Posh Swaps Blog

Shoe trends fluctuate just like clothing trends and with each new season comes a whole new horde of delectable shoes to pour your feet into. So what new trends are on the horizon in 2012? 

Bright colours

Neon is one of the key colour palettes for spring/summer 2012 for both clothing and footwear. Neon colours aren’t the easiest to wear on the body, but you can quite easily incorporate the odd bit of aqua marine or citrus orange on your feet. House of Fraser has a great range of shoes online including a rather tasty pair of Karen Millen ‘fun stud peep toe’ shoes in orange (pictured).

These are fun, sexy and fresh and the bright orange colour is perfect at showing off a tan, which hopefully in just a few months you will have. This style works best on towering platform wedges, preferably with some silk or patent thrown in for good measure.

Flat platforms and wedges

Wedges are turning into a summer staple. They are easy on the feet due to the forgiving sole and large surface area in contact with the ground, but they are also light, fresh and summery thanks to the use of lightweight materials such as rope, twine, cork and canvas. However, new for this season is the flat platform or soft wedge. The heel height is kept low and there is little difference in the heel and front of the foot. The platform runs the entire length of the shoe. MTV Style perfectly showcases a range of ‘flatform’ shoes here. Brogues, Oxford and espadrilles work best for this trend and add a relaxed aura to more formal daytime looks.

Prints and patterns

Fashion has come over all tropical this season. Hawaiian style floral prints in blues, yellows and greens are definitely inspired by paradisiacal beaches and piña coladas. This trend works best when miss-matched, so don’t be afraid to play with patterns and colours. In terms of shoe styles look for round-toed or peep-toed courts with cork or wood heels to really give that tropical island feel.

Wedge-heel trainers

This trend will not be for everyone – it’s one of those you’ll either love or hate – but whatever your opinions one things for sure, this trend is going to be everywhere. 70s style sporty trainers are taken to new heights with built-in wedged heels. If you want to work this casual look but are unsure about the idea, many styles have ‘hidden’ wedges that, on first appearance, are unrecognisable. They will lengthen your legs and add some height.

A good  pair of boots are a real investment that you can keep and wear for years. If you choose a classic style that are high quality well made they will go with a multitude of different outfits, always look stylish and never go out of fashion. The sales are a great time to invest in a great pair of eco friendly shoes or boots that are not only incredibly comfortable but also made with respect to the environment. Spartoo have a fabulous sale on at the moment with boots by some great eco friendly brands at amazing prices. Here are just a few of out favourites.

These ankle boots by Pikolinos would look equally good with a trouser suit for work or a pair of jeans on the weekend. The wedge heel is a great way to add some height without making them difficult to walk in. You can be sure that these shoes will be top quality as they are made using artisan techniques.

These versatile boots by Dream in Green can be worn to dress down a pretty floral dress or with leggings or skinny jeans for a Rock and Roll look. They are made with vegetable tanned leather which is kinder to the environment than conventional leather.

These cosy boots by Think would look great with a casual skirt and thick tights for the weekend. They are made from 100% natural materials and a completely handmade manufacturing process.

We talk about fashion as an art form, modern innovation, conjuring up fresh new ideas and trends, but in many ways fashion is more about recycling. Old trends from decades past are reworked, restyled and tweaked to bring them bang up to date for a modern, new audience. This means there is a certain amount of ‘recycling’ you can do in your own wardrobe. Of course you cannot possibly keep hold of every item of clothing you’ve ever bought, unless you live in a mansion as big as Madonna’s. But you can keep your favourite, key items and work them into the latest trends hitting the global catwalks.

If you need some inspiration, we are here to help. We have scoured through the season’s top trends – of which there are many – and picked out our favourites.

First up, flapper dresses. Now it’s highly unlikely you have your own flapper dress original from the roaring twenties lying around – unless you had a very forward thinking mother or grandmother – so it’s best to buy your own now. House of Fraser has a massive range of dresses to choose from, including a stunning black flapper dress from Kaliko complete with drop waist (pictured). However, you may well have the right accessories to go with it. This season is all about clashing, bright colours and patterns and plenty of mix and match. So add some bright, colourful espadrilles and some statement, oversized jewellery verging on 90s’ rave.

Pastel colours will be everywhere in just a couple of months time. Baby soft shades of lilac, coral, powder blue and mint. This is very reminiscent of the early 90s so you may well have a baby pink crop top knocking around somewhere. Complete the look with faded or acid-wash denims and feminine feathers and lace. This is soft and feminine with just a touch of 90s street style thrown in.

Sport has partnered with the fashion industry before, but this season these two former bedfellows are rekindling their old, on-off relationship with aplomb. Think sporty fabrics of nylon and polyester mixed with luxe materials like silk and lace. Sporty tees are paired with softly tailored shorts and strappy sandals. Racer front tops add shape and form and look great with pencil skirts. A key look will be the sweatshirt and mini skirt combo. If you want more information on this sporty trend, check our Vogue.co.uk’s trend report. 

The first Vintage Fashion Fair of the year is approaching on 22 January so not too long to wait for another vintage shopping experience.  The stallholders will have a vast selection of the most desirable vintage winter wear, something for everyone.  Whether you want to put a complete outfit together or just find some interesting pieces to make you stand out from the crowd….

Keep a lookout for imitation jewellery as this is making a comeback and adds great pizzazz to a simple sweater or in fact any outfit.

Hemlines seem to be falling in the way of 30′s glamour and 70′s maxi’s – have some fun searching for these great pieces of nostalgia.

When its time for a break seek out the Nice Green Cafe a pretty vintage style eaterie with delicious homemade snacks, lunches and refreshments.

Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regents Park Road, London NW1 7AY     11.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m.

Admission on door £3.00  -  Special ticket offer on website –  purchase one ticket and get one free!

For futher information go to Vintage Fashion Fair London