We have been covering all the
fall/ winter 2015-2016 fashion trends seen on the Fashion Week runways at this point, ranging from New York to Paris, London and Milan. We have looked into the colors and the prints, as well as the general styles of clothing pieces you’re going to wear come the cold months. Now, we bring to you the complete
fall/ winter 2015-2016 shoe trends report that you have all been waiting for. From Dior’s thick see-through heeled marble boots to the gothic feel of the Alexander Wang designs, we have seen them all and loved them to no end. After all, after diamonds, shoes are a girl’s best friends.
The Fashion Weeks lasted for about a month all together, but we cannot help but feel like the overload of information appeared to extend the time period. The clothing was definitely the main focus of the fashion shows overall, as is always the case, but when we cast our gazes downwards, closer to the ground, we were thoroughly captivated by the wide array of fabulous footwear staring back at us, marching and stomping and sashaying and gliding down the runways. Looking at all the pieces, we can certainly say that quite a few trends were spotted amongst the mix, pieces that have grabbed our attention and not very likely to let go anytime soon. Fancy feet we can call them, but we know better than anyone that we would be lost without our shoe collections to liven up any outfit we deem fit to wear for the day.
#1: Classic Pumps
The classic pump was to be seen everywhere on the fall/ winter 2015-2016 runway shows. It was back in style and looked amazing with cropped pants, flared trousers, leather leggings and all. Thin heels or thick, pumps were one of the biggest fall 2015 shoe trends to hit the stage and we cannot help but jump with joy for it. From the pink coral colored Vivienne Westwood pieces to white based Nina Ricci simplistic tones, Balenciaga’s bejewelled cap toes to Celine’s dazzling designs with the beading and the embellishments, classic pumps quite often made an appearance on the runway shaping one of the most timeless shoe trends for fall 2015.
#2: Perfect Ankle Booties
Booties are big for the fall and winter seasons and with good cause too! They are just high enough to endure the snows and keep the feet warm, unless of course they take on the shape and form of the Peter Pilotto cut-out ankle booties, while still being low enough in height to really show off legs. Wool and leather booties look positively amazing, made by Hugo Boss, while the furry
Fendi version with their ice sculpture heels is positively divine. We also rather loved the lace up peep-toe designs by Francesco Scognamiglio, as well as the dual colored black and white Rodarte pieces.
The zip in the front of the Roland Mouret booties is really catching our eye, while those high-heeled BOSS ankle boots are positively mesmerizing when the orange is added into the mix. We know that out of all the other shoe trends and boots stampeding about, the graceful walk of the Alexander McQueen pale peach hued and lace finished booties stands out from the crowd with relative ease.
#3: Peep-Toe Shoes and Sandals
While it is crystal clear that if one plans on going out in the fall or winter seasons the feet should be well clad and kept warm, there are days and times in certain places where it is not as cold as you would think and where you can get away with an open toe or a sling-back design. You can have the shoes in thick or thin heels, the material in anything you wish. For example, Proenza Schouler offers a rather interesting peep-toe style that looks like wrapped fabric tied at the beck of the ankle, the heels like thicker copper cylinders. It is a good look and one, which we certainly would want to grab at, even if many of the outfits themselves are not to our tastes.
Narciso Rodriguez also likes the open toe idea, but he goes for the peep version instead of baring them all. The open toes appear on many pieces with lacing as well, such as Giambattista Valli, Rodarte, and Francesco Scognamiglio. Open toes are matched with thick heels and a golden glitter where the Dries Van Noten footwear is concerned and we love the quirky style of it quite a bit, what with the straps across the top of the foot and the fanning designs to the sides.
#4: Lace Up Footwear or Gladiator Style
During the spring and summer season runway shows, we were mesmerized by the amount of gladiator style footwear that appeared on the catwalks, making it one of the biggest hits for the season. Now, we see those gladiator shoes take on new form, as the lacing idea is evolved to add character to a whole slew of different fashion house footwear designs. It is quite the lovely addition to any piece your feet are clad in really and we are happy to see the lacing adapted to the winter months so well. Speaking of laces, we have some appear on the Narciso Rodriguez platform heels with the open toes.
