Lace up sandals are making a very strong appearance this season and I’m loving it! Lace ups look great on the feet and on the legs. Below, fashion icon Kendall Jenner is wearing a striking “gladiator” version of the lace up sandal, also called the “cage” sandal.
Spanish shoe makers are experts at making lace up sandals and shoes. Espadrilles, a Spanish specialty, often feature intricate lacing.
Spanish climate also helps: dry summer heat calls for really scant, airy shoes that have a secure hold on your foot. I once had beach sandals from Camper, in black and orange, that were held together by stretchy criss-cross (also called ghillie) lacing. Unfortunately, I do not have any photos of them. They were so gorgeous that women here in Toronto used to stop me on the street to ask where I got them. (It was Zappos).
Toutöu is a shoe brand targeting young women. Born in 2014, the company was started by experienced shoe designers from the Spanish shoe making hub of Elda, Alicante.
I am totally taken with the “Gaga” sandal. Visually it reminds me of old lace up Camper, but in a more sophisticated leather version. I think that Toutöu is going places!
These lace ups by Camper are cute, but a bit too cute – my lace up beach sandals were way cooler.
The “Smoky Mekong” features two interlacing patterns: that of the leather and the laces themselves. Together they make for a luxuriously ornate sandal.
I really like this Roman-inspired metallic lace-up sandal with copper undertones. Instead of trying to make the sandal look as historically “authentic” as possible, the designers of a young brand with the funny name of “Isteria“, opted for a modern twist on an age-old classic. The sandal is simple, functional, with what looks like a laser-cut leather upper. In general, Spanish shoe making companies are extremely good at finding a happy middle ground between artisan craftsmanship and the latest technological advances. They value the past, but they look forward.
The newly created brand Luxpein paid tribute to the lace up trend by creating this elegant high heel lace up sandal. A similar version is also available in textured metallic leather.
Neon Boots took the “gladiator” style very seriously. They created wide flashy laces that can be securely fastened on the top. The sandal itself is basically a jute-soled, leather lined espadrille with shimmery fabric upper.
I like this minimalist take on the lace-up sandal. The parallel strips of metallic effect leather are held together by black grosgrain ribbon. Magro Cardona is new to me, but I am watching them with a lot of interest. I am sure that I’ll be writing about them again soon.
“Villa” is a very simple, comfortable, yet trendy sandal. It is also very modest in price.
In this Ángel Alarcón slingback, the lace up effect is used to embellish an evening stiletto sandal.
So, which of the sandals is your favorite?
