Punk Platforms and Creepers

One of the more favourable and fashion forward trends creeping into even the most prestigious of runway shoes is the humble platform brogue and to a lesser extent, a good pair of creepers. They're certainly nothing and have been around since the 90s but it appears they're platform heels, punk aesthetic and unusual colour combinations have won over a multitude of fashion bloggers across the world (myself uncluded). Although I do not own a pair of platform brogues, creepers or flatforms that doesn't mean I don't dream of owning any combination of the three.

Creepers can be worn casually with a pair of jeans, but one of my favourite stylings for the demonic shoes is with smart blazers, fashion blogger Susie Bubble of the Style Bubble has really opened my eyes to all the glorious possibilities. To match a textured, high-waisted skirt in pink with a pair of pure white creepers? It's unusual but also very satisfying to see such a casual, chic and eclectic take on how to style  apair of creepers. It's reassuring to know that a pair of creepers aren't a large commitment piece in terms of pledging your allegiance to the punk style but can be used to add edge and attitude to a sweet outfit.

I've seen many platform heels added to a wide variety of shoes as of late but never before had I seen platforms added to hiking boots, most likely due to the impractical nature of the marriage. The craving and need to add platform heels to flats as well as brogues was something I had commonly encountered but I've never seen platform boots with such a vintage appeal and air about them. There's something so wholesome and wonderful about the striped carpet, patterened leggings and platforms shown in the photograph above and I wonder who leant their creative mind to the making of these gorgeous shoes.

Not exactly punk are they with the boater style and fringed laces; I just couldn't help included these little suckers since they reminded me so much of the platform sneakers from Moonspoon but more sensible and seaworthy. I'm in the market for a pair of really good, comfortable platform shoes with a little bit of versatility about them to wear with a range of outfits and for sass. Of course if I manage to find a crazy pair that are unique, one-of-a-kind and totally outrageous I'll probably but them as well and have to buy the rest of my clothes from a second hand shop, making for some wonderfully quirky and kooky outfits.

Taking fashion to new heights and in wild, bombastic colours and patterns you can see a pair of platform sneakers of this calibre belong in a street style photograph. I envision them attached to a teenage girl in a vintage lace dress, with studded leather jacket and maybe smeared black lipstick. Shoes like this should never be condemned to solitary confinement at the back of someone's closet, they deserve to roam free and be your new best friends exploring vintage shops and alley ways full of hidden and secretive delights.

It's hard to pick a firm favourite among so many wonderful pairs of creepers and platform punk shoes, but today's winner is this wonderful clashing print of fluorescent orange and blue. I don't necessarily need the added height but it can't hurt a girls' chances at get picked out amongst the crowd and they are sure to be a conversation starter. There's the traditional elements of a good pair of creepers- the double D shaped chains accomadating laces as well as the rounded toe but they're so wild and different I wish I new the creative genius who made these! Prada have been ruffling some feathers amongst stars of the fashion world and in their last hree collections have given rise to some wonderful and kooky pairs of platform brogues but I dare say these blue and orange beasts wouldn't fit in amongst their collection. If you know the identity of these shoes I would love to hear from you and glean from your wonderful databank of fashion knowledge.

If you can't afford a pair of wonderfully coloured creepers don't despair, there are plenty of other weird and wonderful alternatives available to you in terms of DIY reconstruction and extensions. For example following in the example of the photograph above, spikes and chains slung across the laces of your creepers will add instant punk aesthetic and may even repel surly romantic attempts. I take comfort and reassurance in the small fact that our image is our most powerful image and that it can convery a number of messages from the combination of clothes and accessories we choose to wear. Platform shoes can be used to gain height and superiority over others and creepers can either heighten a punk ensemble of ripped jeans, black shirt and anorak or toughen up a prissy looking dress.

The 90s gave birth to some wonderful stars including wild hair deying techniques, grunge music and some wonderful pairs of platform shoes. It's hard enough to find Dr Martens combat boots with a holographic sheen to them but to find something with such a platform sole and height? They look gorgeous in the soft focus lens of the camera as well as the light bouncing off the platform in a magical array of rainbow colours. Girls like me dream of finding treasure like this in second hand shops and paying bottom dollar for such a wonderful pair of statement shoes and it appears the lucky owner of these babies really struck vintage gold when they found these.

A close second for my favourite pair of creepers/ punk shoes is this gorgeous pair of clear perspex platform creepers complete with metallic spikes and studded to perfection. I'm continually impressed with the amount of detail and fine craftsmanship involved for fashion pieces and hpw they are made to be beautiful both inside and out. The reflective/ metallic sheen around the platform sole is very chic; you could almost get away with wearing a vintage dress cutaway at th front to really show off a pair of shoes as wonderful as this. At the moment I've got fashion week on the brain and all I can think of is to enter as many competitions as possible to attend as a VIP, as well as what I would wear to such an occasion.

