Footwear trends for summer shoes
After such a gloriously sunny weekend, my thoughts have turned to the rest of the summer and what I’ll want to be wearing. I’ve got a lot of pretty dresses that I can wear with bare legs, but not many pairs of shoes to go with them. I have plenty of high-heel shoes, but they are all in black, grey, burgundy and brown – great for winter and they go perfectly with tights, but are a bit too dark to wear with bare legs. So I’ve done a bit of research into trends for summer shoes in 2013.
There are many different styles that are fashionable this summer, including “flatforms” – flat shoes with a platform sole – strappy ‘gladiator’ sandals and chunky wedges. Traditionally summer is a time for flat flip-flops/thong sandals, which are perfect for a casual look and for wearing on the beach. Although flat sandals are often comfortable it’s a false economy to choose the cheapest pairs - hobbling home from a day out at the beach with broken straps, blisters and skin rubbed-raw by the toe-post/thong is not a good look! Really, you want to show off your pedicure in pretty sandals but without the pain!
Image courtesy of Cassiefairy.com
So for a more dressy summer style it would be good to find the perfect pair of summer shoes with a little heel – not too high that you can’t walk in them, but a little extra height will elongate your legs and will often be more comfortable for the natural shape of your foot than flat sandals. The challenge is finding a pair of shoes that will look good with bare legs and pretty dresses - in a color that would be neutral enough to coordinate with a whole range of prints and colors and could be used later on in the year too.
I’ve had a look at the summer footwear choices of my favorite fashionistas above and I have decided that a small wedge heel would work best for me – heels the height of those that Jennifer Aniston and the Duchess of Cambridge are wearing would elongate your legs without being painfully high. In contrast, Beyoncé’s usually super-long legs look much shorter in these flat thong sandals and I think they would make most women’s legs look stumpy! I like how Disney sweetheart Vanessa Hudgen’s choice of nude shoes make her legs look even longer, and anything darker than pink, mink or nude would cut off your legs at the ankle, making them look shorter. I also think that Vanessa’s peep-toe slingback shoes look summery with a pretty dress and could continue to be worn into autumn too.
When buying summer shoes, the best idea is to shop ‘in person’ rather than online so that you could try them on for comfort, because you will be walking in them a lot this summer and would be wise to make sure the height is okay before making a purchase. Also keep an eye out for straps that might rub around the heel and buckles that may dig into your skin – hot feet will increase friction, so any potential rubbing spots will definitely cause you pain! As a general rule, the more straps or uppers that the shoes have to cover your feet, the more firmly attached the shoes will be to your foot and there will be less chance of rubbing causing blisters. Let me know what you think about summer shoes - what will you be wearing on your feet this summer?