High Heels Are Finally Making A Comeback—in Fashion
The Spring 2015 runways boasted a fair share of podiatrist-approved footwear. There were Dr. Scholl’s- inspired sandals at Marc Jacobs, Grecian lace-ups at Erdem, and bedazzled shower slides at Fausto Puglisi.
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However, alongside those exceedingly comfortable options were a slew of loftier choices. At Louis Vuitton, creative director Nicolas Ghesquière showed high, square-off heels emblazoned with the brand’s logo, while Dior designer Raf Simons offered crocheted booties with a curved, narrow lift. There were classic strappy sandals at Joseph Altuzarra, suede stilettos at Wes Gordon, and flared wooden pumps at Prada.
Altuzarra, Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton (Left to Right).Photo: Indigital (2), Getty Images
Long live the heel! After seasons of couture sneakers, pointy flats sprinkled with crystals, and more Birkenstock-inspired shoes than could fit in a hippie’s closet, designers have once again started thinking seriously about the power of adding a few more inches to your silhouette.
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Trends are cyclical, so it’s no surprise that heels are back. Especially given 1970s-inspired styles currently ruling the runways. (Flared jeans and culottes beg for a platform.) But the truth is that heels never really went away. More than $2.3 billion worth of heels were sold in the US in 2014, according to the NPD Group, a company that tracks retail sales That’s almost half of the entire dress shoe market. Fashion just decided to ignore them for a little while.
Erdem, Marc Jacobs, Fausto Puglisi (Left to Right). Photo: Indigital
It’s a bit of a scary turn for those of us who love flats, including me. Over a year ago, I declared that I was giving up heels forever. And for the most part, I’ve stuck with my plan. There have been one or two “cheats”—for a wedding, where I wobbled on a pair of three-inch tango shoes—and for a conference, where I wore a pair of old-but-precious stacked-heel loafers. I also bought a pair of kitten heels—only a ? inch, I swear—which I don’t think count, really. But they do suggest that those less committed than me might’ve given up on the “no heels” thing altogether at this point.
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Yet while the wedges and block heels making headlines are more appealing than frightening stilettos, I plan on sticking with flats. For now, at least. What’s great about this era of fashion is that anything goes, which means you can hold on to your zero-lift sandals, or opt for a pair of six-inch power pumps. Either way, you’ll look great.