No boots, no party. In keeping with the vibe seen in Milan, runway shows at Paris Fashion Week further created momentum around all things boots, which here ran the gamut from flashy, over-the-knee styles to flat combat and biker alternatives favored by fashion designers to ground their collections in both comfort and an empowering feeling.
Statement Boots
The category was filled with plenty of standout moments, all telegraphing a different attitude in their own, eye-catching way. These ranged from Rick Owens‘ charming take on apocalyptic otherworldly fashion with sculptural, Toblerone-like boots to the impressive thigh-high ones Chitose Abe anchored the Sacai fall 2024 collection in, which were deceptively disguised as sartorial pants and tuxedo trouser legs that stood on their own.
Action Stars
A number of designers — keeping global context and news — also displayed collections that aimed to empower women with approachable solutions injected with a dash of anarchy and a rebellious undercurrent. Take Pierpaolo Piccioli’s all-black collection at Valentino: “It’s the color of these times,” said the Italian designer, who grounded feminine black looks with matching chunky biker boots. At Hermès, creative director Nadège Vanhee opted for an uber-elegant (and currently omnipresent) oxblood shade for a collection inspired by riding – both horses and motorbikes – that came with new must-have equestrian boots that unzipped to transform into looser biker styles.
’60s Reload
The vibrant energy resonated in playful reinterpretations of the ‘60s styles. Still, part of the overarching ladylike trend that dominated the London and Milan fashion weeks, the vibe shifted toward a more graphic and groovier direction in Paris — with footwear switching from pointy toes and kitten heels to squared shapes and chunkier low heels, as well as mary janes and geometric ankle boots. Looking for evidence? The Dior fall 2024 collection designed by Maria Grazia Chiuri offered plenty of appealing solutions, which added to the girly flat styles seen at Giambattista Valli and to the off-white graphic boots punctuating looks at Louis Vuitton.
Fancy Feet
Seen as a way of finishing looks on a high note or becoming the main focus of the whole outfit, highly-embellished shoes highlighted creative exuberance and craftsmanship via colors and intricate techniques. Cue to the all-beaded boots and pumps paraded at Loewe – hands down one of the highlights of the season – the metallic mules that popped up at the utterly chic Dries Van Noten show and the eccentric sequined styles displayed at Germanier, to name a few.
