Footwear Plus Shoesday Tuesdays: Scene Stealers

With designers pouring more attention and creativity into their footwear collections, apparel had to share the catwalk—and spotlight—at New York’s Fashion Week. —Angela Velasquez

The Gaga Effect
Designers discover their inner Lady Gaga with shoes styles that test gravity’s limits. Glitz, snake and leather tooling are footwear mainstays, but coupled with off-kilter wedges, blasts of industrial textures and museum-quality artistry, these shoes also defy imagination.

Clockwise from Left: Rodarte; Alice & Olivia; Christian Siriano.

Partly Cloudy
If chunky wooden soles aren’t enough, unexpected pops of gray help ground fashion’s latest boho revival. Mixed with warm citrus hues, these shoes are at home on concrete as they are on sand.

Clockwise from Right: Toni Francesc; Vena Cava; Band of Outsiders.

Less Is More
Shoes with clean lines and smooth leathers mimic the ’90s minimal aesthetic. Today, designers prove stark doesn’t mean boring, as sleek styles make a statement with sexy lace-up closures, architectural heels and hints of natural materials.

Clockwise from Left: Alexander Wang; Rachel Comey; Derek Lam.

Progress Report
The traditional oxford evolves beyond its scholarly reputation to embrace its flirty potential. Designers revamp the classic silhouette with glossy colors, bold prints and stiletto heels.

Clockwise from Right: Rag & Bone; Marc by Marc Jacobs; Chris Benz.