"Beautiful Androgyny" & Flats

Fringed sandals, perforated wing-tip lace-ups, or a demure nude sandal with metal ankle band. What do they have in common? They’re all flat! 

BALENCIAGA / BOTTEGA VENETA / Image from Style.com

Ever since the mid noughties heels kept getting perilously higher and higher. The dismay of the models was apparent on their faces, as they had to walk down the runways and more than occasionally stumbled along. However, the spring/ summer 2011 collections are signaling nonchalance and androgyny or as Mr. Dries van Noten sums up his muse for the season: “a handsome woman”.

LANVIN open toe sandals with metal ankle band. / Image from Style.com

Nicolas Ghesquière for Balenciaga did not send out a single pair of heels, but instead opted for fringes and men’s wear inspired shoes that crossed between tap dancing, high tops and sandals. 

BALENCIAGA / PRADA lace-up, perforated wing tips with platform / Chloé / BALENCIAGA fringed sandals. / Images from Style.com.

Thomas Maier at Bottega Veneta, Hannah MacGibbon at Chloé and Alberta Ferreti, each followed suite with their own take on "flats". They paired daywear with longer hemlines, fluid caftans or the ultra feminine transparent shift dresses that have turned up all over the place this season, with these “flats”. The total look signals a more upbeat, younger attitude opposed to the prim, lady-likeness that comes along by wearing towering stilettos, subsequently providing an easy and carefree way of putting on clothes, for evening and daywear alike. 

A longer hemline, stockings and heeled, perforated wing tips.