By Sarah El-Annan
The changing of seasons is hardly noticeable when living in LA, seeing as our muted weather rarely ever fluctuates. My trend cues generally stream through my feed via Spring 2011 Ready to Wear recaps, Celebrity sightings, and the conclusion of reality TV shows like the Bachelor. As we all brace ourselves for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, I’d like to also herald in Spring 2011s hottest shoe trends – wedges, clogs, espadrilles, and platforms.
I’m a huge fan of wedges because of the comfort factor. They are a staple in any fashion savvy woman’s wardrobe and are famous for their versatility; they seem effort-less and stylish while remaining sexy and making any woman, whether she is short and stubby or long and blessed with Blake Lively length gams, look slim. Some of my favorites are the urban style wedge ankle boots that can really make your outfit fierce or a classic style brown wedge in a mixed leather and suede paired with a maxi dress or cuffed b/f jeans.
Next on my spring purchase list are vibrant sorbet colored espadrilles that can add that extra spark to your summer wardrobe and enhance a flirty floral dress or boyfriend jean shorts matched with a slouchy top. Check out the swatches below for some vibrant color inspiration!
A hybrid mix of both the wedge and espadrille gives birth to the renovated clog that gives you a rustic and sexy look while giving you an extended break from the stiletto. These 70’s inspired shoes can be worn with cuffed white skinny jeans and a gauzy tropical colored top making you an instant leader of warm weather fashion.
Please be sure to soak in the sun and reap compliments with the fierce platforms in a classic lace up style as well as the wooden platform seen in almost every Spring fashion spread.
The wedge is a classic and it embodies all the season’s fashion trends: vibrant color in time for spring and summer, comfort and height with creative post modern flourishes, and different textures and materials. You can now begin to skimp on winter lunches and put away your soggy high boots and instead put the money into pampering your feet with a pedicure and bringing ‘em out just in time for spring!
absolutely love this ! am also very jealous of eva's shoes, rather nice :)
Posted by: spring diva | 04/12/2011 at 01:31 PM
Loved the color swatches!
Posted by: Sunny | 04/18/2011 at 12:06 PM
Love this. great job Sarah! keep them coming please, i love your writing!!
Posted by: sura | 04/18/2011 at 12:22 PM
really loving the Wedge look this season, and you are totally right, for the shorter girls, (like myself) I love to show off as much leg as humanly possible, and what better an accessory than sexy wedges!
Posted by: Batata | 04/18/2011 at 09:26 PM
yaay wedges! I love them too. You read my mind. Clogs bleh.
:)
Posted by: shireen | 04/19/2011 at 09:35 AM
Awesome post! I love your mention of bright colors for shoes being in this spring. Would you recommend wearing wedges with tights? I have a pair of grey HUE sweater tights that I love to wear with my wedges and a flirty dress.
Posted by: Mashael | 04/21/2011 at 01:53 PM
Such a classic and chic look, just bought myself a pair- what do you think is the best way to wear them without looking out of date?
Posted by: Saba | 04/22/2011 at 02:36 PM
hurrah for wedges friends!
@Mashael -- Since you're a west coast girl stuck on the east coast for now I'd highly encourage you to be creative and bold with your outfit with cold weather choices. The sweater tight, coupled with bold wedges, and a flirty dress were written all over designer line sheets this past winter and fall. I'm all for it! Just be careful and make sure that your tights are a solid color without pattern. Think posh and urban so nix any added exaggeration so I'd stick with a solid wooden wedge or color block even. Another spin on the winter wedge would be solid tights, closed toe wedges, denim shorts, and a simple crew cut sweater.
@Saba -- The clog is generally the most daunting of all wooden wedge sandals that instills fear in women. Which is totally natural since our associations are always connected to sepia-toned prints of our parents romping around in 70's clogs and mullets. The mullet arguably has never been in fashion or timeless but the clog is really an awesome, pragmatic, and integral shoe in any fashion forward womans closet. I'd wear it with boyfriend jeans, flirty tank, and a coral colored cardigan.
Clogs aside. The only way the wedge can seem dated is the height factor. If it's going to be cut kitten heel style then make sure you're wearing a dress, skirt, or skinny slacks to highlight your gams. Otherwise pick a mid level wedge in coral colors and couple it with streamlined and fitted bottoms.
I can't wait to hear the rave reviews you'll both be getting soon!
Posted by: Sarah El-Annan | 04/22/2011 at 03:29 PM
wonderful post; am young college student, and i absolutely love fashion blogs like these ! thanks !
Posted by: lulu | 04/24/2011 at 08:19 PM
Eva's shoes!! That woman can do no wrong in my book.
Posted by: Fareeha | 04/24/2011 at 09:41 PM