On the other hand, we also have pure gladiator style shoes worn with open toe stockings with interesting platform heel designs by Rick Owens that fall into the collections, which majorly trump the pretty interesting lace up knee-high boots featured on Erdem. Other designers who use a similar styling include the knee high lace ups by Giambattista Valli, the lace up open toe booties by Rodarte, the Victorian style intriguing boots by Altuzarra, and the thigh high sexy laced up boots by Vionnet.
#5: Alligator Skin or Snakes? Reptile Shoes
Exotic prints have appeared on many a piece of clothing that has been sent down the runway, including alligator skin materials that shine bright and give us a sense of warrior abilities found in the women sporting them. It’s like wearing shark tooth necklaces that inspire one to believe in the wearer’s courage and boldness, strength and unwavering skills. Some boots like those featured by Nicholas Kirkwood for Erdem have multiple textures to them, with the tops looking like the alligator skin. We see the alligator skin style mules with furry edges on the Christian Siriano New York Fashion Week runway, while some of those Haider Ackermann boots certainly have perfectly scaled snakeskin designs. When it comes to snakeskin though, Kenzo certainly takes home the prize for the first place with its green and red variations.
#6: Chunky Heeled Footwear
This year, the cooler seasons seem to have many different types of footwear available for them, many of which appear in chunkier heels that are all the more comfortable for the feet, no matter the height. While you would be teetering on stilettoes, the chunkier styles offer a whole lot more stability in the long run, while still looking stylishly sexy. Marc Jacobs offers some lovely variations in boots that have awesome colors, the stocking-like properties only adding to their appeal. Chunky heels also appear on mules, such as those heeled designs found within the Derek Lam collection. Technically, nearly every single designer showcased chunky heeled designs, from
Givenchy and Miu Miu to Giorgio Armani, Erdem to
Emilio Pucci,
Donna Karan and Derek Lam.
#7: Add in the Geometry
While chunky heels are in, some of the fashion houses have opted to add more character to them and, while they are not quirky, make them reminiscent of artistic endeavours which look really good when turned into the heel of a shoe. Maison Margiela sends models out in gorgeous androgynous designs that are made feminine by modern standards due to the double-clogged heels they sport. The Jason Wu sculptural heels do use two-dimensional geometric shapes, while the earth toned Salvatore Ferragamo pieces remind us of rock formations in cubical artistry.
#8: Latex Shoes and Boots
It appears that nearly every designer to showcase his or her collection on the runway for the fall and winter 2015-2016 seasons found the use of latex to be quite necessary. It is a very practical material, stretching out and encapsulating the leg, whether in a bootie or thigh high length style. It is easy to care for, does not require much work with it overall, and emphasizes the beauty of the limbs it holds within. It is a futuristic look that we cannot help but love for its ingenuity and lovely aesthetics. We see Marc Jacobs offer us some luscious pieces with their thick heels and purplish bases, while it is the
Diormarble patterned dual colored thigh high latex boots that really leave us staring ahead in awe.
#9: Narrow with Super Long Noses
This looks beautiful but we all know that many women don’t have very thin and long feet, but for those who do, the long and narrow nose of the shoes will look fantastic! Many designers stuck to engineering their footwear with this style and ideal however, which slightly defies the whole comfort aspect that has been the main theme of the 1970s fashions brought to the modern era. We have Versace boots in two colors and three materials that really are captivating, while
Dolce & Gabbana gave us a peek at lovely sling back red feminine shoes with a furry body for added texture. Pointy-toe shoes look absolutely quirky and fun in the Miu Miu collection.
#10: Stocking Boots
Stocking boots are very pretty overall and quite comfortable in themselves. It fits the foot and leg perfectly, including on women with soccer calves like me, looking particularly glamorous when fitted in fashion latex and lacquered leather. It complements the whole outfit as well as really looks lovely on the limbs. Givenchy does the same with its booties, the thick and chunky heels hanging back while the ankles up to the calves are encased in stretchy material. Alexander McQueen and Christian Dior also show the trend of stocking boots in their fall collections.
#11: Low Heeled Shoes
While many of the fall 2015 shoes showcased on the runway shows have rather high heels, others are pretty short or almost flat. They come in platforms and kitten heels and a whole slew of designs. We especially love the platforms that are low on the boots, including that which was featured by Nicholas Kirkwood for Erdem. Of course, the Oxford shoes cannot be ignored either, particularly where the
Michael Kors styles have a small amount of heel to them, thick and sturdy and quite simply very comfortable.
