Shoe Trends 2008

2008 saw some of the more extreme shoe trends we've seen for a while, and provided a lot of fuel for footwear debates. Love them or hate them, here were a few of the hottest shoe trends for 2008.

Gladiator Sandals

Gladiator Sandals are the definitive example that one woman's trash is another woman's treasure. While I've never cared for the overly bulky strap-laden style, 2008 saw celebrities and the masses gobbling them up like diet pills -- eventually the market was so saturated with them that even I managed to find a few styles of gladiator sandals that I didn't totally hate. If you're one of the millions of women who love the look, you'll be happy to know that 2009 will still be heavy with Greco-Roman footwear.

Fringe Footwear

Over the last year, we've seen fringe footwear take the celebrity world by storm, so it was to be expected that the general public would follow suit -- and did we ever. 2008 saw fringe topping boots, shoes and even sandals, much to the chagrin of those who felt that the laid-back look was best left back in the 1970s.

Shoes Bright Colors

After a year or two of shoes in neutral shades dominating the market, Spring of 2008 brought us a dizzying array shoes in bright colors. Pink pumps and outrageously orange stilettos were everywhere, but clearly, the footwear gods decided that what we all really needed was a pair of yellow shoes. The trend towards brightly-colored footwear carried into Fall, as purple shoes became all the rage.

I for one was delighted with the vibrant footwear invasion. While many women rightly argue that bright shades aren't as easy to wear, I'd happily trade off some versatility for a bit of personality. But love the trend or hate it, you might want to settle in for a longer ride as orange shoes are the new yellow for Spring of 2009, and pink shoes will be out in abundance again as well.

CutOut Booties

One of the more controversial shoe trends of 2008 was open-toed and cut-out booties. Many were adamant that open toes or sides on booties was not only a terrible fashion choice, but a counter-productive one as well. Others felt that the trend was one of the year's hottest. Personally, I was kind of surprised to find that people had such strong opinions of what I saw as a merely a natural and creative progression of a style.