Perhaps it was the inevitable trickle down effect of the 2013 Fendi show, fashion's current obsession with the 70s or the lack of memorable footwear in the past seasons, but designers everywhere seem to have agreed on one thing: This season, it’s all about fuzzy statement shoes.
By Dmitri Ruwan
From the autumn/winter collections to the current season of resort, there seems to be an unspoken rule of shoes needing more volume. From Altuzarra’s frothy anemone-like kitten heel that sprayed forth ostrich plume strands in shades of cocoa and persimmon to the cheery feet at House of Holland, that were inspired by all things Peru (with a touch of Cali skater girls)and of course the Gucci goat-hair slipper. Not forgetting the luxurious lovelies of brands such as Fendi, Antonio Marras and Dsquared2. The time of conventional footwear is drawing to an end, and signalling the beginning of a throwback culture that is more aware of ‘ethical’ practices and the growth in a number of cruelty-free labels such as Shrimps (the faux-fur UK brand) and animal rights advocate Stella McCartney, both show a positive cultural shift in the perception of luxury. Whether you're pro-veganism or pro-fur a middle ground is begining to emerge.
