by: Catherine Olivia
If there's one thing that can't be denied it's the relationship between a woman and her shoes. For me the highlight of any new season is the shoes. For Fall 2005 the designers are offering shoes that range from classic styles like flats, mules, sling backs and Mary Jane's, to outrageous wedges and peep toe pumps on four inch heels. If you dare, some of these styles are available in dazzling colors, opulent fabrics and fun animal prints. There is something to please every shoe maven this Fall season.
Manolo Blahnik favors the use of animal prints such as zebra, leopard, cheetah, and black and white pony for his offering of pumps, sling backs and flats. A black suede mule is made even more frou-frou with a rabbit fur pom-pom. His salute to the Moroccan influenced shoe this season appears to be a stylish and sumptuous Brocade d'Orsay pump in teal and magenta with jeweled accents. His evening shoe selections are sling back, mule, Mary Jane and sandals shown in satin, patent leather, mesh, beaded metallic and crepe de chine. Carrie would be in Manolo-heaven.
My personal favorite pump of the Fall 2005 season is a watermelon colored Florence Tweed d'Orsay offered by Anne Taylor. The collection also has a tweed dress and handbag to match. This shoe has a classic business look, but I think it would pair nicely with tailored jeans for casual wear. Also in the new watermelon color Ann Taylor offers a lizard embossed leather open toe pump and belt. A selection of boots is offered in leather and suede, in heights from ankle to mid-shaft to knee, and with round or pointed toe.
Designer Emilio Pucci is offering round and square toe platform shoes in wild outrageous 60's inspired prints. He offers a round toe ankle strap pump in vibrant shades of violet, orange and black that coordinate perfectly with his Turtle print handbag and turtleneck. He offers a lovely black suede ballerina flat accented with a Niger print, which can also be accessorized with the Niger corduroy small messenger.
For Fall 2005 Marc by Marc Jacobs seems to favor a rounded toe. His pumps, flats and Mary Jane's are being shown in bright and imaginative color combinations. There is an ankle strap shoe with an aqua floral pattern accented by purple suede on a wedge heel, a shiny teal green patent leather round toe pump accented with suede, glitter and snake embossed leather on a chunky heel, a sweet Mary Jane in plush velvet trimmed with contrasting grosgrain ribbon with contrasting stitching. For me the shoe "par excellence" of this collection is a quilted violet colored velvet open toed pump on a 3 1/2 inch heel that is accented with a pale olive grosgrain ribbon laced through antiqued brass eyelets and tied in a bow above the toe. You have got to see this shoe to believe it.
Now go out there girls.....and shop!