As Bernardo, the brand that put the modern day sandal on the map in 1946, and later on the feet of such style icons like Twiggy, Jane Birkin and Jackie O, gears up for its 70th anniversary next year, it is expanding its offerings for Fall ’15 to meet the needs of today’s tastemakers. Still, a number of brand hallmarks — from its Matrix ring hardware and leather braiding to its foot-freeing silhouettes — permeate throughout the collection.
For Fall ’15, Bernardo is dipping into rain gear with the Lacey rain boot available in candied colors of yellow, red and green and accented with thick ribbon-like laces. For a tailored look, the equestrian-inspired Peony, a classic Chelsea boot, is finished with the brand’s signature Peony knot. Both boots’ matte finish and fun colors make them a versatile choice even for sunny days.
Bernardo carries the Chelsea boot story into other parts of the fall line, including the Sonni, a lightweight leather boot. The simple boot comes in black leather with a white leather stripe on the outsole for an athletic feel, and in a rich luggage brown with a black gusset panel. The lace-up, shearling-lined Sahara, available in pale sand, chocolate and black, offers a cozier feel, while the suede Francesca boot ties in the brand’s Matrix hardware, reinterpreting it as a harness.
The brand keys into its Seventies heritage, back when its shoes regularly graced the pages of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, with the Olivia. The suede gladiator sandal, with matching cords, has an earthy feel that especially stands out with the line’s knockout color, brick — a rusty shade of red/orange. Alternatively, the Hannah, a cage leather sandal adorned with silver hardware, brings height with a stacked heel.
Slip-on sneakers topped off with pony hair animal prints and fleece-line, suede sneakers build out the line’s casuals, while the Matrix moc, a leather and pony hair construction, and bendable bow-accented flats, are fashionable takes on travel footwear. For the resort-bound, the brand offers a heap of options, including flat thongs and slides with geometric straps, and a range of reversible leather totes and clutches that make packing lightly a breeze.