Though the mercurial weather is doing its best to put a dampener on the fun right now, the 17th of May heralds a further loosening of restrictions in the UK. And honestly? We can’t wait – to be drinking and dining indoors, hugging family, going to the cinema and perhaps even attending an outdoor gig or two…it’s the stuff of dreams!
That said, it feels almost perverse that the moment we’re finally allowed to socialise with a roof over our heads, and after a particularly cold and wet April and May, the sun will come out for summer and beckon us all outside once again.
This requires a certain level of tactical dressing, layering and astute deployment of your handbag to make it work and to truly enjoy the warmer weather in comfort and style. Today, we’re casting our eyes downwards, to our feet; here are 4 IDEAL tips for selecting transitional spring shoes.
THE SEASON OF TRAINERS
It’s no surprise that you can’t spell ‘transitioner’ without all the letters of ‘trainers’. And we should emphasise the plural form here; because having several pairs in your shoe collection makes selecting the right shoe for the season and the day’s weather a breeze.
We all know what happens when you wear your best trainers in winter – they get ruined from all the rain and dirt. And summer? A thick-heeled, darkly toned affair just doesn’t feel right when you’re feeling light on your feet. A trainer for the season, then, is essential, particularly for that transition from spring to summer.
Being seasonally specific, we think spring is the ideal time to show off your high-tops. We just love the Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG ‘Shadow 2.0’, which work effortlessly in both an indoor, formal setting and kicking back in a beer garden or on the court, equally, and can be styled up with a modern suit, or styled down with a simple matching Jordan 1 outfit. So as not to choose sides; we’re also huge fans of Nike Air Force 1 trainers in bang-on-trendy pastel shades.
Alternatively, for that smooth transition from casual to smart, hybrid shoe/sneakers are stylish and very much on-trend; go for a brogue style in leather with a white sole if you’re keen to keep up with the cool kids.
Trainers don’t always have to equate to a lightness of touch, however. To suit the changing of the season, chunky, oversized trainers have been in trend for a while thanks to Alexander McQueen. The fashion designer’s oversized signature sneakers, in particular, have gained well-deserved cult status and other brands have followed, loosening and widening the silhouettes of their sneakers to replicate the design. They do say imitation is the finest form of flattery, after all.
Read: 6 items to freshen up your style for Spring 2021.
HAVE FUN WITH STATEMENT SHOES
This is the season to have fun with shoes, particularly after several months of shuffling around in our slippers, odd socks or nothing much at all.
In more ‘normal’ winters, we wear a rotation of clunky boots in varying shades of dark. Come summer, a less is more approach works best, the season being all about espadrilles, flip flops and shoes that don’t make our feet swell up.
Spring, then, is the perfect time to have fun with your shoes – think peep-toe heels, block-heel mules and sling-back shoes. When it comes to colour, choose bright and bold or demure shades of pastel. Go for shoes with stripes, ones with bow details and even chains.
According to Who What Wear, the shoe that will define this Spring is Prada’s collection of kitten heels. These low pointed toe heels are designed in a rainbow of colours and can add a pop of colour to any outfit.
This focus on making a statement with your shoes is only tightened and heightened by the fact that we haven’t strutted our stuff properly in public for ages. Time to turn some heads, don’t you think?
Read: 5 upcoming spring/summer styles to invest in now
YOU CAN WEAR SOCKS WITH SHOES & SANDALS
Once the definition of a fashion faux pas, wearing socks with sandals has come full circle, and now, it’s very much allowed. In fact, pairing the two is actively encouraged, whether that’s for the purpose of practicality (you want to pop to the corner shop) or fashion (yep, you can make this thing fashionable).
We all know that spring weather is unpredictable at the best of times, and the socks/sandals combo seemingly has all bases covered – hey, you could even pocket those socks should the sun start shining, and transition into sandals with, whisper it, bare feet!
To ensure the look is one the right side of stylish as opposed to ‘dorky dad on holiday’, make sure the socks are thick, ribbed and preferably not sporting a Simpsons character or comedy slogan. They should also be worn pulled up high, with knee length socks worn with sandals and paired with a short skirt being a ubiquitous look across catwalks in summer 2020.
For a different approach, Harper’s Bazaar encourage us to “Embrace the athletic feel of the trend by choosing sports socks and wearing with sky-high skinny stilettos.” A step too far? Not for us.
BALLET SHOES WILL NEVER DIE
When choosing a transitional shoe, know this; the ballet shoe will always be by your side. Or should that be, several feet below your side? Anyway…
Stylish and reliable, the ballet flat has been a life saviour for so many of us over the years, ideal for allowing your feet to breathe and feel comfortable, and offering support whilst still keeping you light on your feet. And that’s all you can ask for from a spring shoe, don’t you think?
Yep, that even distribution of pressure across the foot represents a big tick in the plus column for ballet flats over something like a stiletto. Just be sure to buy a pair of ballet shoes with good insole support, as a thin insole can make you feel like you’re walking barefoot- not what you want at any time of year.
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