When it comes to footwear, this season is all about “survivor of the chicest”–sole survivors. It’s all about style, versatility and comfort. Your wardrobe requires S&M (stand and model), classic and practical footwear.
The obvious color palettes to stick to this season are brown hues, dark blues, dark greens, metallic, reds (preferably the latest ox blood color trend), grays and of course, black. Let’s not forget animal print. After all, a Vixen can never go wrong in leopard print when she’s on the prowl.
As for style, get creative with quilted, tweed, patent leather, velvet and suede textures. For a dose of pizzazz try embellishments such as tassels and spikes. The options are endless.
As a firm believer in shoes are a girl’s best friend, we’ve curated an extensive list of footwear consisting of platforms, boots, loafers and more to get your Fall and Winter wardrobe started on the right foot. Whether you prefer to aim for height in a fierce pair of Christian Louboutins or stay grounded in a chic pair of Charlotte Olympia loafers, we have you covered from designs that are perfect for the office to transitional looks that work wonders on date nights with your significant other.
Check out the next few pages for our choice and favorite footwear for Fall & Winter 2012 courtesy of Aldo, Brian Atwood, Isabel Marant, Giuseppe Zanotti, Rachel Roy, Steve Madden, Tracy Reese and more.
Boots and booties are an essential part of every woman’s wardrobe; especially that time of year when autumn leaves and Old Man Winter graces our presence. If you’re aiming towards a sexy and confident intertwined look this season, think ankle boots, booties and lace-up boots. These concrete killers are total confidence boosters that enhance a feminine physique and offer versatility. They’re perfect for a day of shopping or dancing the night away.
Our Picks: Aldo’s “Gavle,”Blumarine’s “Mirrored” lace-up platform boots, Christian Louboutin’s “Aronotoc,” Diane von Furstenburg’s “ Leopard Print Calf Hair,” Kandee Shoes “Dyna,” Nicholas Kirkwood’s “Velvet Ankle Boot,” Rachel Roy’s “Echo,” Sam Edelman’s “Knox,” Steve Madden’s “Vippper,” Yves Saint Laurent’s “Tribtoo”
Thigh highs are alluring and can grab any man’s attention. If you’re looking for an ego stroke, aim high. Trust us, they’re Kanye West-approved. Some call it arrogance; we call it confidence. Thigh high boots are the perfect choice for dates but can definitely be rocked at the office with a classic approach. Knee high boots are slightly more subtle, depending upon the height of the heel and can be worn in a variety of ways. Whether you seek knee high comfort in the form of combat, flats or a heel, they’re a great choice on a casual day out or a long day of classes. Who says you can’t take class notes in style?
Our Picks: Baker’s “Zoom,” Bebe’s “Brigette,” Brian Atwood’s “Marilyn” suede over the knee platform boots, Charlotte Russe’s slouchy thigh-high, Giuseppe Zanotti’s heel-less thigh highs, Ink Shoes lace-ups, Rocco P. lizard printed leather boots, Strategia eco leather cuissard boots, Vince Camuto’s “Flavian”
While heels are fun, every Vixen should have at least one pair of flats in her closet for comfort, long walks, a breakaway from the height or to simply “stay grounded and come back to earth” as I like to say. They’re practical and accessible. This season try ballerina flats, loafers and oxfords in solid colors, two-tones, printed or with a shimmering finish. Whether your feet require a quick switch from a long day of wearing heels or a quick coffee run, staying grounded in a stylish pair of flats is the best way to get around.
Our Picks: Aldo’s “Corinette,” Christian Louboutin’s “Pigalle Spikes,” Charlotte Olympia’s “Charlotte’s Web Velvet,” Cole Haan’s “Air Morgan,” Forever 21’s metallic leopard ballet flats, MiuMiu’s “Glitter Tassel Loafer,” Pierre Hardy’s “Buckle Loafer,” Tory Burch’s “Quinn Quilted,” Yves Saint Laurent’s “Evalyn”
Cinderella is proof that a pair of shoes can change your life – pumps and stilettos even more so.
Every Vixen should look her best while at work without over doing it. Maintaining a balance between classy and sexy is required. This season, aim for minimalism that maintains the glamour galore you love. One can never go wrong in a classic stiletto, gravity-defying platforms or chic pumps. All three are the ultimate It shoes for the office. They exude grace, style and confidence. Try incorporating captoe, tweed, suede and leather textures with a color palette of pale pink hues, black and oxblood.
Our Picks: Baker’s “Taylor,” Charlotte Olympia’s “Polly,” Giuseppe Zanotti’s patent black pump with a gold heel, Jessica Simpson’s “Topazio,” Kate Spade’s “Licorice,” Marc Jacobs’ classic pump, Semilla’spatent leather pointy pump in blush, Steve Madden’s “De Ja Vu,” Tom Ford’s “Padlock
Sneaker Wedges are perfect for the Vixen who loves to maintain height but is not necessarily fond of your typical flat sneakers. Limited edition kick collaborations work perfect for those of us who love to have a fly pair of shoes practically no one else will have.
We love them. Sneaker wedges are fun to pair with a casual look or a hot pair of distressed jeans. Oh, and it certainly helps that they are Beyonce- and Tracee Ellis Ross-approved. While on the topic of sneakers, we also suggest stocking your wardrobe with a few limited edition collaboration kicks.
Our Picks: Alicia Keys x Reebok freestyle high tops, Elena Iachi’s suede and calf wedges, Isabel Marant’s “Bird,” Jeffrey Campbell’s “The Teramo,” Melody Ehsani x Reebok’s BETWIXT sneaker, Nike’s “Dunk Sky High” Wedges, Stella McCartney x Adidas silver velcro lagan sneakers, Steve Madden’s “Olympia”