A look ahead from two soothsaying sole sisters
By David O’Neill
Photographs courtesy of Brown Shoe
When Tracy Marklein and Greta Hale were young, they routinely hit the pool, weighted down with tanning aids and 2-inch-thick Vogues and Glamours. They bonded over must-have items and debated the merits of leggings, impossibly wide belts and other fashion questionables.
These days, by contrast, weighing in on such subjects is just another day at the office for the old chums, who now work together as a sort of fashion conscience for Brown Shoe, the footwear colossus behind Carlos by Carlos Santana, Via Spiga, Etienne Aigner and some 20 other brands.
Marklein is director of Brown’s three-year-old Style & Trend division, and Hale is a trend specialist. “We look for what we call ‘big ideas,’ then we work with each brand’s designers to help them interpret those trends,” Hale says.
Are they always right? “So far, we’ve hit our mark,” says Marklein, who called out the black-and-white–pairing rage long before most of us saw it coming.
It’s only fall, but trend-seeking folks everywhere are already scoping out next year’s looks. We asked Marklein and Hale to school you on some options for spring 2007 and the shoes that go with them, and then we went a step further and suggested who’s fit for the look. (Disclaimer: Sometimes trends overlap, and sometimes that’s really the best way.)
The look: Embellishment, naturally. Semiprecious (or precious, if you’ve got ’em) stones, appliqués, hand-applied details, elaborate stitching, crocheted details, eco-friendly fabrics and prints, wood and rope The shoe that fits: stacked-wood heels Who will wear it: the lady who knows every salesperson at Plaza Frontenac by name
The look: Hopeless romantic. Lace, ruffles, ribbons and bows, chiffon, floral embroidery, high-waisted dresses, cutouts, eyelets, feminine prints The shoe that fits: peep-toe pumps Who will wear it: professionals who live, work and play mostly in Clayton
The look: Minimalism. Geometric accents, hefty jewelry with big links, black and white (this time with a bold splash of color), color blocking, contrast stitching The shoe that fits: block heels and square-toed numbers Who will wear it: refined Central West End residents who spend tidy little sums of disposable income on sofas from Centro
The look: Rocked out. Long-sleeve graphic tees, chains, edgy buckles and straps with spiky heels, deep reds and purples, crosses, crowns, skulls, tattoo prints, skinny jeans The shoe that fits: flats and heels with heavy-metal details Who will wear it: area graduate students who log incalculable hours at the Pageant
The look: Miami Vice. Eye-popping colors, gold hardware and long chains, long and flowing lines, short-shorts and miniskirts, sleek silhouettes The shoe that fits: sexy strappy sandals Who will wear it: clubby types decked out in Versace circa 1995—crawling now at Nectar, not Velvet
