Fashion’s ever-changing nature is directly reflected in our footwear choices, where each specific design element is capable of representing your own sense of personal style and expression. This largely extends into the custom shoe market, where modern fashion acts as a source of inspiration for our footwear choices too!
A Catalyst for Inspiration
Modern fashion marks the fastest changing of trends the industry has seen – epitomised by the swift pace of social media and the access to quick production, thus enabling a quicker overhaul of styles due to instantaneous manufacturing processes. As a result, the volume of different shoe designs are endless, whether it be on the runway or in a high street or online store.
When it comes to footwear, both style and functionality have to be considered, therefore heightening the need for perfectly designed shoes that tick all boxes. The influence of modern fashion compliments this largely, where shoes are adapted to suit upcoming trends.
For instance, sneakers have become a largely transferrable shoe to be styled with smart casual attire, rather than being used explicitly for sports – for which they were originally designed for. Sneakers are even worn in certain office environments, representing this notable shift. Therefore, it’s fair to say that modern fashion shapes not just how shoes look and are designed, but also directly influences how they are worn and perceived in different environments.
A Collaboration Between Classic and Contemporary
Whilst referred to as ‘modern’ fashion, contemporary designs often take inspiration from their predecessors, meaning lines between old and new are creatively fused and historical references or undertones are often present.
This is also the case when it comes to footwear, where designers often blend past and present elements to reinvent classic silhouettes or types of shoe with a contemporary take such as a bright colour or the incorporation of a new trend.
Shoes are often reimagined, where, for instance, a classic Oxford shoe can be reinvented with bold colourings or with the addition of suede features, alluding to contemporary sneakers that are often purchased to be the statement piece within an overall look. It is these unexpected colours or elements that blend traditional and modern craftmanship, marking the overall influence of modern fashion and the boundaries it allows designers to explore!
Fashion’s Fast-track
Whilst footwear has always mirrored overall fashion trends, the connection between the two has only grown more in the wake of fast fashion, where footwear trends are forced to keep up with those of clothing trends to fulfil consumer demand.
Not only does modern fashion influence how shoes look in terms of their design elements, it also shapes how and where they are worn. Therefore, it’s fair to say that modern fashion enables consumers to use footwear as an increasing mean of self-expression, as well as challenging the functionality and use cases for different types of shoes.
Loafers or dress shoes are a key example of this, where they were once shoes designed purely to accompany formalwear and smart, refined dress, and they are now available in reimagined formats, incorporating brighter colours, or, for instance, colourful stitching or platform soles, to suit a different purpose.
Fashion and Functionality
When it comes to modern fashion, one of the primary aims for the designer is to meet the consumer’s requirement of style and comfort as a well-balanced combination. This sees the likes of yoga pants and hoodies become transferrable between their original function in the gym as well as becoming a presentable, acceptable wardrobe staple to wear to the mall, for example.
The same principle applies when it comes to shoes – where comfort is arguably even more significant, as nobody wants to go through their day with a pair of uncomfortable shoes! Footwear is now designed with multiple purposes in mind, where we’ll often look for a pair of shoes that can be worn in multiple situations with transitional usability between work, social and casual environments.
Conclusion
Fashion and footwear go hand-in-hand when it comes to keeping up with trends and fulfilling consumer demands. Modern fashion directly influence footwear, both in terms of their visual appearance and design elements and the general use case for shoes. This often sees the fusion of classic shoes be reinvented to suit new trends.