Nina Ricci’s Fall 2009 collection, which was helmed by designer Olivier Theyskens, had a little bit of everything. For example, there were a lot of really exquisite dresses with cinched waists and bulky shoulders, colorful throwback garments, lots and lots of glitter, and even some minor fetishism.
However, what caught my attention about this collection was the array of ridiculous and horrific heelless shoes that some of us have come to know and hate. New York Magazine had this to say:
"Take a look at the heel-less, stilt-like shoes at Nina Ricci. Fabulously creative, right? The sky-high height combines platform and stilettos, adding about eleven inches to the already leggy models. And the careful detailing makes them even more distinctive (not that the shoes need it) — some feature laces, buckles, rhinestones, and satin. From what we can tell, not one model fell, which proves the theory that heel-less shoes are easy to walk in. Now that’s the power of platforms. And gravity."
Perilous Heelless Shoes
Nina Ricci Loves Killer 11” Inch Stilts for Fall 2009
Trend Themes
1. Heelless Shoes - Opportunity for innovative designs in the fashion industry.
2. Extreme Platform Shoes - Heightened creativity in the fashion industry towards daring shoe designs.
3. Fetish Fashion - Possibility of increased popularity and mainstream acceptance of fetish-inspired fashion.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion Industry - Opportunity for designers to create unique dress designs around the shoes.
2. Entertainment Industry - Increased interest in extreme fashion styles portrayed in films and music videos.
3. Retail Industry - The possibility of increased sales in shoe stores that market and sell trendy shoes.