Céline
No longer just a trend, but a way of life, flats are fast becoming just as common as heels on the runway. But do they demand as much authority as their towering predecessor?
Giorgio Armani
Heels naturally lengthen the leg, elongate posture and push you to stand taller. Whether it’s in the form of a super sharp stiletto or a chunky platform, a heel has traditionally provided women with an extra boost in confidence, as well as their height. In the past, the selection of flats was far sparser and very masculine, forcing women who wanted to appear feminine to resort to heels. But that is now long in the past, with designers offering a superb array of flats and flatforms, which has helped encourage women to feel just as confident when their feet are firmly on the ground. Merging masculine looks with fun prints and styles, brands like Marni have really led the revolution with cool, powerful flats. And with this trend emerges a new confident woman, who allows herself to be playful because, of course, a truly buoyant woman doesn’t need accessories or extra height to make her feel more self-assured.
For FW, trends include pointy-toe flats, flatforms, creepers, brogues and even sneakers. And this growing choice encourages women to feel more and more free when choosing their office footwear. Heels will always be a popular option, but now we’re just as happy to pull out a pair of chic flats, which is where the difference now lies. The very nature of trends means that there will always be new options, but flats are here to stay. And, what more, it’s a long distant stereotype that assumes women who wear flats aren’t as powerful or senior as those in heels – and style has certainly helped fuel this societal shift.
By Holli Rogers
