Introduction
Part one of our guide to men’s SS13 footwear trends focussed on the high summer silhouettes that were being pushed by designers during the global fashion week previews. Flip-flops, espadrilles and sandals are classic height of summer styles that offer obvious benefits in extreme heat and at beach locations, making them a worthwhile addition to any holiday wardrobe.
Today, we continue our breakdown of the key footwear trends for the season by switching our attention to more everyday options. The type of shoes that are versatile enough to be paired with everything from jeans and chinos to shorts and trousers, and will ground the majority of your go-to summer looks.
1. Boat/Deck Shoes
Nautical is a perennial spring/summer ‘trend’ and 2013 is no exception, with nautical influences and Breton stripes proving extremely popular with both designers and the high street alike. Of course, with nautical influences rife within the industry, it comes as no surprise to see the boat shoe (also known as deck shoe or topsider) trending.
Traditionally constructed with a canvas or leather upper, boat shoes feature rubber soles with a siping pattern cut into them, which enhances grip on a wet boat deck. Other defining features include a lace-up fastening and lace detailing threaded around the side of the shoe.
Over the past few years boat shoes have become a hugely popular style for men – especially during summer, where they are often worn without socks – to the point where the market became so saturated that it led to many style-conscious men looking for a more unique alternative.
However, they remain a key silhouette for SS13, and this year there are a few new variations to look out for that will help separate your pair from the crowd.
Lookbook Inspiration
SS13 Designer Advocates
Louis Vuitton were one of the major design houses to include boat shoes in their runway showcase for SS13, featuring all-white, chunky styles that were reminiscent of a low cut leather sneaker. A solid option for those that want something similar to a trainer yet inherently smarter, this style of boat shoe could easily be substituted into the majority of your current casual looks.
The July issue of Esquire also included an article on premium boat shoes, with the magazine showcasing designs by Lanvin, which featured “block-colour suede” and a “grippy, Lego-esque sole”, and Moncler, with their vivid red sole and chunky laces:
Louis Vuitton Deck Shoes (top) and Esquire Magazine July 2013 Feature (bottom)
SS13 Key Styles
Key styles this year include all-white versions à la Louis Vuitton, block-coloured styles (often with contrast soles), as seen in Esquire‘s feature, and a subtle move away from the classic tri-colour styles to subtler two-tone (often tonal) variants.
Suede versions are also worth consideration as they will instantly differentiate from traditional canvas/leather styles whilst simultaneously adding a tactile element to your look:
- Sperry Topsider Twill Boat Shoes
- Moncler Guadeloupe Boat Shoes 147961
- Sperry Mens Boat Lite 2-eye Boat Shoes – Light Coffee
- Quoddy Suede And Leather Boat Shoes
- Timberland Taupe And Beige Nubuck Boat Shoes
- Saint Laurent Studded Deck Shoe
- Sperry Topsider Suede Boat Shoes
- Rago
- Sperry Mens Ao- 2-eye-canvas Shoe – Washed Red
- Sperry Top-sider Full Grain Leather Boat Shoes
- Sorrento Kg Kurt Geiger
- A.p.c. Leather Boat Shoes
2. Loafers
The loafer is another silhouette making waves this season. Historically associated with Ivy Leaguers and preppy, all-American-inspired looks, the loafer, along with its many variants, has become a popular choice of footwear for the modern gent.
The growing popularity of the loafer stems from the fact that it is a stylish and refined silhouette that is extremely easy to wear. Able to be dressed up for a day at the office just as easily as it can be worn sockless at the weekend, this versatility is only matched by its practicality: lightweight, low cut and comfortable, it makes for the perfect spring/summer shoe and can easily transcend through autumn/winter when worn with socks.
Lookbook Inspiration
SS13 Designer Advocates
Turning to the designer collections for SS13, it was the 60th anniversary of the infamous
Ermenegildo Zegna also included classic tan/black tasselled loafers, along with more contemporary geometric print styles and contrast-coloured versions featuring traditional fringing on the front of the shoe.
Meanwhile, Hermes and Emporio Armani both displayed a slightly different take on the loafer. Hermes featured loafers in luxurious, ultra-soft tan/black leather? with the cut making the shoes appear almost slipper-like.