#12: Hairy/Furry Shoes
Possibly the most prominent trend in footwear to be seen on the runway is the furry/hairy look that makes it appear as if you have turned little fuzzball animals into your shoes. It reigned supreme on the spring/summer runways as well, and has rolled into the colder seasons of the year, showing how popular it has become. Yet, we have to wonder at the popularity of footwear that is more suited for children’s cartoon characters than on your feet, figments of one’s imagination on drugs come to life. Furry slides were a big part of the Vionnet runway, with ribbon strappings on the legs looking as if they are cutting off the circulation on some models.
Perhaps some of the craziest hairy shoes were the boots and mules on Maison Margiela that literally looked like one was stepping on animals and cleaning the floors with them, while Tibi brings out its Moroccan mules that are covered in fur that looks like it was freshly sheared from a sheep. The fur even makes it onto two strap Blumarine sandals, which are better suited for the end of summer than for the chillier autumn and winter days.
We are not entirely sure, but those furry covers on the Antonio Marras slides might be able to keep your feet warm enough in certain parts of the world, so long as the temperatures are not dipping to 0. Of course, no other furry bootie could match the perfection of the Fendi ice sculpture inspired heels on the furry pieces.
Gucci also has some funky interpretations of the fur shoes for fall 2015, as well as A Détacher where fur meets a quirky design.
#13: Beaded or Jewelled Shoes
Another big trend was the whole line-up of jewel patterned or bead embellished shoes, including the Kate Spade designs. These pieces are interesting to say the least and throw in a whole lot of fab glam attitude for the wearer. Why not allow yourself to feel like a diva? If you are looking for crazy designs on heels, we do suggest trying out the ankle strapped Rochas designs, where it appears as if Christmas is in the air, while the incredible gilded art on the iceberg heels within the
Roberto Cavalli collection is enough to restore our faith in the fashion world, that’s how beautiful they are.
And of course, this trend could never go without the gorgeous Dolce & Gabbana bejewelled shoes! On the other hand, Delpozo decided to come up with more interesting options using interesting appliqués on the leather shoes as embellishments.
#14: Space Age Shoes
Since many of the designers were looking forwards instead of focusing on the past, it’s only right that we saw many footwear pieces which took into consideration heelless platforms with quirky, bizarre and entirely space-age geometric shapes, such as that by Iris Van Herpen. The colors and quirkiness of some of the heels, such as the ankle strapped, pompom accented Sophia Webster designs are also essential, making metallic silver the perfect color for the futuristic styles. The space age would not be complete without the H&M boots in that exact hue.
#15: Slippers, Slides and Mules
If there is one trend that has left us utterly flabbergasted, it is the comeback of the mules, while we also see slippers being paraded around on stage. Mind you, thick heeled mules by Derek Lam are not quite so bad, but these shoes are so not our styles in any space or time, considering the imbalance between the front and back and the fact that your feet will be straining wither to keep them on or to breathe, depending on the size you get. Thakoon’s mule booties look pretty awesome to us, what with the velvet and leather and lacing, though if we want to see some of the funniest, most incredibly strange pieces, it would have to be the Vionnet fur slides with ribbon strapping all the way up the legs.
Then again, the Proenza Schouler woven mules fell into the same strange category, black, grey and white pulling together a graphic and raw-edges design that certainly went well with those famous fishnet stockings. Furry mules were a pretty big thing where Maison Margiela was concerned as well, with those shoes looking like they were the bottom ends of a dusting broom. Tibi offers more variations in the fur treated mules, which look like the sheep was as newly sheared as with the fur-covered Antonio Marras slides. Towering fur adorned alligator skin printed mules are very much to our liking, despite being a mule, as we are not the biggest fans of the overall style of the footwear.
#16: Thigh High Boots
So many of the boots seen on the Fashion Week runway shoes either ended at mid-calf or enjoyed climbing their way up to the center of the thighs, including the bulky and Eskimo style warm Moschino quilted boots. It was nice to see MSGM wiggle its way into this trend as well, with its multitude of bright over-the-knee boots with graphic heels and capped toes. Thigh high boots take on a new look when Gareth Pugh is involved, making his chunky pieces look perfect for wading through water. The marble patterned latex boots by Dior were probably some of the first pieces to make us fall in love with this height during this fall and winter season’s runway shows. Those simple
Calvin Klein boots and the Emilio Pucci patterned options are probably our all-time favorites from the whole of the collections presented over the past few weeks.
