Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images
READ MORE ABOUT:
Q: I admit it: I’ve got a footwear fetish. But I’m also trying to tread lightly on the planet. Where can I find attractive green kicks (no hippy-dippy shoes, please!) and what are the hottest trends in eco-friendly footwear this season?
Color Rocks the Block This Season
Bright, contrasting colors are hot this summer season, and will work their way right into fall. Vivid hues like red, black, or navy are boldly paired with cool summer whites and modest creams, giving everything from sneaks to stilettos instant sportiness. Pair some of our selects with a blue jean or crisp summer dress and you'll seriously be punching up your wardrobe's flash factor. The best news is yet to come: There are cool shoes at every price, starting at $10.
Top picks for eco-friendly flats and heels:
No Sweats, Ethletic, and Veja shoes specialize in streetwise sweatshop-free shoes. Form & Fauna and Taryn Rose's new collection–Taryn Rose Verde—focus on vegetable-tanned leather and water-based glues; Charmone, Beyond Skin, and No Vacas combine feminine design with vegan principles and environmentally-conscious construction; Simple Shoes and Terra Plana take a look at environmentally-friendly preferred materials and minimal waste. TOMS boasts the 1 for 1 principle: For every shoe you buy, they happily give one away to a child who doesn’t have shoes.
Metallic hues don't lose their luster this season
Last season went bling, bling with a lot of glitz and glimmer in a myriad of metallic hues. This trend will continue to be a strong feature throughout the summer season and into the fall. Polish off any wardrobe with a dazzling shoe, but make sure it's right for the occasion. Go with a muted metallic, like a pewter or bronze, for business attire, but by all means, don't be afraid to razzle-dazzle with a glossy gold or silver for the evening. The following shoes start at $40, but quickly skyrocket to triple digit numbers for fancier, hand-crafted heels.
Top picks for eco-friendly metallic-hue shoes:
Charmone, Beyond Skin, Natalie Portman for Te Casan, Mink Shoes and Kitty Cooper combine feminine design, luxurious fibers, and vegan principles with environmentally-conscious construction; No Vacas and Neuaura also turn up their toes to animal-based products with some shining examples of microfiber alternatives; TOMS dazzles with some sequined slippers that keep on giving—for every pair of shoes you buy, they'll hand deliver a pair to at-risk children in developing nations.
Sneakers get a little freaky
Sneaker freakers unite! Kick off those jute-alicious Jesus sandals for some hot-to-trot modern options. Skate, hike, bike, or otherwise, colors abound this summer and fall. (Don’t be afraid to show your true colors and lace up with some brights too!)
Attention to Details: Recycled materials and fancy recycled rubber tread will ensure that you’ll leave nothing but a cool imprint in your tracks. Sneakers start at $47 and are less than $100.
Top picks for eco-friendly sneakers:
Adidas ups the hemp-factor with some sweet treads; J-41 – a division of Chrysler—joins the ranks as some of the coolest shoes out there. Their outsoles are partially recycled; they come in vegan alternatives; and use eco-friendly packaging. Moo Shoes sells these Ben Sherman sneakers to veganistas; and Simple, Timberland, and Worn Again boast eco-friendly fabrics and better construction.
Enjoy your eco-friendly, kicky kicks! And stay tuned...I'll be bringing you more hip new shoes for 2009!
-
- {}
