Shoeflyer | Shoes, Trends & Reviews

The fashion community prepares for seasons far in advance. The Fall 2009 pieces, for instance, were catwalked last winter.  Although I understand why it’s necessary to show fashion lines so early (so that distributors, ready-to-wear-ers, and marketers can do their thing), it does seem strange that designers should be mum now, when women are actually beginning to think about what they’ll wear this fall and winter. And so, all this week, Shoeflyer has been featuring fall trends, to help you get ready for the chilly days ahead.  At least you have one consolation as the summer fades:  fall and winter mean you can wear more leather!  Today’s trend is all about leather (or imitation leather).  Perhaps due to the tough economy, designers have been pairing leather with plenty of biker/punk flair, including buckles, safety pins, grommets, and hooks.

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Welcome to the second installment of Shoeflyer’s exploration of fall shoe trends.  Yesterday, we welcomed back booties. Today, we’re glitzin’ it up with ornaments.  I, for one, couldn’t be happier that glam rock seems to have invaded the shoe world.  This is another trend that will stretch past this summer.  Sequins, feathers, bows, and ruffles are here to stay, at least for one more season.  To get in on the glam, look for luxurious, Moulin Rouge-esque materials and eye-popping heels.

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The current craze for big, brash shoes is making waves in the fashion world.  With the advent of five-or six-inch heels decorated with everything from pearls to pistols, the shoe has come back into its proper role as the “it” accessory.  The demand for deliciously outlandish shoes is even overpowering the economic crisis, as shoe sales, especially for gladiator shoes, are strong.  Still, this trend only represents the new wave of a larger ocean of towering, extravagant shoes.   Shoe history is merely repeating itself; impossibly tall, unusual shoes have enchanted divas for centuries. (more…)

Judging from the shoe selections at this year’s MTV Music Awards, you’d think the year’s top film was Gladiator. Of course, these gladiators were a little less practical than the shoes worn in the Russell Crowe film.  A veritable milky way of starlets opted for ankle-binding dominatrix-style gladiators, some with tiny stiletto heels. If you ask me, too many toes were sticking out over the edges of those Amazon-lady shoes. I’ll leave it to others to evaluate who pulled off the ubiquitous gladiator trend–here are a few MTV Music Awards Fashion Kudos you won’t see anywhere else.

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Although die-hard cyclists usually wear special bike shoes with clips, casual bike-riders will vouch that nearly any shoe may be worn on a bike.  Sure, if you’re training for a race, you’ll want clip-ons.  But if you’re just biking into the office, why not look cute?  Canadians are already advocating a more European approach to biking fashion, as the Montreal Gazette recently highlighted in an article titled, “Cyclistas Spin Into Style.” Apparently, on the other side of the Atlantic, it’s considered normal– or even hip– to wear chic clothes and shoes while biking. In fact, over in Europe, entire blogs are devoted to watching bicycle fashion.

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As summer brings warmer weather, it’s undeniable that shorts and capris become more visible. Thankfully, Desiree Stimpert gives some much needed advice about what shoes are appropriate with capri pants and what shoes are a flat-out “no-no.” According to Stimpert, 

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One upside to the dismal economy: an increase in national creativity.  Across the country, consumers are taking creative approaches to obtaining fashionable footwear. Some are taking their old favorites to repair shops, rather than shelling out precious greenbacks for new kicks. Others are swapping clothes and accessories with friends, as the Associated Press recently highlighted in an article titled “Squeezed by Economy, Shoppers become Swappers.” Still others are turning to an age-old technique for preserving limited funds: rental. As highlighted in the video at below, Maggie Snow and Shannon Valitzek, sisters hailing from Boise, Idaho, are offering consumers a chance to save both the earth and a few bucks by renting formal shoes out of their store, One Night Stand.

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A recent article observed a growing fashion trend among graduates attending commencement ceremonies. While graduates are typically all expected to dress uniform in the traditional grad garb (black cap and gown), now they’re taking advantage of the only thing they can to stand out: their shoes. Many students are choosing to sport bright and bold shoes to attract attention and make a statement. If you’re headed to a graduation ceremony this weekend, expect to see anything from flamboyant beach-going footwear to brand-new colorful court sneakers with matching laces to red satin peep-toe pumps with a bow. Our grads have figured out the key to getting noticed, have you?

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Summer’s bright colors and crazy-fun styles can be overwhelming.  We’ve already covered how to select summer shoe styles to flatter your body type, but what about color? Color is perhaps the first thing we notice about a pair of shoes, so it’s important to find shades that compliment your skin tone and body type.  Here are a few tips to help you find flattering colors for your summer shoes:

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Advertisers use many methods to attract consumers. Think back to seventh grade Health.  Remember all of those different persuasive methods? The Bandwagon Approach screams, “Everyone else is doing it!” The Celebrity Endorsement cashes in on fame.  Showing a beautiful person enjoying a product implies that whoever buys said product will somehow (magically) become more attractive as well. Well, a shoe store named RSole in University City, Missouri is successfully implementing a lesser-known method of attracting customers: secrecy.

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