#17: Letters on Shoes
Fashion houses love to brand each and every one of their pieces, often having the logo appear all over the shoes even, such as with the
Versace footwear, and other times literally having the words spelled out, as was the case with the appearance of the famous gold letters of Moschino on the bulked up lace tied boots that looked quite warm with all that quilting, the tassels swinging from the center of the top edge.
#18: Sandals with Socks
While we normally detest the sandal with socks look that many seem to want to flaunt, the fall/winter collections saw many designers bring in the sandals or open concept shoes with stocking and tights options to the forefront, and they certainly were not as hideous as we expected them to be. We’re thinking about those gorgeous Versace platform sandals with the matching tights in black and red, the ankle straps only adding to the beauty and the stability of the shoe. We’re also thinking about the stockings with the gladiator boots by Rick Owens that really catches the eye.
Stockings also come in fishnet looks, as is the case on the Saint Laurent runway, wherein the more gothic styles with rivets and spikes appear, the black sandals accented with silver buckles and embellishments. Stella Jean’s platform sandals matched with the thick socks look so cozy and comfy, just like the Tory Burch sandals do.
#19: Shoes with Toe Caps
Possibly one of the best toe capped looks seen on the runway for the fall and winter seasons has been the
Chanel pumps that were exactly replicas on every single model that sashayed onto the mock runway. And then there were many others with a similar attitude, adding color and contrast to their footwear by capping the toes, such as on the MSGM over-the-knee designs, and the bejewelled Balenciaga pumps that look so incredibly gorgeous on and off the runway.
#20: Graphic Shoes
Many of the fall 2015 shoes and boots to appear on the runway shows actually included some form of graphic component, whether it came in the shape of patching or marbles or any other form of graphics, such as the MSGM zigzags on heels and toe caps or the Fendi ankle booties with the graphic pattern appearing in the middle. The graphics on boots also appear in the Vivienne Westwood collection, among many others, here taking on the whole graffiti and words on leather idea, the heels in platform and the top edge coming up over the knees.
#21: Punk Shoes
You can go punk or you can go Goth but at the end of the day, what you are doing is adding studs, buckles, leather and a chunky body to the footwear so that it fits in with the theme you are going for. Alexander Wang was the one designer whose biggest inspiration was this punk/Goth world with his extreme creeper boots literally looking like clunky buckled clompers heading down a neo-punk runway, though Marc by Marc Jacobs certainly does stick its toes into the theme as well, going for thigh high boots that are made of leather and include all that was mentioned which defines the pieces. Saint Laurent’s stiletto sandals with the spikes and ankle strap, worn with fishnet stockings certainly defy the general trends and give off a more edgy, dangerous hooker look that might be a little too appealing to some.
#22: Going Quirky
Quirky shoes come in all shapes and sizes but we threw into this category all those that really were something else altogether. This includes the Jason Wu sculptural heels, as well as the J. Crew tasselled styles, while the quirkiest of all were probably the pompom accented futuristic looks by Sophia Webster. Quirky looks good on Lemaire, with the house’s intriguing take on mule and kitten heel and pump combination in a lovely gentle grey.
Another rather interesting quirky piece is the Miu Miu flats with the large buckles, the yellow and orange and white coloring, as well as the perfectly understated Oxford look, though that’s got nothing on the golden glitter pink tinged chunky heeled sling back shoe design that also takes over the runway. We also love the unusual shoe designs by BCBG Max Azria, the funky heels and oversized buckles of the Acne Studios shoes, as well as the insane Prada shoes and boots.
#23: Rubber Wader Boots
Someone had to come up with boots that would not ruin if touched by or soaked in water, which makes the Gareth Pugh straight cut rubber wader boots, in collaboration with Meliss, the playful reality to the designer’s dark romance appeal. Hunter Original and Balenciaga also offer stylish rubber boots for fall 2015.
#24: Letting in the Air
While most designers decided to keep the footwear to the closed up Oxfords and boots, some like Celine went out of their way to let as much air in as possible. Last season they had the block heeled ballet flats, which have been modified for the fall and winter season to include an open weave and pastel jewelled embellishments, the toe appearing to be more of a duck bill. There were many sandals to be found as well, alongside gladiator shoes and the open back designs of the mules.
