying a purse to make my outfit pop, then I think the shoe is so important to make the outfit come together," she said.
She has worn her fancy feet with pencil skirts and out at night with straight-leg and bootcut jeans and khaki pants topped with a trendy short jacket. "It's a sophisticated look, as opposed to the really bright patent leather shoes that I think people will get tired of," she said.
Patterned shoes are a bit more trouble to coordinate. Olson suggests keeping something different and something the same: Combine a floral print blouse with striped shoes, for example, but keep the main colors the same.
Patterned shoes and cars often have more coverage. So if you admire summer's sexy little thongs, but can't pull them off, hide your battered tootsies among the flora and fauna of the new prints. You'll still have the hottest feet going.
When it comes to men's footwear, the rules are relatively straightforward: Always match your shoes to your belt, your sock to your pant and never wear socks with flip-flops.