The Fashion Footwear Association of New York (FFANY) took its first step into trend forecasting with the launch of The Reveal, a new trend area designed to inform and inspire.
FFANY tapped celebrity stylist Jenn Rogien to curate a concise glimpse of the important fashion stories for Fall ’17. Here’s a look at some of the key themes handpicked by Rogien as seen at FFANY.
Sole Searching
Brands are designing from the bottom up, placing an emphasis on soles with technical and cosmetic enhances. Here, brands amp up sandals and oxfords with jute, foam and rubber outsoles—sometimes all at once. Oxfords, like the Fall ’17 kiltie style from Cat, are beefed up with lug soles. On the technical side, outdoor brands ease the furry of winter with waterproof traction soles. And dressy boots, like the cutout styles by Joan Oloff, are made comfortable with proprietary technology and heel designs.
Color Coded
Designers are reinventing the color wheel by pairing classic autumnal colorways with unique silhouettes and textures. Fall ’17 welcomes back grey, black, ecru and navy, with accent colors from the red family. Suede, lush velvet and layers of leather add depth to classic loafers, boots and sneakers. Beige sneakers are enlivened with monochromatic crochet uppers and glitter toes. Look for grey to refine casual sneaker boots and tone down stiletto heels.
Touch & Feel
Fall calls for lush textures. Expect to see more exposed fur on boots, slides, loafers and sneakers. Printed calf hair, embossed velvet and coated knits add novelty. Patents and rubber bring a technical vibe. This trend is designed to tempt consumers to come in, touch, try and buy.
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Mixed Tape
Proving that more is more, brands are offering a tasting of materials for fall. Color blocking, material mixing and combinations of classic and technical materials refresh simple silhouettes. Themes span 70s style suede patchwork and crystal-embellished tropical prints to athleisure styles that pair up suede with knit.
Back to the Future
Shoe brands are on the brink of a tech boom. The category is moving forward with technical fabrics and emerging technologies—and not just the athletic giants. Men’s, women’s and children’s athleisure brands are playing with LED lights beaming from soles. Meanwhile, 3-D printing and “smart” shoes are not only changing the way footwear is manufactured and worn, but are also offering retailers a unique story to share with their consumers.
Jewel Box
Cinderella shoes are having a moment. Opulent boots, loafers and heels are trickling down from runway to street. Velvet, brocades and tapestry-inspired textiles dress up casual silhouettes. Karl Lagerfeld Paris elevates a simple red flat with a diamond-like bow; slip-on sneakers are drenched with glitter. Meanwhile, dress styles are upgraded with intricate scrollwork, sculpture heels and jewel ornamentation. Look for chain details on stilettos to add a touch of edge.