Emporio Armani went in another direction, featuring tasselled loafers with chunky tech soles in metallic tones for a hardy, almost industrial look. Armani also used textured leather to create an interesting visual effect:
Men’s Loafers SS13 (Top to Bottom):
SS13 Key Styles
This season the key loafer styles all feature detailing of some form – whether tassels, fringing or
- Topman Hudson Grey Fabric Print Loafers
- Jeffery West Snake Loafers
- Carmina Shoemaker Forest Loafers 152846
- Topman House Of Hounds Jones Hi Shine Loafers
- Asos Tassel Loafers Made In England
- Grenson Marcel Suede Tassel Loafers
- Asos Loafers With Snaffle
- Gucci Horsebit Leather Loafers
- Reiss Stasko Tassel Loafers Tobacco
- Trickers Chelsea Tassel Loafers
- Trickers Beefroll Suede Loafers
- Asos Tassel Loafers In Suede
3. Sports Shoes
Sports shoes, hi-tops and trainers were, quite surprisingly, extremely popular during the various fashion weeks for SS13. Normally, high fashion designers tend to steer clear of the trainer in favour of more dramatic and stylish (rather than functional) footwear choices? but SS13 seemed to be an exception to the rule.
Simon Chilvers, Assistant Fashion Editor at The Guardian, writes:
“Snazzy trainers have been bubbling in fashion circles for a while now… This season, Raf Simons’ multi-hued catwalk trainers, matched with baggy suit trousers, are set to be a major hit, while next autumn, Lanvin’s are set to have a similar buzz.”
This suggests that the resurgence of the sports shoe and trainer is likely to continue well into autumn/winter 2013.
Lookbook Inspiration
SS13 Designer Advocates
Raf Simons was indeed one designer who favoured this type of footwear for SS13, with the designer pairing colourful sports shoes with suiting and tailoring? albeit baggy tailoring for a more casual take on the suit.
Similarly, the collection by Salvatore Ferragamo featured extremely chunky trainers in bright pastel and all-white shades. Adopting a similar approach to the trend were Versace, which displayed hi-tops in bright colours with cut-outs on the uppers, creating a type of hi-top/sandal hybrid.
The June issue of Esquire magazine also featured an article entitled ‘Fashion’s New Footprints’, dedicated to the “high fashion trainer”. The publication did state that it is admittedly sceptical of sports shoes by luxury brands:
“Normally Esquire would never advocate that strange and uncomfortable hybrid, the fashion trainer. Trainers should be made by sports apparel companies (you may have heard of
Nonetheless, the article goes on to showcase individual trainers by Balenciaga, Valentino and Salvatore Ferragamo as examples of high fashion design houses which have got the notion of the ‘fashion trainer’ right. In summary: a surprising, yet welcome addition to the footwear trends for SS13, adding another aspect of variation.
Pushing the ‘fashion trainer’ for SS13 (Top to Bottom): Raf Simons, Salvatore Ferragamo & Versace
SS13 Key Styles
Based on the above, the key style for SS13 (and AW13) looks set to be the ‘fashion trainer’. Created by high fashion labels, rather than the major sportswear brands such as
For those that are not fans of, or don’t have the disposable income to purchase, high fashion trainers, tri-colour styles and running trainers are also trending within the industry.
- Balenciaga Sporty Retro Trainers 146370
- Balenciaga Mens Contrast Panel Trainers
- Raf Simons Mens Low Space Sneakers
- Valentino Camouflage-print Leather And Suede Sneakers
- Missoni Converse Auckland Racer Sneakers
- Pierre Hardy Panelled Neoprene Sneakers
- Pierre Hardy Suede High-top Trainers 145872
- Jimmy Choo Albion Anaconda Leather High Top Sneakers
- Ann Demeulemeester Leather High Top Sneakers
- Lanvin Irredescent Hi-tops
- Nike Volt Flyknit Racer Sneakers
- Nike free Run+ 2
Conclusion
So there we have it, the six most-likely footwear trends for SS13. From smart to casual and somewhere in between, there is something for every personal style and taste this year.
As always, we would like to hear your thoughts and opinions on summer footwear. Are you a fan of deck shoes and the nautical aesthetic as a whole? Or do you prefer smarter and more refined loafers? Perhaps you are pleased to hear that the sports shoe is set to become the go-to style for 2013? Or do you think that trainers belong only in the gym?
Make sure you leave your comments below…
