Goodbye heels hello sneakers! How women are trading sky-high stilettos for $700 designer sports shoes instead --------------------------------------------------- Women who once favored $700 pairs of high-heels are now spending their rather large shoe allowances on slip-on sneakers instead, according to fashion insiders. The Business of Fashion reports that stores from Neiman Marcus to Net-A-Porter are brushing high-heels aside to make room for springs bevy of practical shoe options from brands including Saint Laurent and Valentino. Sasha Sarokin, buying director for Net-A-Porter, told the site: Six-inch heels and platforms, teetering down the runway doesnt feel modern anymore. Its not only about the $700 designer shoe, but the sneaker she can wear in her everyday life. Rise of the $700 sneaker: Cara Delevingne is shown walking the Chanel fall 2014 runway in a pair of sneakers by the brand Main attraction: Many women are now trading their high-heel budgets for sneakers and flats, including this $795 pair by Valentino Ms Sarokins comments are echoed by fellow high-end stores including Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Bergdorf Goodman all of which are offering sneakers for the new season. Neiman Marcuss fashion director Ken Downing explained our customer has a relaxed casual lifestyle and shes very hungry for pieces with a comfort and cool factor. And that so-called cool factor has been delivered in droves by coveted brands like Saint Laurent Paris a label which has made its name as of late by appropriating street fashions for the luxury consumer. For spring, that concept materialized in the form of the labels take on the $45 Vans slip-on sneaker, which has been recreated in a pink, palm tree-printed fabric with a price tag of $395. A similar pair by Givenchy, this one in a digitized floral print, is retailing for an even greater $570. Slip-on styles: Slip-on styles which reinterpret $45 Vans shoes, are popular, including this $395 pair by Saint Laurent Paris Flower power: Givenchy also took the slip-on style for a spin with a $570 design More traditional lace-up sneakers have also found favor. Prada has turned its attentions towards recreating French brand Bensimons $55 classic tennis shoe. The result is nearly identical to the Bensimon original (save for a Prada logo printed on the tongue) and retails at more than ten times the price, at $570. Lace-ups are also popular this season thanks to labels including Miu Miu (with styles for around $650) and Valentino (approximately $795). The trend is so strong that it inspired Karl Lagerfeld to outfit his entire fleet of fall 2014 runway models in Chanel tweed trainers. Italian-made: Prada has reinterpreted Bensimons classic tennis shoe with a $570 design (pictured) that does not look all that dissimilar from the original Change pocket: Miu Mius lace-up sneaker design retails for $650 and comes with a zipper pouch But according to Opening Ceremonys head buyer Carol Song, sneakers rise in popularity is more about creating a variety of comfortable options for women, rather than banishing the high heel altogether. She explained: A variety of heel heights is not a trend anymore, but rather a permanent statement. Five to ten years from now, I see [women] still having that choice to wear what she wants and not feel its too trite to wear heels or too casual to wear flats. She can own her position without having to choose one or the other.
Posted on: Fri, 04 Apr 2014 04:26:00 +0000
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