Givenchy Shoes

Images via Vogue.com

If I had to peg down a notable shoe trend for Spring 2012 (Besides mules. I’m pretending that isn’t happening.), I’d have to say it’s the “minimal sandal.” That’s not to say that the overall aesthetic quality of the designs are minimal, but the number of straps sure are. From Matthew Williamson to Fendi to Givenchy Spring 2012, the general mood of the shoe industry looks like it’s about to get a little more delicate.

That’s if anything Riccardo Tisci does at Givenchy can be called “delicate,” that is. Even his Spring 2012 collection, swimming in yards of the palest pink fabric, still has a toughness to it that redeems the work in the eyes of pastel haters. (Moi.) The same can be said for these sandals, which use their minimal surface area for maximum impact. The Givenchy girl may like a pretty pair of shoes, but she’ll never be a pushover.

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Givenchy Studded Leopard Suede Sandals, $1090 via Net-a-Porter.

You know the drill, you guys. How would you wear them Givenchy Studded Leopard Suede Sandals? Or would you not wear them at all? Let us know in the comments.

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Last season, I had a major problem with the way that Valentino chose to incorporate metal straps into its shoe collection. Metal is a wonderful material for a lot of items, but when used in shoes, its placement should be nothing if not judicious. Those Valentino footwear designers could take lessons from the team that put together the shoes for Givenchy Fall 2011. Even if you’re not a fan of the overall design, the incorporation of thin metal bangles into several kinds of straps was spot-on for fall.

The platformless, pointed-toe shape of the pumps also hit on another major footwear trend, as did the occasional patterned shoe. I have a feeling that some people may balk at the choked openings and severe angles, but for the Givenchy girl who loves a heaping helping of edge to go along with her quirk, the collection’s shoes turned out far better than its bags.

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“Nubuck” is not a word that generally makes images of stylish women come to my mind, but ever since Yves Saint Laurent started using it several seasons ago, designers far and wide have employed it in ways both rustic and feminine. The material, which is like a hardier, more rustic version of suede, is having a bit of a renaissance.

Yves Saint Laurent’s nubuck Muse II bags were beautiful, but the Givenchy Nubuck Leather Bootes may be the suede-alternative’s best showing yet. These booties have just enough “lumberjack” style to make the design’s reference clever, but the execution is pure luxury.

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Black goat hair – it’s a Thing (yes, capital T) for fall! As more cold-weather shoes make their way to retail for the impending winter months, we’re seeing more and more hairy shoes from a variety of designers. Leopard print is partially driving this trend, but there’s also a good bit of black to be found on hairy shoes.

The Givenchy Calf Hair Ankle Boots may not feature goat hair, but they’re clearly hirsute enough to fit in with the trend’s aesthetic. Compared to the Alexander Wang goat hair boots, this pair has a bit of a crew cut and I think I like it.

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I can get behind some decidedly odd design conventions, but the more I see “sock boots,” the more confused I become. I’m assuming that the sock legs don’t extend down to create actual irremovable socks within the body of the shoe, but still…doesn’t this whole concept just seem like a bad idea?

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I’ll admit it: my feet are a little sweaty. I don’t know if they’re like that naturally or if it’s caused by the fact that I live in a very warm, humid climate, but it’s the truth. As a result, jellies have never sounded like a good idea to me – rubber against my skin seems like trouble, and no amount of fashionable pressure during various jellies trends has ever made me reconsider that opinion.

Well, the Givenchy Chain Detail Jelly Sandals might finally be what it takes to get my feet into a pair of rubber shoes. They’re industrial and sleek in a way that leather rarely manages to be, and I think that I may love them, if only because they’re so unique.

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If you’ve read through some of the backlog of posts in the few days since we launched TalkShoes (and if you have, thank you!), you’ve probably noticed that I’m sort of partial to weird shoes. I like my footwear to be fantastical and over-the-top, and usually, the more of those two attributes a shoe has, the better.

Well, I think I’ve met my match. The Givenchy Sequined Nappa Boots are, as Tim Gunn would so correctly say, a lot of look. I kind of respect the fact that they’re so unapologetically loud, but I’m not sure if a sense of respect for their chutzpah is enough to make me actually like them as shoes. But maybe it is.

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I don’t think that a pair of shoes has ever made me wish for inclement weather quite so fervently as the Givenchy Tall Rubber Rainboots do. They may be utilitarian rubber wellies, but they’re also completely sleek and gorgeous.

Really, these things put your precious pair of Hunters to shame. (not that there’s anything wrong with Hunters – they’re great!) Only recently has style been a consideration when choosing rainboots, but now that very serious designers are starting to turn out their own versions of the functional footwear, inclement weather is no longer a reasonable excuse to not look your most fabulous.

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