The White Stiletto: White Hot or Not?
Just when you thought some trends were banished to the back of your wardrobe forever, to your surprise (and horror) they reappear on the catwalk. In all its unpredictability, fashion has resurrected the white stiletto from the 80’s and given it a firm footing on the red carpet. Without an Essex girl in sight, the red carpet has seen the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Kim Kardashian and many more fashionable ladies sporting the trend. So are they still as tacky as ever? Or can they be redeemed with a great outfit, and an even better pair of legs?
White stilettos have never had the best reputation. Their popularity soared in the 1950’s when they were combined with a swing dress, and red lipstick to complete a housewife’s uniform. Later, they were championed by the younger generation of the 80s, and the mix of miniskirts, bright colours and cheap white plastic has tainted the shoe’s image ever since.
So when they appeared on the Michael Kors catwalk in 2010, and more recently on the catwalk of Celine, and Isabel Marant, some dedicated fashionistas gasped in shock. But in late 2012, Alexandra Shulman, Editor of British Vogue, defended the re-emerging trend in an article on the Daily Mail. Her words of wisdom were: ‘Who cares if they are seen as bad taste by less adventurous types? How dull would it be to have to stick to black court shoes, sensible loafers and ballerina pumps?’
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Despite Shulman’s defence of the shoe, they have divided the Her Campus team’s opinion. One of our fashion writers said she had never been a fan, whilst another admitted that as she is from Essex she would never wear them because of their infamous reputation. Yet others felt that if they looked expensive, classy and were styled in the right way, they could look chic. So if you are going to brave the trend, make sure you follow our golden rules, with a little help from some of our favourite celebrities:
- Don’t buy white platform heels- the combination of white shoes and a platforms is too OTT, and you’ll end up resembling Amy Childs
- Do spend extra on a pair of white courts: These ones from Dune are £79 and are made of real leather so they will look expensive and classy
- Do tan your legs! You don’t want your white shoes to match your pasty legs, so give them some colour with a layer of instant tan. Lisa Snowdon’s legs look bronzed and elongated, and the white shoes compliment the tan perfectly
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- Don’t show too much skin: to keep your outfit on the right side of sexy, show off your legs or your chest, but not both! Rosie Huntington Whiteley has got it spot on with her below-the-knee strapless dress
- Don’t wear them with a bodycon dress- it’s far too revealing and combined with the shoes it will look cheap
- And finally, do wear with trousers! You’ll look seriously sophisticated in a pair of skinny trousers and pointed courts. Jessica Alba looks so chic!
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/07/24/amy-childs-boob-job_n_1697436.html
http://www.idealmagazine.co.uk…
http://www.kurtgeiger.com/women/shoes/courts/cadee3-white-patent-41-nine-west-shoe.html
http://www.johnlewis.com/dune-alvino-court-shoes/p456071?colour=White