Beauty is Comfort This Season, With Padded Sandals Dominating Shoe Trends
- Amber Louise
- May 31, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 25, 2023
Before I begin, I'd like to make a brief announcement stating that I am not a sandals kind of girl. You know, I'd much rather my feet be overheating in my stuffy sneakers, than wear a pair of sandals. Every time I think of the dreaded shoe, images of gladiator sandals circa 2015 and blistered feet enter my mind. Whenever I attempt to shop for sandals, either I can't find a pair I like or I know for a fact that even if I buy a pair, I probably won't wear them. The trouble is, even if I find a pair that doesn't make me want to gouge my eyes out (not to be dramatic), they are usually incredibly uncomfortable. This unpleasant picture has constantly kept me from embracing the summer shoe, even if it's not an accurate representation of them.
The term "Beauty is pain", has come up a lot in my mind when it comes to purchasing sandals. Usually, I'm not completely opposed to a little discomfort in the shoe department, but I'm averse to the blisters that straps and buckles on sandals bring. This season, however, that phrase seems to have been thrown out the window for the likes of sandals. Comfort in the shoe category is at an all-time high for this SS21 season. You can imagine my delightedness in discovering that this season’s “it” sandal just happened to revolve around comfort.
If you're like me: someone extremely picky who wants both comfort and a chic shoe, this season's padded sandals are where you should look. With thick and cushiony soles, the padded shoe not only looks comfortable, but if executed well, it can look awfully chic. I mean, who wouldn't want to feel like they're walking on a cloud? I sure do. These pillowed details on the sole, and often the straps, have most commonly been adopted in the toe-post silhouette, which is essentially the sophisticated word for a flip flop. Other styles, including slides and heeled sandals, have adopted said traits with not only the soles adding extra volume but the straps as well.
Jil Sander released a chunky toe-post sandal with a puffed-up sole and straps in a variety of colours for their 2021 Resort Collection that I thought was slightly strange at first. After staring at them for a little too long, I decided that I quite like the look. Incorporating the bulky black sole with padded elements makes it easy to dress these sandals up or down for any occasion, but most importantly, keeps them looking chic with added comfort. Similar elaborately cushioned shoes were seen floating down runways from the likes of Acne Studios and Stella McCartney, although they featured more casual elements through the fabric choices. If you're looking for something less in-your-face, Simona Marziali produced a toned-down version of the plush sandal for her SS21 collection for MRZ. Contrary to the flats many designers created, she went with a squared-off toe and kitten heel with subtly padded straps. The look closely resembles Bottega Veneta's lightly padded heeled slides minus their identifiable quilting details.
At the moment, I'm still deciding whether or not sandals are for me. Still, I think I've opened my mind to the possibility that sandals might not actually be that bad... Especially if they just happen to be extremely comfortable. Maybe, just maybe, I can become a sandals kind of girl.
コメント