Shoes are the focus this spring according to fashion magazines and designers, and one trend creeping into Baton Rouge stores is the return of metallic shoes.
Spring’s fashion trends were unveiled last fall during the Spring/Summer 2004 ready-to-wear fashion shows that swept through the four fashion capitols-Paris, Milan, London and New York. Both Versace and Gucci had models flaunting metallic sandals and heels that coordinated with gold jackets and bags, which are viewable at www.style.com.
In the Versace collection the models paired their gold and silver strappy stilettos with skintight hot pants and knee-length tight dresses in shiny and bold colors.
Gucci featured a pair of gold heels with a small pink flower across the foot strap. The models in this collection wore their metallic shoes with loose fitting pants, skirts and dresses in flowing fabrics like silk and satin.
Style.com, the Web site for Vogue and W magazines, included metallic shoes as part of the “Top Ten Looks that Define the New Mood for Spring.”
This shoe trend is slowly making its way into the Mall of Louisiana’s shoe stores, so Baton Rouge women can partake in the spring look.
“Fashion never hits here until a year later,” said James Chinn, the general manager for Steve Madden. “It takes a while for a trend to hit the South.”
The Steve Madden shoe store in the mall is decorated with silver footwear in every style and degree of personality.
“You used to only be able to wear metallic shoes in the fall, but they are now for spring,” Chinn said.
Kammie, a style of spiked pumps, and Clash, the pointed ankle boots, resemble shoes right off Madonna’s feet in the ’80s and are less than $40. For a more relaxed style of silver shoes, there are also flip-flops, slingbacks and heels.
Dillard’s offers more of a variety in metallic footwear with silver, gold and pink shoes. The Antonio Melanie shoe display in the department store has seven options of shiny shoes ranging from strappy sandals to maryjanes and pumps.
On the Steve Madden display at Dillard’s is a single pair of sparkling pink heels with a front buckle called Vicki for $59.
For the fashionista on her feet, Aerosoles offers conservative styles called Nappa Ballet and Gelly Dancer in silver and gold.
“Aerosoles are not meant to just look pretty,” said store manager Chad Hudson. “Our metallic shoes are made so everyone can wear them. They are designed to be comfortable and are not meant to compete with stilettos.”
With prices starting at $39.99, the metallic flats at Aerosoles make a smaller statement.
Internet shoppers can find shimmering ballet slippers, flats and pumps at the Urban Outfitters’ Web site, www.urbanoutfitters.com. Bows, flower details, sequins, buckles and leg ribbon all add a little something to the Web site’s vast array of metallic footwear.
Although the major fashion shows never pass through Baton Rouge, and the magazines do not include Louisiana in their trend watch, there are plenty of resources for students and locals to participate in spring fashion must-haves, like metallic footwear.