FRANKFURT: Wedges are back. And whether you want wood, cork or ballerina styles, mules or espadrilles, this year's variety guarantees something for everyone.

"Anybody who follows fashion this spring and summer won't be able to avoid models wearing wedges," said Traudel Albrecht-Fuchs of Germany's Leather Producers' Association, based in Offenbach. Moreover, loud colours are on the way out while natural tones to match clothes are edging into the spotlight.

Fashion mavens will not be able to slide right into this summer's new shoes. The new models especially the wedges require a lot of fastening, braiding and wrapping. The bravest shoes will marry a wedge with a plateau.

"This shouldn't be that shaky a proposition, because the heels are more robust," said Julia Moennich, a fashion editor with the Frankfurt-published trade magazine Textile Industry. The same goes for straps, which are not so delicate this year, but wider with more support.

The shoes themselves are made from sturdy materials like linen and sometimes look a little folksy. Trends include decorative fringe, bast, wood pearls, shells or straw accessories. And, where last summer was about sparkle and glitter, natural tones are the order this year. "Many shoe models suggest arts and crafts this year. Lace-up sandals or half shoes fit right in with this image."

Not every leg is designed for the so-called gladiator sandals. These are based on the shoe designs of the ancient Romans ultraflat and, naturally, with laces that sometimes come to just beneath the knee, said Moennich. This footwear is great for combining with summer legwear, such as Bermuda shorts or three-quarter pants. Moccasins are another alternative for people who like flat soles.

The natural look is also giving wooden clogs a revival, which will return this summer, echoing the classic Swedish original. Wooden heels are, without a doubt, one of the most important topics this summer, said Dagmar Rees, chief editor of SchuhMarkt (Shoe Market), a trade magazine published in Wiesbaden. The heel can come in a clog or a feminine mule: Most women should have some mules lying around their closet from last summer.

Another item from last summer is on the out list: Flip flops are no longer for going out. "One should only wear those at the beach or the pool, where they actually belong," said Elke Giese of the German Fashion Institute in Frankfurt. If you absolutely need a shoe with a toe divider, then it should have a big top piece. This can be a little more colourful or even decorated in an oriental style.

One style has managed to survive the winter. The so-called Western sabot a mostly flat model with no back is an ideal fashion for warmer temperatures. "They either have a typical lightly curved heel, classic Western decorations or they are extremely pointy," said market expert Rees. Extreme models will include all three trademarks.

Pointy tips are out for slightly higher class pumps, predicts the Shoe Institute in Offenbach. Their collections include more rounded models with light, sometimes even transparent, materials in pastels. Summer versions include floral patterns.

When it comes to sports shoes, clunky basketball boots have finally come and gone. Sneakers will get streamlined and softer and will be more like golf, hunting or tennis shoes, said Rees. Even the World Cup has not escaped the attention of the designers. True fans will show their club or nation loyalty with their feet.

Sometimes large, sometimes discreet, but always clear, the designers have added the colours of the national flags to their shoes.

Source: China Daily