Spring Shoe Trends: What Net-a-Porter Is Buying for Next Season
Net-a-Porter is putting comfort first when it comes to its spring 2017 footwear edit, with kitten heels and slides singled out as the styles the company has bought into in most depth.
“We are so used to wearing sneakers; comfort is very important, so we’ll be giving the customer a summer alternative,” said Sarah Rutson, vice president of global buying at Net-a-Porter, during a presentation of the e-tailer’s spring 2017 trends.
She pointed to modern interpretations of the kitten heel by the likes of The Row, Saint Laurent and London-based up-and-comer Dorateymur as brands to watch. The site will also be offering a wide range of slides as the upcoming season’s new staple, including lower-priced items such as Adidas plastic slides and premium ones including embellished versions by Lanvin, Miu Miu and Prada.
Streetwear is another trend the company will be pushing forward, with Vetements being among the brands it has spent the most money on, alongside Gucci, Prada and Chloé.
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“Streetwear came through last season,” said Rutson. “It continues to dominate as an influence, and we will be standing behind it in a big way. It’s really going to drive our business. You just cannot underestimate the power and reach of Vetements.”
Logoed accessories are a key element of the trend, particularly Vetements’ logo sock boots, 500 of which were sold over a period of five days earlier this year.
The influence of the Paris-based design collective also reached beyond its signature boot styles, with the thigh-high satin boots created in collaboration with Manolo Blahnik sparking a satin trend in footwear, according to Rutson.
“If winter was all about velvet, summer will be all about satin,” said the buyer, highlighting satin mules by No. 21 and Miu Miu as the styles the retailer will be pushing for spring.
Bold color is another major trend for the upcoming season; Rutson described it as “a natural evolution of the maximalist trend set by Gucci.” Accessories are an important element of the trend, as color-shy customers are likely to only buy into the trend via footwear or handbags. In addition to Balenciaga’s colorful pumps, Rutson also highlighted that Brazilian footwear designer Alexandre Birman’s color-block sandals are one of the most popular styles in the category.
