Flats for the Spring
Manolo says, the New York Times has announced the “first” shoe trend of the new spring!
The snow hadn’t disappeared from the streets of New York and already the first trend of spring could be seen up and down Madison Avenue: the revival of flat ballet-style shoes. In the 1950s, they were a popular alternative to spindly high heels; designers of calf-length full skirts showed their fashions with ballet slippers made by Capezio. At the time, such shoes were not commercially available. But today many manufacturers produce variations of the ballet flat.
The “first trend”? Hardly. The ballet flat has been stylish for at the least the past three seasons.
None the less, here are the few pairs the Manolo finds most attractive.
These flats from the Delman have the most wonderful springy colors.
These are from the French Sole and have the unusual quality of being both elegant and cute. Who knew such the thing was even possible?
Here is another of the shoes of the French Sole, this time in the patent leather, which is also the trend of the season.
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Comments
OceanSunfish 17 years ago
I am sooo sick of seeing ballet flats around, I hope this trend goes away soon.
La Petite Acadienne 17 years ago
La Petite Acadienne appreciates the ballet flat (as she has a Morton’s neuroma and has been advised to eschew heels), but finds them rather difficult to wear, as the shoe tends to either flop off of the back of her foot, or her toes are jammed into it, causing unsightly bumps behind her toenails, as her tops of her tootsies are not used to having that degree of contact with the shoe. (She has very sensitive feets, evidently.) She will persevere, however, as those flats, particularly the stripey ones, are simply delightful.
wildflower 17 years ago
Does anyone else find very flat flats less comfy than low heels? I swear, I have very picky feet (marathoner, long-distance hiker, etc), and I still prefer a slight heel. Flat shoes make me walk awkwardly, and go ker-thunk, ker-thunk, ker-thunk. Plus, I feel as if my heel is striking the ground at an odd angle, which makes me worry about if I’m damaging my knees.
Also, when you look at “comfort” brands (ecco, naot, stonefly, clarks, etc), they all have a slight (~1″) heel. I think they’re onto something…
And… La Petite Acadienne… Isaac Mizrahi makes wonderful flats with soooffft leather. These are on (deep) sale at endless:
I got the gold ones, very nice, but found that yes, comfirmed, I really cannot walk comfortably with flat flats. :)
Nancy 17 years ago
I’m with OceanSunfish…yuck on the ballet flats. Not something grown women should wear, ever.
Sarah 17 years ago
I, too, tend to have my heel fall out of the flats. I’ve thought about sewing ribbons ties on to some.
Other drawbacks is that you can feel every bump and piece of trash you encounter in the street and they do not seem to last well as walking shoes — and I am a person who walks a lot every day.
persephone 17 years ago
http://shop.crocs.com/pc-33-4-prima.aspx?reqid=33&reqProdTypeId=41p&subsectionname=footwear§ion=products
something for you to “Ayyyyyyyyyyy!” about, Manolo, my dear!
amanda 17 years ago
i love ballet falats and hope they dont go away for a while!!!!!!!!!!!
Elena 17 years ago
I would love to have a great pair of soft, broken in oxblood or brown Weejuns (not new stiff ones) to wear with or without socks — not the stiff, shiny ones I tend to see. In addition, several pairs of Pappagallo flats would be wonderful also.
Isolated in San Diego 17 years ago
Well, I like those French Sole flats. The ones in the middle remind me of quilted Delmans or Chanels.
Jeana 17 years ago
“http://shop.crocs.com/pc-33-4-prima.aspx?reqid=33&reqProdTypeId=41p&subsectionname=footwear§ion=products
something for you to “Ayyyyyyyyyyy!” about, Manolo, my dear!”
AAAAAHHHHHHHHH…how horrid!!!