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Couture for the Feet

 

Designers seem to be fascinated with sneakers at the moment. In ready-to-wear, this phenomenon is already a trend, and some major brands already brought sneakers to the runway some time ago. Fashion houses like Givenchy, Kenzo and Maison Martin Margiela are known for their method of breaking sartorial chic with chunky, colorful sneakers that add a ‘gang’-like, sporty touch to their collections. And if you have a look at the Spring 2014 Haute Couture collections, and particularly Chanel and Dior, you’ll again see the swap-your-heels-for-sneakers trend.

Karl Lagerfeld had his models sprinting over the catwalk at Chanel. They walked down Hollywood-esque stairs, all dressed in sporty two-pieces (bolero / crop-top with high-waisted skirts) or short body-con dresses, while sporting candy-hued Couture sneakers by French shoemaker Massaro, which were crafted from python and tweed, and embellished with lace and pearls.

This sporty yet luxurious take on footwear was also highlighted at Raf Simons’ runway show for Christian Dior. The airiness of Simons’ dresses matched his deftly executed silhouettes; and the designer added even more movement into his designs by accessorizing his looks with black trainers that were adorned with multicolored flower-applications and blue pearl-embroideries.

With two major luxury brands opting for sports shoes at their respective Haute Couture shows, and street-wear becoming increasingly important as a style reference for luxury, Couture sneakers seem here to stay.

 

www.chanel.com  / www.dior.com  

—Elisabeta Tudor

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