#25: Ice Sculpture Heels
Block heels were certainly in, and we knew that designers would be playing around with the concept, but what we did not expect was the ice sculpture heeled boots at Fendi that looked positively divine with their furry bodies. The iceberg heels also make it onto the Roberto Cavalli runway, even if they are not shaped like sculptures. They are perfect though, with the gilded designs, the see through heel and the just above ankle length of the pieces. The iceberg look takes a yellow tint with Christian Dior as lovely booties are presented, giving this trend a whole new outlook that we cannot complain about. The iceberg heels also appear within the Vionnet collection, complemented with a futuristic feel and two-toned design. Lucite heels look absolutely divine in the Dolce & Gabbana collection and quite bizarre in the Simone Rocha fashion line.
#26: Preferring the Kitten Heels
The kitten heels have always seemed somewhat pointless, as they lessen stability without adding height, appearing with long noses for the most part on the fall/winter runway shows that are sure to be crushing the toes together. We know all about taking the pain for beauty, but what we cannot understand is when that beauty is minimal compared to the pain involved. Kitten heels marked with the Versace symbol on boots that are two colors and three materials certainly take the cake in this arena, while the MSGM kitten heels are a rather intriguing modern take on the Marie Antoinette style. Carolina Herrera, Coach, Miu Miu and many others also feature kitten heel shoes in their fall collections.
#27: Velvet Shoes
Velvet was a big thing throughout the Fashion Weeks, and it also reflected in the shoes that were worn by the models getting onto the catwalk to show off the latest pieces by the fashion houses. Velvet makes it onto loafers within the Mother of Pearl show, as well as the chunky heeled booties for Givenchy, gorgeous purple sling-backs by Dolce & Gabbana, golden heeled intriguing booties by Emilio Pucci and gorgeous gilded designed
Stella McCartney pieces.
#28: Special Sneakers and Sporty Shoes
Sneakers are totally in and have been for a few seasons now. We have fall in love with the look that keeps changing its ideal designs. It was from simple to a whole range of embellished, which is probably why we cannot help but love the Markus Lupfer embroidered sneakers with their Marsala color and white contrasts, the sparkles and the workmanship that went into the overall designs. And then we have the Ports 1961 tie top sneakers that come in white, the fabric ties on top and they are quirky enough to be considered perfectly stylish!
Celine’s pure white pieces also make the trend, though they are not nearly as lavish as the pieces from some of the other designers to showcase their collections. Sporty shoes look so feminine in the
Tommy Hilfiger collection, where we witness a color-blocked leather design with lace-up details on a wedge.
#29: Suede Shoes Look Really Good
While leather was used on so many of the pieces made for walking, suede came in a close second or third, depending on the Fashion Week attended. Whether we’re talking Matthew Williamson fringes or the thigh high boots with the stiletto heels and patched designs by
Burberry Prorsum, we know that suede is one of the best materials to use when considering creating new footwear. Suede really does look good, especially when mixed with actual leather, perhaps with a few designs stitched in, such as is the case with the Isabel Marant collection.
#30: Fringed Booties
Considering the fact that we are taking major inspiration from the 1970s decade, the suede fringed shoes are so very much in style, looking good on the catwalk. This includes the booties designed by Matthew Williamson, alongside the gorgeous Burberry totally Western shoes that, without any doubt, belong on the saddle. Rebecca Minkoff also uses loads of fringes for her ankle booties and knee-length boots coming in different colors.
#31: Loafer Loving
If there is one type of shoe we all hate to love, not love to hate, it is the loafer. They are flat, comfortable and utterly trending for the fall and winter seasons. Midi skirts can be paired with the schoolgirl shoes, complete with scrunched up white socks that have been brought down to the ankles, and pretty white bows over the blue velvet skin, as we see on the Mother of Pearl catwalk. We also love Prada’s futuristic loafers and Gucci’s chic fur-trimmed options.
#32: Strapping the Ankles
The ankle strapped look is always quite flattering, thinning out the portion where leg meets foot and adding definition to the whole of the limb. It was certainly a common enough look on the fall/winter shows, appearing either as a single strap around the ankle or as part of a strappy combination, such as is the case with the Narciso Rodriguez peep-toe platform heels. Gorgeous ankle straps appear on the white and brown thick-heeled Mulberry shoes, which look like they would be perfect for the spring and summer as well as the fall at this point.