Yellow has never really been my colour and is hard for a number of people to pull off, but with such a beautiful pair of platform creepers in magnificent fluorescent yellow how could anyone resist their charms? They could be worn with a fluorescnet yellow satchel from the Cambridge Satchel company or even with long pleated maxi skirts in florals and clashing denim shirts. There are so many wonderful avenues of opportunity for these shoes, I only wish I owned them myself so I could hold my head high and count myself as a fashionable force of nature.

The last pair of statement creeper that I'll comment on have all the glampor and clase of real gold but the true creepers structured and a noticeably smaller platform sole compared to its other predecessors. They're certainly not the most strange pair of creepers ever created but I think there is something rather unique and even classy about them with the metallic material contrasting against the black heel. I'm sure there are plenty of other weird and wonderful combinations of colours, prints and platform heights we can expect to see as this trend snowballs and gains momentum. It's only a matter of time before I cave as well and find myself a wonderful pair of punk shoes to grace my feet and maybe even accentuate my height. One can only hope I'll find the perfect pair to soothe my insatiable style apetite for these shoes and their punk radiance.

Moonspoon Saloon X Buffalo Platform Sneaker

As more and more ideas are regurgitated, reused and recycled throughout the fashion world it seems that the only thing left to fabricate is the extraordinary such as these platform sneakers. I can't imagine any person trying to run in these and as a sculptural piece they are quite something but in the real world and outside science fiction and fantasy- who owns and wears something as extravagant as these Moonspoon Saloon X Buffalo Platform sneakers? I had a memory lapse in which I forgot the brand of these great shoes but since I have finally remembered I figured I may as well share them with my brilliant readers.

I haven't seen a great variation in design for these collaboration pieces, about five of six different patterns on a dark grey/ brown background but I suppose you don't need to over sell these bad boys when their stature and structure speak for themselves really. I can't imagine myself every sporting one of these, never have I been self-conscious about my height and for an added boost I have a few pairs of heels up my metaphorical sleeve.

I have to admit though despite not having a strong attraction for their design, the ingenuity of the design is great and they would be a wonderful piece to work with in terms of putting together a photo shoot as seen above. There's a subtle chameleon affect from the continuation of the orange in the top and wickedly delightful fringed pants as well as the grey common in the design of the pants and shoes. I really wish I knew the wonderful brand which belongs to the pants, although you could probably slap together a pair for yourself if you raided your local craft shop for spandex and finishing threaded loops.

My favourite colour variation and design for the Moonspoon Saloon collaboration with Buffalo is the above pair in pink with hot pink laces and a washed out/ detergent effect. It reminds me a lot of acid wash jeans but in a new and exciting shade stretched over a pair of shoes which look like they should be worn for medical reasons. If you so desire, you can buy yourself a pair for a little over $400 here at Solestruck.

For those of us that believe space is the place, or if you just like the use of symbols which look like they've been spray painted on, look no further than these Moonspoon X Buffalo Platform sneakers! The fluorescent green shoelaces are very worthy and called for as the finishing touch of these radical shoes. I can imagine them being worn with some large golden hoop earrings, maybe a silk scarf worn tied up around the forehead, a large bomber jacket in a colourful vintage print (think old Versace) and some leather leggings.

I'm seeing a bit of a paint spattered effect being popular for the variations of these shoes and I think they could be worn with a lot of a sass of a girl who could be very well seeing a graffiti artist. Even if those who do wear them don't necessarily fit my little ideal notion I do hope however chooses to wear these nose-bleed inducing shoes is blesses with grace and poise.

The shoes seem very 90s inspired with their grunge and punk aesthetic as well as the increasing popularity of creepers and also platform Converse on the market. Even long before this collaboration between Moonspoon saloon and Buffalo, Baby Spice of the Spice Girls was rocking a pair of platform sneakers. Maybe we'll be seeing great big British Union Jack flags also incorporated into design and something else flamboyant and belonging to a long deceased pop group... one can only dream and wonder.

Karen Walker Pointer Loafers

Vintage inspiration has been heavily influencing some great runway shoes in terms of smock dresses and Peter Pan collars becoming a bit hit and now there's also elements of design for loafers and slippers being popularised once more. These Karen Walker pointer loafers complete with fringe tassels are a bit more imaginative than a vintage shoe in terms of style and colour and the good news is that the leather is new and not dried out. I love the designs of vintage shoes but it's really difficult to find them in my right size so with the vintage movements and 60s era being used for design again, someone of my height and size can enjoy the best of the world of vintage. These chic little boater/ loafer shoes also have a thickly generous wedge heel to them as well and could be worn on a picnic and even around the office, depending on your area of expertise.

As much as I love the little green leather tassels of the first pair of pointer loafers from Karen Walker, I think the blue/ orange loafers are more to my style and liking. As tacky as it is, I can't help but think wearing some mid-calf socks as well as a cute dress would be a good way to dress down these shoes but if you were daring enough black tights and a vintage dress would look great too. It's a shame I'm not in a massive demand for shoes at the moment and the only pair I am eager to buy are the collaboration between Jeffrey Campbell and Wildfox.

