On this surprisingly sunny Tuesday in March I’ve started to feel rather summery. Over the weekend the official First Day of Spring arrived in the form of the Spring Equinox – the day when there was finally as much daylight as there was night! So from this moment onwards the days will now start getting lighter and brighter and (hopefully) the weather will start getting warmer. With that in mind, and with sunlight pouring in through my window, I’ve been inspired to start looking at summer footwear trends and get an idea of the kind of shoes I’d like to invest in this year.
My favourite summer shoe is the espadrille. It’s a classic ‘holiday’ footwear and slipping on a pair of these sandals always puts me in the mood for strolling along the beach with an ice-cream. You could say that they are a ‘timeless’ fashion item. And you’d be right. In fact, they are so timeless that they’ve been around for hundreds – maybe thousands – of years. Apparently a 4000 year-old pair of espadrilles can be found in the Archaeological Museum of Granada, can you believe it?
A lot has changed over the years in terms of comfort and design, but the essence of the original espadrilles can still be found in footwear being created today. It’s the rope soles that dictate whether an espadrille is truly an espadrille and became popular because the natural material of the soles would mould to the wearer’s feet over time. Even though we now have the much more comfortable options of rubber or leather soles these days, the jute rope is still a feature of every pair of espadrilles in production.
Traditional flat espadrilles with embroidered suede uppers can be found at Paulie
Personally, I love how the design of espadrilles has progressed over the years. We are no longer limited to the flat-shoe option – although this is great for wearing with cropped trousers for holiday sight-seeing – and there are plenty of wedge-heeled options out there. A small wedge shows off that rope effect nicely, while a super-high wedge like this pair from Paulie are ideal for strutting your stuff on summery nights out. When it comes to the design of the upper, anything goes; strappy sandals, patterned fabric, embroidered designs or sparkling beading all look great on a pair of espadrilles.
Just one pair of espadrilles would be all you’d need for the whole summer to see you through holidays, days in the park and strolls along the great British promenade. I’m definitely planning to find the perfect pair this year so I’ll be sure to keep you updated with my new purchases! What do you think of espadrilles? Do you already own a pair of trusty espadrilles that go on holiday with you every year? Or will you be investing in a pair for Summer 2016? Let me know by leaving me a comment below or tweeting me @Cassiefairy.
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