Funky footwear trend for spring
Stuart Weitzman's cheery wedge, $398, tops out at a four-and-three-quarter-inch heel (with one-inch platform); at stuartweitzman.com. Credit: Handout
In case you haven't noticed, there's a whole lot of pattern going on. This spring's wardrobe is awash in bold floral, tribal and wild geometric designs. And it starts from the ground up.
Shoes -- women's shoes, that is -- are brighter and busier than ever, with stripes, swirls, zigzags and more flowers than any Rose Bowl parade. For those who feel hesitant about wearing big, bold prints close to the face -- or round the danger zones known as torso and hips -- well, a dazzler down at ground level may be just the way to dip a toe into the multicolor trend.
As if you needed an excuse to buy a new pair of shoes. We've picked out a few hot styles, from flats to sky-high wedges, to get you started.
Men can go colorful, too -- a little bit
Guys sometimes gear up for colorful footwear when it comes to sneakers, but generally men stick to dress shoes in safer shades of black, brown, gray -- maybe oxblood. Maybe.
The dudes at hook + Albert have another idea. Keep your safe, solid oxford lace-ups -- just rethink the laces. Adam Schoenberg and Cory Rosenberg, co-founders of the new h+A label, are obsessed with the small, subtle details that can help a guy stand out from the crowd (without feeling like a Martian). Check out their super-comfy socks, ties and other hip accessories, like their 30-inch waxed cotton laces (in five ripe shades); $14 for two pair at hookandalbert.com.
