Earlier this month I spent some time browsing the seemingly endless selection of footwear vendors at FNPlatform in Las Vegas. As a self-professed shoe addict, it's one of the elements of the trade show season that I most enjoy. What better way to spend a day scouting emerging trends, photographing my favorite shoes, and meeting with brand reps. After visiting a few booths and reviewing hundreds of photos, five strong trends for 2015 have emerged. Let's take a closer look at my favorites.
1. Petal to the metal.
High shine metallics made a showing on sandals, boots, and delicate heels. I spotted crackled textures, sleek shine, and even hologram effects. Clockwise, from top left: Michael Antonio, Diba True, Schutz, and Elly Clay.
Browse more metallics here:
2. Python prints.
Snake-inspired textures slithered onto a wide variety of women's footwear from high heels to espadrilles, and for 2015, they come in an array of unexpected colors. Clockwise from top left: Diba True, Michael Antonio, Michael Antonio, and Miucha.
See more snake prints:
3. Modern mules.
That '90s staple, the mule, continues into 2015 with new colors and textures. Block heels update the silhouette, while cutout effects and buckles add further interest. Clockwise from top left: Carrano, Cristófoli, Michael Antonio, and Cristófoli.
See more mules:
4. Cut it out.
Almost every booth I visited seemed to feature laser cuts and cutout effects on open-toed styles. Combined with buckles, lace-up styling, or zips, they make for shoes that are bound to be the focus of an outfit. Clockwise from top left: Stéphanie Classic, Diba True, Miucha, and Carrano.
See more cutout styles:
5. Electric slides.
Who says comfort sandals can't be cute? The footbed sandal trend ignited by Phoebe Philo and many others gets an update for 2015 with new prints and embellishments. Clockwise from top left: Schutz, Cristófoli, Carrano, and Cristófoli.
Browse more footbed sandals:
* See more footwear trends below and keep up with all my MAGIC Market Week coverage and trend forecasting photos on Pinterest and on Facebook, where I'll be sharing exclusive fashion, personal style, and shopping photos.
**For more 2015 shoe trends, see my spring and fall 2015 footwear trend report.
1. Petal to the metal.
High shine metallics made a showing on sandals, boots, and delicate heels. I spotted crackled textures, sleek shine, and even hologram effects. Clockwise, from top left: Michael Antonio, Diba True, Schutz, and Elly Clay.
Browse more metallics here:
2. Python prints.
Snake-inspired textures slithered onto a wide variety of women's footwear from high heels to espadrilles, and for 2015, they come in an array of unexpected colors. Clockwise from top left: Diba True, Michael Antonio, Michael Antonio, and Miucha.
See more snake prints:
3. Modern mules.
That '90s staple, the mule, continues into 2015 with new colors and textures. Block heels update the silhouette, while cutout effects and buckles add further interest. Clockwise from top left: Carrano, Cristófoli, Michael Antonio, and Cristófoli.
See more mules:
4. Cut it out.
Almost every booth I visited seemed to feature laser cuts and cutout effects on open-toed styles. Combined with buckles, lace-up styling, or zips, they make for shoes that are bound to be the focus of an outfit. Clockwise from top left: Stéphanie Classic, Diba True, Miucha, and Carrano.
See more cutout styles:
5. Electric slides.
Who says comfort sandals can't be cute? The footbed sandal trend ignited by Phoebe Philo and many others gets an update for 2015 with new prints and embellishments. Clockwise from top left: Schutz, Cristófoli, Carrano, and Cristófoli.
Browse more footbed sandals:
* See more footwear trends below and keep up with all my MAGIC Market Week coverage and trend forecasting photos on Pinterest and on Facebook, where I'll be sharing exclusive fashion, personal style, and shopping photos.
**For more 2015 shoe trends, see my spring and fall 2015 footwear trend report.