The catwalks at New York Fashion Week 2017 were graced with an array of colorful, funky shoes. Most were more whimsical than elegant, even though we did spot some very sophisticated and stylish heels. There is nothing understated about this year's footwear. On the contrary, the footwear definitely complements this year's often loose-fitting, colorful clothing lines.
There's also good news for those of us who prefer flats rather than killer heels. The 2017 selection of flats are seriously eclectic.
2017 Fashion Week Overview
Sometimes, we all feel like fashion trends have a habit of re-emerging, and this year's clothing lines featuring styles from various decades confirmed it. The fashion trends in 2017 were a medley of 1980's workwear sophistication and 1990's stylish elegance.
Color and comfort are written in capital letters across most lines this season, and trendy fabrics and loosely caressing garments feature strongly this year. From trench coats, long dresses, and fun-print suits, the styles offered an abundance of color, creativity, and grace.
Big buckles, bold belts, and lush ribbons made an appearance everywhere, and it's not just in clothing. Boots, heels, flats, and platforms are also embellished with these trends.
Fashion Week 2017 Footwear - Bold, Colorful, Comfortable, and FUNKY!
The fun factor of this year's shoe fashion were amazing. It's refreshing to see true innovation in shoe design. Let's explore all of the fabulous shoes that caught the eye and captured the heart.
BABOUCHE SLIPPERS
If you don't know what a Babouche slipper looks like, envision Aladdin's shoes. Though today's Babouche design may not feature a curled-up toe, it is still colorful and hip.
The Babouche slipper originated in the Middle East and was made popular in France in the 17th century by renowned courtiers. They were constructed from soft upper fabric and cushioned soles, but the French restyled the Babouche and gave it their own twist.
The Babouche slipper is far more stylish than a ballet shoe. The toe is pointed, and today's Babouche slippers combine a hard, thin leather sole with either some of the finest leather or with groovy, heavily-ornate fabric. Leather Babouche slippers look decidedly sophisticated, making them great for the office, but the decorated fabric can be worn with any casual outfit.
The 2017 Babouche slippers featured at fashion week varied in style and design, sharing only the similar thin leather sole and the fine upper leather. Some of them are fitted closely around your foot, nearly reaching up to the ankle, while other models are designed with a lush strap just above your heel.
The great thing about Babouche slippers is you can wear them at any occasion, and you'll always look stylish and elegant.
MODERN GETA SANDALS
Geta shoes originated in Japan and fall somewhere between a clog and a flip-flop. They combined the raised sole from the clog, and the straps are similar to our beloved flip-flops. The Japanese often wore getas to walk through water, mud, or even snow in order to keep their feet clean and dry.
Traditionally, getas were worn with stunningly designed kimonos and yukatas, and that's perhaps why these modern geta shoes made an appearance on this year's catwalks. With fashion houses taking a nod from traditional Japanese attire, the geta sandal perfectly complements the nonchalant look of trendy robes and kimonos. From Prada to Gucci to Versace, every design house seemed to embrace geta footwear and added its own visual fashion flair.
The flat, comfortable soles average a thickness of two to three inches and are mostly made of soft, pliable rubber. Modern getas are exceedingly comfortable to wear. The soles provide plenty of support, and, with embellished straps and buckles featured so strongly in all clothing lines, it's hardly surprising the designers have excelled in their creative interpretation of the geta strap.
Versace opted for colorful, thin fabric straps, and Gucci chose the golden paint look with a jet-black sole. By contrast, Prada went for the vinyl look. Versace's geta shoes featured a navy-blue sole and bright red straps. Prada went for pink all over for a bright pop of color.
You might not want to wear these geta shoes to the office, but you'll get plenty of wear out of them on your days off.
SPACE BOOTS
Remember the Star Wars storm troopers? Well, that's the kind of boots you'll be wearing this year. Snow-white, black, or silver, these boots look just like the ones worn during the fiercest Star Wars battles. They look exceedingly warm and comfortable, and wearing them with a knee-length dress or skirt would make for an interesting contrast.
This year's boots come in a plethora of color and style variations. You may opt for the dark metal look or shiny bright silver. Some models are laced from toe to top and feature sneaker-type soles, while others feature a more of an understated look.
Those who prefer heels will not be disappointed. You can get space-style boots with high, block heels in silver or black or a combination of both. The materials vary from storm trooper synthetics to shiny spandex, and some of the luxury lines offer fine silver or black leather.