Ankles are strapped up in the quirky Sophia Webster runway with those pompom-accented stiletto heels, while Blumarine offers double strapped sandals with a furry edge. Balmain’s ankle strapped pumps look best in their purple hue and with gilded heels to up the ante.
#33: Bringing on the Mary Jane
We used to be in love with Mary Jane style shoes with those straps in front and the whole little girl turned schoolgirl ideal. It appears as if the single strapped Mary Jane shoes are back, but we have also added a second strap, meaning that some pieces, like those spotted on the Prada show, take on a modern Mary Jane double-strapped appeal. Mary Katrantzou also utilizes the double strapped look and her pieces look positively divine in their bright orange coloring and rather high perfect platform heels. Gorgeous sunshine yellow version with single straps and pretty buckles come into play on the Rag & Bone show, while we know that we will be rummaging through our closets for old pieces in this style to match the trending fashions.
#34: Adding the Oxford Shoes
Since we have already mentioned having loafers as one of the fall/ winter 2015-2016 footwear trends, we should also make note of the Oxford shoes, which have been warmed into androgynous designs, or simply had gingham added to the look in order to create those incredibly eye-catching Simone Rocha gingham Oxford shoes. Somehow, that look alone is too sporty or slightly masculine, which means that a designer like Preen needs to come up with a colorful, multi-fabric type of Oxford heels, which we find rather amusing. Double buckled Oxford shoes also make the cut, particularly the Michael Kors version with the thick medium height heels.
#35: Mixing the Androgynous with the Feminine
One of the biggest fall 2015 trends in general is the mixing of the masculine and the feminine, from looser, boxier clothing to minimalistic designs. It is no wonder that we see the shoes take on a similar look, though with heels that are intrinsically modern feminine. We say modern, because not too long ago the high heels were a representation of the masculine identity. The androgynous looks with the feminine heels can be spotted on many a runway show, including the geometric heeled designs on Maison Margiela, as well as the thick stiletto lace up ankle boots found on the Ralph Lauren runway.
If we’re talking androgynous, there is the Hugo Boss wool and leather booties that match the bill. We have to say that all the Oxford shoes most definitely fall into the androgynous category, from Michael Kors to Preen. Designers that took this trend to heart include Vera Wang,
Lanvin, Balenciaga, and Coach, while Isabel Marant’s rivets do much to give its leather booties delicious charm.
#36: High on Platforms
We know that the 1970s had platforms all over the place and so we were totally expecting for the trend to pop back up in the footwear presented during this year that has taken so much of its major inspirations from that era. We were not disappointed in the least as the olden looks were brought back and presented from fresh new perspectives and unexpected angles, the platform heels appearing in tandem with peep-toes and strappy looks like with the Narciso Rodriguez designs or the Mary Katrantzou Mary Jane looks. DKNY, Fendi and Sportmax also have uber-cool platform shoes for fall 2015.
#37: Two Tone Shoes
The two-tone designs appear all over the place really, from Chanel to Prada, and we cannot help but love them. Some appear in marble styles, or with the soles a color different than the actual body seen from the top, while others have caps or are more geometric in design, preferring straight lines to curves any day. Prada has Mary Jane shoes and calf-length boots that follow this line of thought, while Mulberry offers gorgeous ankle strapped heels in brown and white.
Two-tone brogues are also in, as we saw on the Banana Republic runway, while nothing beats the thigh-high Dior latex boots in dual colored marble patterning. There is no way we don’t fall in love with the Stella McCartney teal and black booties, or with Carven’s thick heeled sling back lilac and white shoes that really had us captivated from the start of the show.
#38: Going Barefoot
The wackiest, most out of this world “shoe trend” was seen on the Jacquemus show, in which we saw bare chests and jutting nipples as well as the no footwear trend. While most designers certainly did not opt for this, it was crazy enough to make it onto this list. We are certainly wondering if people will actually decide to walk barefoot on the streets on a regular basis, though we know for a fact that most women have walked at least a small stretch without shoes when their heels have hurt quite badly by the end of the night :).
Photos courtesy of Stylebistro
