Spring/Summer 2005 Footwear Trends

The most noticed footwear trend is in accordance with this year’s colorful preepy look. I bet you already guess. Penny loafers are back. Widely popularized in 50s first by celebrities like James Dean, penny loafers become must-have in 50s and early 60s and again in 80s when preepy style surfaced again. Now this style is hot again, spiced up with some new stuff. New loafers are dressier and more elegant. Most popular footwear colors are still brown, burgundy and black, but present are also some new brighter colors.

Footwear fashioned by club sports as polo or golf are also very popular this year in contrast to recent years when active sports had bigger influences in footwear industry. More present are slim, long shapes. In decline are heavy, rough shapes. Materials are now finer and softer. Footwear trends are obviously moving towards more elegant look.

Big footwear trend this season is “hand made” look, which makes every shoe looks original and unique. Often applied are “hand stitched” and “burned” effects. There are also some new additions, such as metallic, pearlized or wooded. All this details are there to set each shoe apart.

Black and brown will still be the dominant colors in men’s dress footwear. Mid-tone brown is “in vogue” choice for dress shoes this year.  Men’s casual footwear trends are still in neutral earthy or sandy colors, but there are some new lighter colors as well. Big color for casual shoes this year is white. Two-tone coloration is also very popular.

Men’s dress shoes are very sophisticated and sleek. Square toes, round toes and detail stitching are most important features. Distressed leathers are “in” for dress shoes this year. This season’s casual footwear trends are dominated by lightweight loafers, suede driving shoes and moccasins. Also popular are euro-sport look sneakers and sport sandals. Sleek bottoms, contrast stitching and detailing will spice up the whole thing.