Paris Couture Week Spring 2016 wrapped up late last week, and although couture tends toward the fantastical, the season’s shoes tended toward minimalism. Compared to previous offerings like Dior’s Spring 2014 Couture Pool Shoes, the season’s footwear is especially wearable, even if the vast majority of us will never be able to wear them. (They’re still couture, after all, and that means they won’t be on store shelves.)
This season, designers took an uncharacteristically accessible approach. The classic summer wedge got a nod from Chanel, Dior debuted tailored evening pumps and mules and Versace followed suit with tie-wrap strappy sandals, which are very on-trend. They were the kinds of shoes you wouldn’t peg as couture if you didn’t already know which runways they were on.
Some brands did go in a more traditionally couture direction, though, and Valentino provided the biggest “wow” moment. Instead of showcasing gladiator sandals to coordinate with its romantic aesthetic, the brand instead chose to ditch footwear entirely and opted instead for foot jewelry that mimicked the silhouette of a thong sandal. Is this a Summer 2016 trend waiting to happen? Only time will tell.
Feast your eyes on some interesting couture footwear below.
[Images via Vogue Runway]Chanel
Dior
Dior
Dior
Elie Saab
Elie Saab
Giambattista Valli
Maison Margiela
Valentino
Atelier Versace
Atelier Versace
I’m not sure if I’d consider the Valentinos in slide 9 shoes, but they’re beautifully crafted nonetheless.
There’s no sole but the foot jewelry is meant to mimic a thong sandal!
I want all the Diors please.
The label is Atelier Versace not Versace.
It doesn’t really matter. We obviously know it’s Atelier Versace since it’s from Couture week.
Beautiful shoes
The Dior shoes are pretty!
Dior looks like a fucking nightmare! Yikes!