Another interesting innovation is the design of the boot. Unlike traditional boots, this year's boots are asymmetrical in back and front, with the front of the boot extending to the knee cap but only extending three-quarters of the way up the calves.
Wearing these boots will certainly make you look cool and sophisticated and perhaps slightly industrial, but you can always soften your attire with contrasting elegant clothing like tight trousers and a closely-fitting metallic coat.
FUNKY HEELS
Heels in 2017 demand attention. Shoe designers went all-out this year and decided to make the heel itself a prominent feature. Yves Saint Laurent created a heel essentially featuring the letters "Y," "S," and "L." Some designers constructed heels resembling industrial springs, while others incorporated heavily glittered, stunningly colorful block heels.
Perhaps the most imaginative heels ever to touch the runway were designed by Kenzo. The heel symmetrically extends out from your heel, mirroring the front of the shoe to such an extent that it's difficult to distinguish between the heel of your foot and your toes. Wearing them might be challenging, but the design is definitely intriguing!
Some of these heels are decidedly playful and head-turning, and, in some ways, it's astonishing to see how long it took the fashion industry to start playing with creative heel designs.
If you are wondering what kind of outfit you can combine with these funky heel, the design of the actual heel will determine your choice. Funky glitter block heels will elevate a pair of denim jeans, and hip stilettos will give you a decidedly bold appearance. We encourage you to try on a pair of unconventional heels simply because they are so much fun.
THE SOCK-EFFECT
Most of us would never think about wearing stiletto heels with socks. The sock-stiletto combination made a very tenacious appearance at this year's fashion week. According to the runway, you can wear your favorite, snuggly socks with your most-cherished heels and be right on trend.
Some fashion rebels went a step further and created heels to feature a sock-like top. The finished product looked like a "sock-stiletto," or a fusion of stilettos and legwarmers. The style of the shoe varied greatly and so did the heel height, ranging from low-heel, work-appropriate shoes to a towering six-inch design that is perfect for date night.
If you favor the unconventional, try on a pair of sock-effect heels to see if they match your style. They will definitely make an impression on anyone who sees you wearing these distinctive shoes.
Fashion Flip Flops
Surprisingly, the first pair of flip flops made an appearance back in 1500 B.C.! The ancient Egyptians were the first to come up with this most beloved footwear. In our age, flip flops are a modern version of the Japanese zori, and they really took off when American soldiers brought them back home after World War II.
There were no limits to the creativity and sheer beauty of this classic casual shoe during Fashion Week 2017, featuring lots of colors, flowers, glitter, and a fabulous array of straps. Some soles were barely visible while others are chunky and comfortable. Large, gorgeous flowers adorned many models, and little gems perfected the playful girlie look.
The straps came in all types of materials, widths, and colors. For a sportier look, designers chose wide straps across the top and back of the foot. The more elegant models featured thinner soles, a simple decorated top, and no back strap. These incredibly wearable modern versions of a classic shoe are destined to be very popular this season.
Platforms
Though the first platforms were spotted back in 15th century chic Venice, most of us think of platforms and flares as warm reminders to the groovy 1970's. Whichever way you look at it, platforms will help you stand out and--literally raise you higher!
Platforms shoes also made an appearance at Fashion Week this year. Of course, this year's version was a far cry from plain wooden soles and heels. Instead, they offered a delightful selection of vibrant raised soles and even higher heels. Platform shoes adorned with rhinestones were in abundant supply and come in limitless color choices. Some soles were as high as eight inches, with platform heel heights reaching a staggering twelve inches.
The block platform heels trend definitely made waves due to their unconventional show-stopping design. If you dare to wear a pair of 2017 platforms, they will be the centerpiece of your attire, grab all the attention, and take center stage.
Thigh-High, Skin-Tight Boots
These stunning boots are as figure-hugging as leggings, often made of shiny spandex and finished off with a hair-raising high stiletto heel. The bright colors, often in glossy outer materials and tight fit, might be best suited for those who have stunning legs or unwavering confidence levels.
Combined with super-short miniskirts, these boots will undoubtedly make you turn heads. The models wearing these boots during fashion week 2017 looked undeniably sensational.
A Recap of 2017 Fashion Week Shoe Trends
Thankfully, shoe designers took the time to break the mold this year. Combining styles and design influence from different fashion eras, they created entirely new footwear concepts, as well as restyled classic shoe design.
Use the trends of Fashion Week to inspire a little shoe retail therapy, and enjoy perusing the most eclectic shoe collections available in decades. Start by checking out your favorite online store and indulge in some serious shoe shopping bliss today!
