Resort 2013 must-have footwear trends

Jul 13, 2012
LadyLUX • Fashion

Resort isn’t typically a popular season to get excited about footwear, but this season designers have stepped it up with well-thought-out, wearable designs. Thankfully, they have steered clear from looks that are too blatantly “cruise-esque.” Gone were the rope tie sandals and expected nautical flats. While there were easy-going wedges and low-heeled sandals made for walking around fabulous destinations like Santorini, designers like Reed Krakoff, Versace and Brian Atwood shook things up with over-the-top designs to kick us out of the Winter blues. There were a wide variety of pumps, heeled sandals and even boots.

This season, pumps took on a sharper silhouette as they went platform-less and embodied the classic pointed toe. Round-toe platforms are slowly being phased out as the pump of choice and, with Resort’s dose of colors and prints, the classy style is playful as ever. Stuart Weitzman gave ombre an interesting twist by blending yellow into red, while Alexandre Birman contrasted snakeskin with a pop of pink.

Pumps weren’t the only style that sharpened its shape. Pointed toe ankle boots and knee-high boots gained traction for Resort 2013 and even opted for skinny stiletto heels. The combination of the pointed toe and thin heel made for clean lines that were modern and fresh, offering an excellent compliment to skinny trousers and even mini skirts. Also similar to the pumps, material interest was a key element as in Reed Krakoff’s mesh, Stuart Weitzman’s lace or Versace’s graphics.

Keeping in line with the simplicity of silhouettes, the sandal goes minimalistic. It is refined with a single sole or low platform and understated straps. There was a “barely there” appeal to the heeled sandals that felt new again after countless seasons of fussy, overly complicated designs. Alexander McQueen proved all you need is thin ankle and vamp straps while Aquazzura doubled up on the straps for interest but still kept it delicate.

Yet, as sandals and pumps have come down to earth, wedges continue to be bold with a funky attitude. Sky-high platforms accentuate the architectural features of the styles. Raffia and espadrille materials remain prominent for Resort but are challenged with other options like lucite as shown by Lanvin, iridescent fabrics by Stella McCartney and colored pony hair by Brian Atwood. The wedge continues to come in pump- and sandal-like options.

And of course, in the moments when heels seem to be taking too much of a vacation, low heel sandals come to the rescue. The full-range of styles go from flat, sporty-rugged options from Alexander Wang to dainty yet edgy Givenchy ankle-strap sandals to Valentino’s simple T-strap. Flat sandals have become easy staples throughout the seasons but one-inch options stand out as Resort’s new stylish comfort.

The interim season stood out in colors of brilliant red, yellow and pink, almost as if the burst of brightness was a 180-degree reaction to the shadowy tones of the Rooney Mara-influenced Fall 2012 collections. Red, in particular, had a major presence, appearing in pumps, minimalist heeled sandals and wedges. Taking part in the trend, Lanvin, Bally and Tabitha Simmons show that red is Resort’s new neutral.

If it wasn’t about a pop of colors, it was about prints and patterns, or sometimes, a combination of the two. Polka dots took charge over stripes this time around as an all-over material, as seen by Rochas, or with varying sizes contrasted together as in Pierre Hardy. Designers also utilized triangle-checked patterns and dizzying graphics. Booties, wedges, pumps and sandals couldn’t escape the energetic textile.