Bold Footwear Stole the Show at London Fashion Week

LONDON — This season, luxury labels and emerging brands dreamt up a style for every shoeaholic at London Fashion Week.

At her show, “Cage of Innocence,” Dilara Findikoglu teamed up with Manolo Blahnik. Tantalizing, towering heels were embellished with silver chain mail and other metal pieces found at Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar.

“What I bring to the table is conceptual and intellectually sexy clothing, which I can’t find around. I’m basically making clothes that I want to wear,” Findikoglu said in a preview with WWD. But who wouldn’t want to wear those shoes?

Burberry took on festivalwear, looking to the Swinging Sixties and musicians’ style for inspiration. There were plenty of midcalf boots, from combat to equestrian styles,perfect for wading through muddy festival fields. But there were also multicolored open-toed clogs and thong sandals that one could imagine a rocker, well, rocking.

Emerging designer Oscar Ouyang’s feathered sneakers – dinged up Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars detailed with ethically sourced feathers – were fit for a modern day Hermes. The designer also reimagined the sneaker with fuzzy panels in green, cream, and black for his fresh, smart and considered runway debut.

Aaron Esh’s sleek and sexy show saw slim cut jeans and taut leather pants stuffed into slouchy leather boots, made in collaboration with Zara. There were open-toed heels, too, which featured uber alluring wedges spliced with slivers of silver. His cool, youthful customer is sure to lap them up.

This season, Talia Byre debuted cute and cozy platform boots, ballet flats, and clogs in partnership with Uggs. Lined with cream shearing, they came in toasty brown and black, and looked like the perfect shoes to curl up at home with. They may be relegated to the runway for now, but here’s hoping they’ll be available to purchase soon.

Malone Soulier’s SS26 collection took a step back in time, pulling inspiration from the ‘60s and ‘70s. The line moves seamlessly from delicate white heels adorned with floral details to bolder statements in silver, metallic finishes, and crystal-encrusted toes. Yet, florals were the unifying thread, seen in the collection as dainty prints and decorative detailing.

At Harris Reed, platform Herman Munster shoes stomped and even tripped on the runway. The designer collaborated with Roker on big, bold shapes with leopard and tiger prints. “We’re in a regal place and we used wallpapers again within the collection. It’s about juxtaposition — I just wanted to feel like it was a fun club night out, but a little bit more glamorous,” said the designer.