One of the best things about fashion week is that you really will see it all. You might spy a quite splendid gent strutting along wearing the highest and sparkliest of strappy heels. Or be struck by the crushed gold, thigh-high Terry Biviano moon boots at the spectacular Romance was Born show, or the crystallised heels like stalactites, also by Terry Biviano, at Dion Lee. Indeed, it is a moment of sheer delight when you realise that anything, and everything, goes.
Though on observing the crowds huddled outside the Cargo Theatre, it would seem that the ankle boot reigned this year. From chunky wooden-heeled nappa boots to fierce, latticed creations, ankle boots, shoe boots and sweet little booties were everywhere. Grey was popular, as were details such as studs, zips, mesh, buckles and floppy bows. Suede seemed to overtake leather this year, and ankle boots that looked kind of like wearing a suede knife block on your feet were a more directional look. Sightings of the distinctive red sole of a Christian Louboutin, or the Prada Crystal shoe were enough to illicit heart palpitations. Shoes for the gentlemen (if you’re not prone to wearing heels) can be a bit limited. However there were lots of brogue-ish shoes, stylish moccasins (they do exist) plenty of those sinister pointy loafers, some ever so odd sandals, Cons sneakers, and re-worked desert boots with the laces only ever half done up.
On the catwalk, the shoes were a mix of sweetness and cutting edge. Baubles, crystals, clear glass heels, wooden platforms and the architecturally precarious were key shoe trends. The saccharine included the wedges with patent pink edging at Jayson Brunsdon’s glam 50s inspired show, and the flat silver sandals worn with Bianca Spender’s romantic and ethereal draped chiffon frocks. The chunky heels worn with bobble socks at Kate Sylvester’s Alice in Wonderland inspired show and the Tristan Blair stilettos with a silver bangle around the ankle that complemented the soft tailoring at Therese Rawsthorne added a touch of quirky whimsy.
Edgier shoes were to be seen at Ellery, with sculptured explosions of heavy-duty crystals and ostrich feathered over-the-knee boots, the monochromatic block wedges at Zimmermann and the customized, beaded and lacquered platforms at Konstantina Mittas. Some designers created their own shoes specifically for their collections, including Karla Spetic, whose collection, inspired by Indigenous Australia, consisted of desert boots and platform clogs in hues of pastel and chocolate. The requisite impossible to walk in shoes came from exciting newcomer, Elliot Ward-Fear, who for the Tafe NSW show put his models into 18 centimetre platform boots that he designed himself. It was obvious that someone would stack, and one poor girl did, but continued on gallantly.
Shoe highlights included the canary yellow doc martin heels spotted on the always well-shod A-list blogger, Susie Bubble, a glimpse in the crowd of the swallow printed satin Miu Miu clunkers, and that moment at the end of the day when I could take off my own killer heels and soothe my poor, mangled feet.