FOOTLOSE FROM SKIRTS TO SHORTS TO JEANS, SANDALS GO WITH EVERYTHING.Byline: Jennifer Cho Salaff Staff Writer From funky prints and ethnic fabrics to flirty espadrilles Espadrilles are casual flat sandals originating from the Pyrenees. They usually have a canvas or cotton fabric upper and a flexible sole made of rope or rubber material molded to look like rope. and the comeback of the wedge heel, this season's hottest shoe trends for women mean one thing: Hurry up and get your pedicure! Whether you like your heels way-too-high or prefer no-nonsense yet fashionable flip-flops, there's a sandal out there for practically everyone: -- The wedge: This one the Comeback Kid. In the fashion world, trends seem to come and go as quickly as the newest crop of reality TV shows. Just when you think you're looking pretty hip in that poncho and hip-hugger jeans, Vogue magazine is telling you you're so ``over.'' But some trends are so good you hope they'll be back, like the wedge heel. ``It's coming back big time,'' says Amy Gallagher, fashion expert for Marshalls department stores This is a list of department stores. In the case of department store groups the location of the flagship store is given. This list does not include large specialist stores, which sometimes resemble department stores. . ``The beauty of the wedge is ... you don't have to practice walking in it.'' Invented in the 1930s by Italian shoe designer Salvatore Ferragamo - according to Kevin Jones, museum curator for the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, ``He came out to Hollywood and ... revived the sandal as a fashion shoe, and since then it has never been out of style'' - the wedge is a sexy, less-wobbly alternative to the stiletto. Wedges make your feet look sexy and they make your legs look instantly longer - a big plus! --Especially espadrilles: So, what exactly is an ``espadrille''? According to the dictionary, an espadrille is ``a flat sandal.'' Somehow the definition has evolved because espadrilles have some kind of heel - usually a wedge. Most espadrilles feature woven or braided braid·ed adj. 1. a. Produced by or as if by braiding. b. Having braids. 2. Decorated with braid. 3. strawlike fabrics. Pair them with an eyelet blouse, denim skirt, straw handbag and voila voi·là interj. Used to call attention to or express satisfaction with a thing shown or accomplished: Mix the ingredients, chill, and ! - you've got the perfect spring outfit. -- Feelin' strappy: Sexy, strappy sandals are perfect for a night out or if you're going for that I-want-to-get-noticed look. If you're willing to try something more high-maintenance, slip on a pair of sandals with straps that tie all the way up the calf - just like a gladiator gladiator (Latin; swordsman) Professional combatant in ancient Rome who engaged in fights to the death as sport. Gladiators originally performed at Etruscan funerals, the intent being to give the dead man armed attendants in the next world. (``Bailey,'' $45.95, Bakers). ``The gladiator is a hot style,'' says celebrity fashion stylist Gina LaMorte of TheStyleDoctor.com. ``You wear it with a long peasant skirt, a cropped pant pant v. To breathe rapidly and shallowly. or the three-quarter-length short that everybody's talking about.'' -- Heavy metal: Metallics are not only attention grabbers, they also add a nice shimmer to anyone's wardrobe. ``Metallics are ... a lot of fun,'' Gallagher says. ``They're more fun particularly with a more casual look. If you throw on metallic sandals with a pair of jeans, a tank top and a necklace, you are dressed. The shoes really make an outfit.'' Can't find anything to match your copper sling backs? Don't worry, it's OK (and even chic) NOT to match - try pairing silvers, golds and other metallics with bright colors (a turquoise-colored dress, green camisole camisole /cam·i·sole/ (kam´i-sol) [Fr.] straitjacket; a jacketlike device for restraining the limbs, particularly the arms, of a violently disturbed patient. or crimson skirt). -- Prints charming: From flirty florals to bold patterns, sandals featuring fun, eye-popping fabrics are everywhere. Try a flowery flow·er·y adj. flow·er·i·er, flow·er·i·est 1. Of, relating to, or suggestive of flowers: a flowery perfume. 2. Abounding in or covered with flowers. 