FASHION TRENDJOURNAL VOL. 8 FASH 503 Smalika Verma 27/05/2017
BOOTUP Over the years, boots have witnessed a variety of manifestations in terms of silhouette, length, heel type, toe type, material, finish and texture. The recent runways shows at Paris, Milan, London and New York had a array of designers taking the boots to a different level. Slouch boots and Super extra long boots floored the ramp and are becoming an instant hit with other brands and celebrities.
While Slouch boots are made of a softer material that has a wrinkly effect, usually a pull-on style, Extra Long Boots that is a brainchild of Manolo Blahnik and Vetements reach beyond the waist and feature a pointy toe and pencil heel.
Source: 1(Vetements Spring RTW 2017), 2(Stella Linako – Tumblr Archive) 3(Lee Oliveira’s Instagram – A/W 2017 in Milan) Images on Cover – Vetements x Manolo Blahnik
HISTORY Earlier boots started out as separate components like the leggings, sole and upper meant for greater ankle protection. Around 1000 BC, these components were more permanently joined to form a single unit that covered the feet and lower leg, often up to the knee. A type of soft leather ankle boots were worn by nomads in eastern Asia and carried to China to India and Russia around AD 1200 to 1500 by Mongol invaders. 17th century European boots were influenced by military styles, featuring thick soles and turnover tops that were originally designed to protect horse mounted soldiers. In the 1700s, distinctive, thigh-high boots worn by Hessian soldiers fighting in the American Revolutionary War influenced the development of the iconic heeled cowboy boots worn by cattlemen in the American west. (Picone, 2013)
Source: 1(Custom made boots for President Harry Truman), 2(15th Century boots worn by Mongolian Warriors) 3(17th Century boots worn by European soldiers and officials), 4(Broadway Leather boots)
COLLABORATION Vetements by Demna Gvasalia and Manolo Blahnik collaborated to create a line of super extra long pull on boots that go beyond the wearer’s waist, have a pointed toe and a pencil heel. They won the Collaboration of the Year award for the Satin Waist-High Boot. It comes majorly in neon and bright shades and have been a hot seller for quite a few months. Colors like neon green, bright orange, fuschia pink, violet, shiny black and a worn out shade of vintage brown. “The union of cult label Vetements and design legend Manolo Blahnik is, on the surface, a marriage of opposites. However, their spring ’17 collaboration, which astonished fashion audiences during Haute Couture in Paris, has proven beyond a doubt that opposites do indeed attract.”
Source: Manolo Blahnik x Vetements collaboration waist-high boots. Courtesy of brand.
RUNWAY The runway collections of most designers from the past few months featured exaggerated boot styles that picked up like wildfire. Boots going beyond the knee and almost up to the waist are the “in� thing. Brands like Fendi, Yeezy, Vetements are bringing in super extra long boots that double up as bottoms and make the wearer look chic as well. Pointed toes, stiletto heels and thigh-high boots channel an embrace of female sexuality and a marked shift away from the casual dressing. Slough fitting boots create a fiercer look.
Source: 1(Fendi Milan AW 17), 2(Yeezy New York AW 17) 3(Vetements Spring 2017), 4(Vivetta Milan AW 17) 5 & 6 (WGSN Image Archive), 7(Balenciaga SS17)
CELEBCHECK
There has been a constant visibility of familiar faces who sport the upcoming trends and are aptly named the Fashion Innovators. Rihanna previously collaborated with Manolo Blahnik to create the denim waist high boot. Jennifer Lopez proudly wore them in her video Ain’t Your Mama in 2016. Manolo Blahnik then collaborated with Vetements to create the trending waist-high stiletto boot. Kendall Jenner and Rihanna have already been spotted endorsing the said style.
Source: 1(Jennifer Lopez Promo Shoot for Ain’t Your Mama), 2(Kim K - Footwear News) 3(Kendall Jenner’s Instagram), 4(Manolo Blahnik Website)
BIBLIOGRAPHY •
Macdonald, Fiona. Shoes and Boots through History. Milwaukee: Gareth Stevens Pub., 2007. Print.
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Kiri Picone on November 26, 2013. "The Fascinating History Of Footwear." All That Is Interesting. 26 Nov. 2013.
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Hirschmiller, Stephanie. "How Manolo Blahnik and
Vetements Made the Perfect Match."Footwear News. •
Allen, Rachael. "Kim Kardashian West Just Wore Those Crazy Vetements X Manolo Blahnik Boots." Footwear News. 14 Feb. 2017.
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"Celebrities Love...Vetements X Manolo Blahnik Satin Boots." Red Carpet Fashion Awards. 23 Feb. 2017.
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Murray, Daisy. "The Vetements X Manolo Blahnik Shoes Are Finally Here, But Can The Internet Handle Them?" ELLE UK.
N.p., 20 Mar. 2017. Web. 27 May 2017. Source: Vogue Paris