Balmain, Autumn/Winter 2013
The allure of velvet seduced designers this season to create a bounty of seventies style soles for the catwalk. Conjured in luxe jewel tones, these beauties dazzled fashion week. Whether paired with a lavish cocktail number or dressed down with ripped denim, velvet proved its seasonal potential.
By Christopher Prince
On the Runway
Alberta Ferretti, Autumn/Winter 2013
From Dolce & Gabbana’s delicate slingbacks in the deepest shade of byzantium to Dries van Noten’s loud and proud disco bootie in cyan blue, velvet caused a raucous on the runways. This season’s penchant for the psychedelic pushed AW15 to relive the fashion of yesteryear, namely in shoe styles that vibed the platformed versions donned by the likes of Abba or David Bowie in the mid-seventies.
On the Streets
The street style mavens took velvet on a sartorial journey throughout fashion month. In Paris the style was sporty, with sneakers given a luxurious overhaul. At London’s Somerset House the fash pack took to chunky platform styles reminiscent of club kid attire. While in Milan it was all about comfort with an array of slipper shapes worn with denim and outerwear.
In the Store
Whilst this might be only a one-season shift the velvet shoe harks back to an era of unashamed glamour. The trend is a perfect antidote to the ‘normcore’ filtered through designers collections over the past few seasons. If you’re willing to take the plunge invest in a pair unlike any other. Whether that means opting for a wearable pair of Gucci hot pink flats complete with gold hardware, teetering atop Saint Laurent’s mustard tribute sandals, throwing shapes in Victoria Beckham’s chunkier than chunky platforms, or chic in the office in a pair of Charlotte Olympia cat monogrammed slippers, just remember to keep in mind the playful potential of velvet.