3. kitten heel (``Carla,'' $69, Anne Klein) for an afternoon tea. Or jazzy jazz·y adj. jazz·i·er, jazz·i·est 1. Resembling jazz in form or nature; rhythmical. 2. Slang Showy; flashy: a jazzy car. stripes (``Sonya,'' $65, Naturalizer) with a pair of jeans. -- East meets West: Beading beading, n the scribing of a shallow groove (less than 0.5 mm in width or depth) on a cast that outlines the major connector. It is used to transfer the design to the investment cast and ensure tissue contact of the major connector. and ethnic fabrics are popular this season. ``So lots of embellishment on the sandals, just tons of Morrocan- looking beads or gemstones or metal coins in gold and silver and bronze,'' LaMorte says. ``Copper is something I'm seeing a lot of in the stores.'' You'll also see a lot of Indian influence - silks, sequins and bright colors like fuchsia fuchsia: see evening primrose. fuchsia Any of about 100 species of flowering shrubs and trees in the genus Fuchsia (family Onagraceae), native to tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America and to New Zealand and Tahiti. , turquoise and tangerine tangerine: see orange. tangerine Small, thin-skinned variety of the mandarin orange species (Citrus reticulata deliciosa) of the rue family (citrus family). . -- Flippity-flop: It's the string bikini of the shoe world. No one can argue against the versatility and comfort of the flip-flop, or thong sandal. ``Those are never going to go away,'' Gallagher says. How come? ``In the summer you want to be able to kick off your shoes easily,'' she says. ``You don't want to feel constricted con·strict v. con·strict·ed, con·strict·ing, con·stricts v.tr. 1. To make smaller or narrower by binding or squeezing. 2. To squeeze or compress. 3. . And they're comfortable, so comfortable.'' Now you can find fashionable twists to this beach-bum favorite: beading, fabrics and different-colored soles. -- That '70s shoe: Platforms are so disco-licious, not to mention super sexy. Mix and match with a wide array of styles, from pink lizard (``Jurola,'' $89, BCBGirls) to strappy and sophisticated (``Shawnessy,'' $89, Enzo Angiolini). Staff Writer Sandra Barrera contributed to this story. CAPTION(S): 17 photos Photo: (1 -- 2 -- color) A little SPRING in your STEP The must-have sandals for this season (3 -- color) SO SEXY: This colorful T-strap spices up any outfit. ``Harp,'' $89, Carlos Santana. (4 -- color) ESPECIALLY ESPADRILLES: Woven straw pairs perfectly with denim and eyelet. ``Seashore,'' $59.95, Tribeca. (5 -- color) WHAT'S THE BUZZ: Festive metallic and beaded thong sandal with dragonfly dragonfly, any insect of the order Odonata, which also includes the damselfly. Members of this order are generally large predatory insects and characteristically have chewing mouthparts and four membranous, net-veined wings; they undergo complete metamorphosis. accent. ``Singer,'' $49.95, Yellow Box. (6 -- color) YOU'LL FLIP: Beachy - but so much better. ``Shiek,'' $22.95, Groove. (7 -- color) BACK IN BLACK: Slip into comfort with this fun, beaded sandal, featuring a delicate kitten heel. ``Hippie Chic,'' $49.95, Restricted. (8 -- color) THE WEDGE ... AGAIN: This one never goes out of style. ``Delia,'' $49.95, Bakers. (9 -- color) HIGH ART: Has an ethnic feel with its unusual pattern and cork wedge. ``Leni,'' $75, Nine West. (10 -- color) FEELIN' STRAPPY: Sexy, strappy sandals are perfect for a night out. ``Mambo,'' $79, Carlos Santana. (11 -- color) THAT '70s SHOE: Platforms are so disco-licious. ``Jurola,'' $89, BCBGirls. (12 -- color) SPRINGTIME FRESH: Pair this floral espadrille with a breezy skirt. ``Roswalo,'' $69, Kenzie. (13 -- color) BRONZED AND READY: These Roman-inspired sandals feature a large, beaded brooch brooch Ornamental pin with a clasp to attach it to a garment. Brooches developed from the Greek and Roman fibula, which resembled a decorative safety pin and was used as a fastening for cloaks and tunics. . ``Gita,'' $69, Nine West. (14 -- color) GO GLADIATOR: Lace them up your legs for a get-noticed look. ``Bailey,'' $45.95, Bakers. (15 -- color) PRINTS CHARMING: From flirty florals to bold patterns, fun, eye-popping fabrics are everywhere. ``Carla,'' $69, Anne Klein. (16 -- 17 -- color) no caption (women wearing sandals) |
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