As we struggle through the doldrums of winter, those of us in colder climes frequently turn our thoughts to the idea of Getting Away. As you look for footwear that supports these thoughts, I submit for your consideration: stone-embellished sandals and heels.
Nothing evokes “island vacation” or, perhaps, “spa getaway” quite like stone-embellished sandals. Smooth, seemingly water-worn stones adorn the most delicate of straps — is this not the perfect footwear for shopping in St. Thomas or strolling the boardwalk in Maui or enjoying a lovely outdoor lunch overlooking the sea in Koh Samui?
But, this trend is not just for your island vacation. This season’s stone-embellished pumps and strappy stilettos — where the stones are more typically jewel-toned or clear — are the perfect footwear for a fancy evening out, and indeed are elegant and interesting enough to be the star of your outfit.
In the high-heel category, we’re also seeing more “fierce” stone-embellished heels, which are a variation on the theme of stud- and hardware-encrusted heels that was so popular a few months ago.
How to Wear Stone-Embellished Shoes
Stone-embellished sandals are incredibly easy and versatile: Wear them with shorts, short skirts, and flowy little dresses and you will look very, very pretty. In general these are neutral pieces, so they go with practically everything, and will set off well-tanned legs and feet beautifully.- For stone-embellished heels, the fashion pairing is a little trickier. You would almost never call these shoes “streamlined” or “elegantly simple”. Rather, they are intricate, with a bit of flash and sparkle, texture and heft.
These qualities make for stand-out shoes and, as such, you need to be careful with how you pair them. For the evening shoes, dresses work best, short is better than long. You can pair them with pants that drape as well, especially if the stone embellishment is on the toe (so it’s visible from beneath the pants). The fiercer daytime heels work with dresses or skinny jeans; thin layers will also help to balance out the chunkiness of the shoes.
In the mood to shop? Check out all our stone-embellished footwear; we have over 200 pairs in our collection.
