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| Espadrilles look to be summer's sole success after Beyoncé endorsement | Espadrilles look to be summer's sole success after Beyoncé endorsement |
| (4 months later) | |
| The humble espadrille – the rope-soled canvas shoe that originated as the hardy summer footwear of 14th-century peasants in the Spanish Pyrenees – is shaping up to be the surprise style hit of this heatwave. | The humble espadrille – the rope-soled canvas shoe that originated as the hardy summer footwear of 14th-century peasants in the Spanish Pyrenees – is shaping up to be the surprise style hit of this heatwave. |
| At the online boutique my-wardrobe.com, buyer Georgina Coulter reports an 88% growth in espadrilles sales "in the past week, since the warm weather began". | At the online boutique my-wardrobe.com, buyer Georgina Coulter reports an 88% growth in espadrilles sales "in the past week, since the warm weather began". |
| Beyoncé recently posted online a snap of her feet in £355 Tabitha Simmons lace-up espadrilles. Cameron Diaz has been photographed in two different designer pairs (Celine leopardprint, Stella McCartney neon mesh) in the last week alone. | Beyoncé recently posted online a snap of her feet in £355 Tabitha Simmons lace-up espadrilles. Cameron Diaz has been photographed in two different designer pairs (Celine leopardprint, Stella McCartney neon mesh) in the last week alone. |
| Emma Elwick-Bates, style editor of Vogue, wore black leather Chanel espadrilles to work and an industry cocktail party this week. "I do appreciate they sound ridiculous – they seemed particularly so when I bought them on a rainy day in January – but I always love it when something lowly or basic morphs, Cinderella-like, into a fashion staple. | Emma Elwick-Bates, style editor of Vogue, wore black leather Chanel espadrilles to work and an industry cocktail party this week. "I do appreciate they sound ridiculous – they seemed particularly so when I bought them on a rainy day in January – but I always love it when something lowly or basic morphs, Cinderella-like, into a fashion staple. |
| "They are office-appropriate in leather, and brilliant for when the sun shines and you haven't managed to get a pedicure." | "They are office-appropriate in leather, and brilliant for when the sun shines and you haven't managed to get a pedicure." |
| Kate Phelan, creative director of Topshop, has also been spotted in this season's Chanel espadrilles. | Kate Phelan, creative director of Topshop, has also been spotted in this season's Chanel espadrilles. |
| The espadrille has not been this hot since Don Johnson wore a pair – in white, to match his suit – in Miami Vice in the 1980s. This time around, the revival began 18 months ago when Valentino sent black lace espadrilles onto the catwalk to accompany the spring/summer 2012 collection. A summer later, Valentino's idea has spread to other catwalks, and to the high street. | The espadrille has not been this hot since Don Johnson wore a pair – in white, to match his suit – in Miami Vice in the 1980s. This time around, the revival began 18 months ago when Valentino sent black lace espadrilles onto the catwalk to accompany the spring/summer 2012 collection. A summer later, Valentino's idea has spread to other catwalks, and to the high street. |
| Ruth Chapman, joint CEO of MatchesFashion.com, has been wearing the £150 Prism espadrilles stocked by the boutique this season to work this week. "Comfort really resonates with our customer, and they are supremely comfortable. I live in them at the moment: in the city, they work well with trousers and a chic shirt." | Ruth Chapman, joint CEO of MatchesFashion.com, has been wearing the £150 Prism espadrilles stocked by the boutique this season to work this week. "Comfort really resonates with our customer, and they are supremely comfortable. I live in them at the moment: in the city, they work well with trousers and a chic shirt." |
| Chapman points to the fad last year for gentlemen's club-style velvet slippers – replacing ballerina flats – as laying the groundwork for the espadrille trend. "The espadrille is a move on from the slipper. The last is higher, but the fabric is softer." The temperature, says Chapman, is less of a motivator for her business, as "our customer is driven more by fashion than by the weather". | Chapman points to the fad last year for gentlemen's club-style velvet slippers – replacing ballerina flats – as laying the groundwork for the espadrille trend. "The espadrille is a move on from the slipper. The last is higher, but the fabric is softer." The temperature, says Chapman, is less of a motivator for her business, as "our customer is driven more by fashion than by the weather". |
| A backlash against the once-ubiquitous flip flop is also a factor. Five years ago, a worldwide craze for Havaiana flip flops from Brazil raised the cachet of the rubber and plastic sandal to a point where they became a common sight in offices in cities all over the world. Since then, a backlash against near-naked feet as business attire has driven them back to the beach. Chapman says a flip flop feels "too slovenly" for work; Elwick-Bates "doesn't really feel sandals are quite right" for the office. The covered-up espadrille provides an age-old solution. | A backlash against the once-ubiquitous flip flop is also a factor. Five years ago, a worldwide craze for Havaiana flip flops from Brazil raised the cachet of the rubber and plastic sandal to a point where they became a common sight in offices in cities all over the world. Since then, a backlash against near-naked feet as business attire has driven them back to the beach. Chapman says a flip flop feels "too slovenly" for work; Elwick-Bates "doesn't really feel sandals are quite right" for the office. The covered-up espadrille provides an age-old solution. |
| Developments in technology and design are also driving the trend. Christian Louboutin currently has a studded, slingback espadrille retailing for £355, while at the other end of the price scale high street retailer Asos reports "a real shift away from the traditional basic espadrille in canvas as the demand moves towards fashion palettes and fabrics. Chambray, crochet, colour-blocking or tie-dye are all working very well." | Developments in technology and design are also driving the trend. Christian Louboutin currently has a studded, slingback espadrille retailing for £355, while at the other end of the price scale high street retailer Asos reports "a real shift away from the traditional basic espadrille in canvas as the demand moves towards fashion palettes and fabrics. Chambray, crochet, colour-blocking or tie-dye are all working very well." |
| Summer's fashion fads have a tendency to burn out fast. But the espadrille, which has survived most of its 700 years in the fashion wilderness, may be back for a while. At the Dolce & Gabbana showroom, where first viewings of the pre-collections for spring 2014 are now taking place, new styles are already doing brisk business. | Summer's fashion fads have a tendency to burn out fast. But the espadrille, which has survived most of its 700 years in the fashion wilderness, may be back for a while. At the Dolce & Gabbana showroom, where first viewings of the pre-collections for spring 2014 are now taking place, new styles are already doing brisk business. |
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