Put yourself in these shoes: Footwear trends from Pitti Uomo
From sneakers to shined-up loafers, many men love their shoes and the 88th edition of Pitti Uomo, a menswear trade show in Florence, did not disappoint the gentlemen looking for a fresh pair of kicks.
Since time immemorial shoes have been used to discern status, with 17th century European aristocrats sporting heels, a craze which swept in from Persia. Fast forward to 2015 and the desire for avant garde footwear has not abated.
Pitti Uomo highlighted fashionable footwear with hundreds of offerings, from thick-wedged bright skater shoes in Wellington-like plastics to metallic gold gym wear.
Cartoon emblazoned shoes added wit to the fair, with Italian brand Studswar boasting fun and colorful sketches on their footwear. “It’s all about having fun, these shoes make you smile,” a brand representative told Al Arabiya News.
For more serious shoes –with a cheeky edge – one need look no further than Italian brand Madison 308, which offered up boardroom-appropriate classic loafers, in baby blue, soft pink and silver sequins.
Flowers and nature-inspired prints were out in force at the fair, with several brands presenting a range of petal-printed-on-tan footwear in various styles, brogues to boat shoes.
If flowers don’t float your boat and a skull and bones logo is more your thing, it’s high time you were introduced to Miami-based brand Del Toro, with their gentleman’s slippers printed with ominous skulls and leopard print lace-ups.
When talking footwear, the humble sock seems to always be forgotten and this was also true at Pitti Uomo with scant brands dedicating shelves to the knitwear.
However, Milan-born brand Alto bucked the trend and presented a grin-worthy display of polka-dotted, striped and flower-darned socks. “Why do socks get so little attention, it’s a man’s way of being daring, even if he is at the office…under his boring brown leather shoes he can wear superman socks!” said one brand representative.
Twice a year, menswear designers, retailers and fashion heavyweights flock to Florence, Italy to get a sneak peek of upcoming collections at the so-called “Olympics of menswear trade shows,” Pitti Uomo.
The 88th edition of the event kicked off on June 16, with the catwalks and stalls set to be dismantled on June 19.
Brands gather together their best and brightest offerings under one roof to display a full season, mainly for buyers to select the pieces and quantities they will order.
With pop up stores, an entire section dedicated to classic menswear, an Eye Pop area solely for eyewear and Touch! which presents the most eclectic looks in contemporary men’s clothing, the event promises to satisfy any and all sartorial cravings.