I'm glad modern shoes now have rubber soles to them as well and their suede and leather isn't hardened and crusty with years of disuse. Karen Walker has been one of my favourite labels for jewellery as well as sunglasses for quite some time now, but with the expansion of her endeavours into shoes I can't wait to see what else the future holds for this New Zealand label.

Glitter Vans

Unfortunately for you and me dear reader, there's not as many results and colour variations for glittery coloured Vans casual skate shoes at the moment but maybe we'll see a few more released in the coming weeks and months? I got to see this first image from the Lazy Oaf Tumblr but nothing much else has arisen in terms of news or perhaps a new range of shoes in this effect for Vans. I can only find the red glittery vans so far for the full effect- but if you have a Mexican flavour or just want to let your hair down and dance the night away, why not wear something comfy and eye-catching as well? You're sure to turn a few heads with these babies on your feet and collect some compliments as well.

Just because I felt like sharing a Google Image result for 'Glitter Vans' too, there's a shot of gold sparkly plastic overflowing from a perturbed looking lady. Just on a conversational tangent regarding glitter and it's application in photography not only can you add it to a printed photograph to turn the mouth of Santogold into a gold spewing goddess, I've also seen a thin slit of glitter applied to the skin and a knife on the side of an arm with glitter on the floor next to the arm in a dripping sort of effect.

You could probably execute some mean jazz hands wearing these bad boys but in my personal experiences, red shoes such as these are a little more difficult to incorporate into an outfit but if you're a master of drapery and eclectic styling than you really should have no problems. It's not enough for an item of clothing to be beautiful by itself and look amazing, but an important thing to recognise is how to wear it as well to bring out its majesty and show it off to everyone else around you too.

Strummer Espadrille Flats

 

To buy, or not to buy. That is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the pains of an empty wallet or the slings and arrows or not having gorgeous shoes.

Violent Green another shop I follow on blogspot keep tempting me by posting 'Sale Item of the Day' and these shoes from Strummer named the Espadrille Flats now cost $49 down from $196. I'm contemplating buying them just for the saving but I wonder how often I would wear them. While I have been searching for a straw rimmed pair of boater shoes do I dare buy something in a bold print? If I wore horizontal black and white striped shirts in a Parisian manner then maybe I would be swayed to purchase the shoes but will I be happy with my purchase? It's difficult to say, I have bought shoes in the wrong sizes online and haven't been able to part with them so do I really want to put myself through the trauma again?

I do like the neat little shoelaces and eyelets of the shoes and the structure is sweet enough, yesterday I thought I really adored the print but in the morning after I am having my small doubts. With more shoes on the horizon coming in February in ballet form I think I should save my money for the time being and bide my time and wait to pounce.

They've been labelled as the perfect shoes for seeing sweaty Summer festivals and concerts and with the light canvas material I'm not surprised. For a hardcore festival such as Soundwave or No sleep Till you would have to wear something a lot thicker and dense to stop your feet from bleeding if daring to enter a mosh pit. Still, if you were to enjoy the sounds and sights of a festival while lounging around on grass then these shoes in canvas material would be ideal- from the side profile shown here they look a bit like Toms except the sole is outlined in straw and the shoelaces add a little more security to wearing these shoes and preventing them from sliding off. Which is helpful if you plan on dangling your feet from a jetty at the beach.

Chloé Ballet Slippers

I never had the drive to be a dancer and I bet if I had actually bother to try I would have made a damn fool of myself or my mother would have intervened and made me quit 'for not practicing enough' or some other bullshit like that. That doesn't mean that I don't find the style alluring, oh contra I do love the tight little buns as well as the prissy tutus and the ballet shoes. Fortunately for someone as lazy I, Chloé have nailed the ballet style and truly made a pair of ballet flats. They're murder to try and find online on a site as vague as eBay but I proudly present metallic gold as well as black flats from Chloé with thick straps around the ankles and the perfectly moulded and rounded toes.

The last pair of expensive ballet flats I bought ended up getting trashed in the rain because I loved them so much and wore them no matter what the whether was like outside! The metallic finish ballet flats seem to have something precious suggested about them in their colour and structure and I would love to see these worn with an airy vintage dress full of pleats and maybe rose gold jewellery. That's just my personal preference at the moment though and I'm sure in a matter of hours I'll think of something else to style them with. As much as I do love their structure for their simple design as well as the mastery of the traditional ballet style shoes, $450 dollars for a pair of flats as nice as they are is a bit steep for me. 

I really love the placement of the thick elastic straps, you really won't fall out of these shoes easily and the chic little support pouch just under your foot is a nice place to sneak in some advertising and self-promotion. If I were to get a pair, I would stick to plain black and leave it open to style with but at the moment I really need to save my money and also treat myself to fashion pieces as sparingly as I can.

I'm tossing up between Charlotte Olympia flats or maybe even their kitty heels as well as these beautiful ballet flats but I know I really shouldn't buy anymore footwear. For university I should embrace the poor student mindset and set money aside to travel and move out of my parents house- besides I have a pair of surviving Vans as well as some new cheap flats that will do fine in a loafer style.