Step into Style

Words: Jabulile Dlamini-Qwesha | Photography: Bevan Davis | Styling: Mira Leibowitz

If “clothes maketh the man”, shoes dictate his direction. Much like the stability of a building relies on a solid foundation, style starts from the bottom up. Think of how a simple footwear switch can either elevate or tone a look down depending on execution: swapping heels for sneakers immediately turns a smart outfit into athleisure or how Dr Marten-esque boots always give an unambiguous punk feel, regardless of styling. Bearing that impact in mind when opting for statement shoes is an effective way to measure where to maximize or minimize the rest of your look.

This spring is all about standout shoe silhouettes, picking up from Autumn/ Winter 2017 trends, we’ve spotted mules, embellishments (possibly sparked by Christopher Kane’s bedazzled Crocs from last season), platforms, slip-ons, slides, lots of lace up, all white and all the world’s shimmer and shine.

Mules continue to rule…

And it comes as no surprise; mules are easy to slip on and are as impactful with skirts and dresses as they are with jeans and trousers. The black and white capped toe version first made major waves on the Chanel SS17 Paris Fashion Week ramp where every notable street style star also happened to be wearing a pair. They seem to only be gaining more momentum and we are here for it. This season, Christian Siriano and Tibi made a strong case for the backless beauties at their London and New York SS18 shows.

All that glitters…

Embellishment is a real thing this season, proving that it is the era of the maximalist. While it might seem like the easiest way to mix instant glamour into a look, the biggest snag with dazzling detail is that it can also easily look cheap. Making embellishment work means finding the perfect balance between more and less both being more, in equal measure. So, go for neutral base colours and embellishments that follow a sequence and don’t too many colours going on to avoid looking tacky – unless it’s Prada.

Tied or buckled up…

Not that they could ever really go anywhere, but heels with lace or buckle up detail are front and centre in a big way, this season. And it’s perfect because you can’t even argue against bare legs and ankle straps being the perfect summer combination. Adding kind of kinky (but hella chic) detail to mini dress, shortjumpsuit and high slit looks: check!

Laced up and flat...

A classic trend that won’t go anywhere. Lace-up flats have been tried, tested and are the perfect balance of polished comfort. The only questions left to ask are “which outfits can’t I work them into?” and “where can’t I wear them?”

Slip on and slide…

These are up there with the quintessential summertime silhouette. A functional design for the warmer weather slide sandals are the shoes you’ll nail the look of this season and beyond in. Pick a heel height according to your taste, paint your toe nails with a pretty pastel shade, and flourish. P.S: It won’t hurt to go for metallics here, for a fancier look.

The fresher the kicks…

Sneakers got a number fresh updates this spring and the colourways in focus are whites and muted neutrals. We’ve spotted slip-on runners, deconstructed kicks, bold lace detail, stacked sole construction and have settled on flatform lace-ups and performance trainers being the most functional way to get into this trend. Taking the cue from the days when sportsluxe and athleisure were the buzzwords of the moment, sneakers and trainers have evolved into the type of shoes you can wear with literally anything: suits, skirts, dresses, jeans, shorts – any-thing. It’s always just a matter of nailing the silhouette that brings out your character the best.