Exotic skins, gladiator sandals, bright colors and more are all represented in this guide to Summer shoes and sandals. Be sure you're putting your best foot forward by checking out all of the hottest trends in women's shoes for 2008.
Shoes and Sandals in Bright Colors
Image: Zappos.com
Without a doubt, this season's hottest trend is brightly colored footwear. While yellow has been crowned the "reigning color supreme," oranges, citrus greens, and bright pinks are also hot hues to look for, and really, you can't go wrong with anything that's on the bright side.
Check out the season's hottest styles in: Pictured: Jessica Bennett "Heart" (Buy Direct)
Check out the season's hottest styles in: Pictured: Jessica Bennett "Heart" (Buy Direct)
Color-Blocked Shoes
Image: Endless.com
Shoes with color blocking (shoes that combine big, bold areas of contrasting colors) are hot this season, and it's a look I really like. Color-blocked shoes work so well with mod styles, bright colors and shiny finishes, it's the perfect time for their comeback.Picture: Lauren Ralph Lauren "Aaralyn" (Buy Direct)
Patent Leather Sandals and Shoes
Image: Zappos.com
Don't put your patent shoes and sandals away yet. The trend is still going strong, and a glossy finish is ideal for this season's brightly colored styles. Pictured: Franco Sarto "Dente" (Buy Direct)
Exotic Sandals and Shoes
Image: Shoes.com
There's an abundance of footwear making use of exotic skins -- like eel, crocodile, and especially snakeskin -- but unless you plan on laying out a lot of clams, you'll probably want to look for a faux version.
Pictured: Jessica Simpson "Chasie" (Buy Direct)
Pictured: Jessica Simpson "Chasie" (Buy Direct)
Ombre Shoes
Image: Shoes.com
Ombre shoes (or shoes with multi-shaded uppers) have become quite the mini-trend lately, although nobody seems quite sure what to call them. I've seen them referred to as shadowed, faded, gradients, shoes with graduated color, shaded, color-dipped, dip-dyed and shoes with degrade uppers.
Whatever you want to call them, done well, these shoes have several things going for them: they're more versatile than they're single-shaded counterparts, they're visually interesting; they have a certain built-in sex appeal; and they're a great way for the patternphobe to break away from solids without committing to a print.
Pictured: AK Anne Klein "Christa" (Buy Direct)
Whatever you want to call them, done well, these shoes have several things going for them: they're more versatile than they're single-shaded counterparts, they're visually interesting; they have a certain built-in sex appeal; and they're a great way for the patternphobe to break away from solids without committing to a print.
Pictured: AK Anne Klein "Christa" (Buy Direct)
Gladiator Sandals
Image: Nordstrom.com
If you're a fan of Roman-inspired footwear, you'll be glad to know that gladiator sandals are a bona fide trend this summer.
These heavily-strapped sandals have never been a favorite of mine, but this year I've been forced to rethink my whole anti-gladiator stance, thanks to a bevy of intriguing styles.
These heavily-strapped sandals have never been a favorite of mine, but this year I've been forced to rethink my whole anti-gladiator stance, thanks to a bevy of intriguing styles.
- Gladiator Sandals I Don't Hate
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- Save or Splurge: Gladiator Sandals
Platform Sandals and Shoes
Image: Zappos.com
Platform sandals and shoes have been one of the hotter footwear trends for a couple of summers now, and they're still on this season's hit list. While there are still plenty of extreme platforms to choose from, this year there are more concealed platforms and micro-platforms to choose from as well.Pictured: Charles by Charles David "Slinky" (Buy Direct)
Metallic Sandals and Shoes
Image: Zappos.com
If you're looking for for evening shoes, you can almost always find something in silver or gold. But this season, metallics have moved out of the evening shoe department and onto every other form of footwear you can imagine.
Whether you're looking for all-out shimmer (like the gold sandals shown here), or prefer your heavy metals in smaller doses (like heels or buckles); silver, gold, bronze and pewter can be found on everything from classic pumps to casual flip-flops. Pictured: Nine West "Olavera" (Buy Direct)
Whether you're looking for all-out shimmer (like the gold sandals shown here), or prefer your heavy metals in smaller doses (like heels or buckles); silver, gold, bronze and pewter can be found on everything from classic pumps to casual flip-flops. Pictured: Nine West "Olavera" (Buy Direct)
Slingback Sandals and Shoes
Image: Piperlime.com
Whether they're high heels, flats, or something in between, sandals and shoes with slingback straps are taking over this Summer, which is great because they're less confining than pumps, and they keep your feet cooler on hot Summer days.Pictured: Unlisted by Kenneth Cole "Time to Spend" (Buy Direct)
Wedge Sandals and Shoes
Image: Shoes.com
Some trends just won't stay away for long. Wedges were the trend of the season just a couple short years ago, and now they're already on their way back. While not quite as prevalent as they were then, I'm certain it won't be long, and you'll be ahead of the next wedge craze if you grab a pair or two this summer. Happily, wedges are easy to wear, and the style is perfectly suited to warm weather apparel.Pictured: Rockport "Candlewood" (Buy Direct)
