London Fashion Week showcased shoe collaborations that were both standout and unexpected. FN is rounding up the hits, taking a closer look at the partnerships that walked the spring ’17 runway this season.
1. Mother of Pearl x Bionda Castana: The British label partnered with Bionda Castana to create a capsule collection of two footwear styles for its show that blended Mother of Pearl’s flair for sportswear with Bionda Castana’s feminine aesthetic. The result was a reinterpretation of the popular Sahar style by Bionda Castana; a fringed pointed-toe boot that was reworked with a blocked heel and a ruffled overlay, while the second style, a pointed-toe slingback pump features pearl embellishments at the back, similar to the hardware on the Mother of Pearl spring ’17 bags.
The two brands quickly found common ground both being young London-based labels with similar aspirations about how they wish to grow their businesses. “It’s the perfect opportunity for two young, London-based fashion houses to work together and create something new and different, while still retaining both of our signature style accents,” said Bionda Castana co-founder and designer Natalia Barbieri.
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2. Emilia Wickstead x Charlotte Olympia: Emilia Wickstead presented a tight footwear edit for her spring 2017 collection focusing on two key styles, the slide and a pointed-toe buckled flat created in collaboration with Charlotte Olympia. Both were created using woven leather in a soft palette of pastel greens and pinks and neutral browns and blacks, echoing the serenity and ease of the collection, which took a romantic turn with nightgown-like dresses in delicate, diaphanous fabrics.
3. Roksanda x Malone Souliers: Pointy-toe flats reigned with this collaboration. The shoes were the first time the two had ever collaborated and aimed to celebrate the femininity of the two labels. Nappa leathers and pretty shades in all colors made it a sophisticated and still playful one.
4. Julien MacDonald x Gina Shoes: Julien MacDonald fully embraced the more-is-more approach for spring 2017, with a collection that left no crystal, silver fringe or sequin unturned. Hailey Baldwin opened the show in a cleavage-bearing jacket with crystal and sequin embroidery and silver-fringed sleeves, followed by a lineup that was dominated by daring cutouts, barely there sheer and embroidered gowns and body-hugging numbers with gold buttons and military detailing.
The footwear embraced the same va-va-voom factor of the ready-to-wear; created in collaboration with Gina Shoes, famed for their sparkly creations. There were two key styles including leather lace-up or PVC heeled sandals. All heels came in neutral beige or black tones that struck a balance with the loud, statement dresses, while the clear PVC straps on the second style created the illusion of barely visible shoes that further enhanced the sex appeal of the collection.
4. PA5H x Ruthie Davis: Davis worked with the label on gladiator-inspired laceups and stilettos with translucent touches.
5. Preen x Ugg: For spring ’17, Ugg Europe collaborated with London label Preen by Thornton Bregazzi on a series of sandals, including flats and flatforms — there were no boots in sight. Models wore the sandals with black or white lace ankle socks, and some had additional frilly anklets, too. The crisscross leather straps on the upper looped around to form a floppy bow, and some of the flat styles had stitching detail on one strap.
6. Pringle of Scotland x Malone Souliers: The collaboration was the first for the brands. Souliers’ design duo fused its focus on craftsmanship and cordwaining with Pringle’s Scotish heritage and archival styles. Colors are toned down and made from natural dyes help accent the strappy, wear-everywhere styles.
7. Christopher Kane x Crocs: Dispelling the notion that Crocs are strictly casual, for the show, the Crocs were paired with pleated lamé dresses, fur coats and more. Talk about a high-low mix.
For a closer look at the collaborations on the runway, click through the gallery.
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