Hybridisation

[On cover: Vivienne Westwood’s catwalk F/W 17-18]

State-of-the-art men’s footwear blends different worlds and mind-sets to reinvent traditional styles. So, we have sneakers modelling themselves on Oxford shoes, gym shoes – which are usually forward-looking – greedily eyeing up the vintage look, walking boots taking on a man-about-town air, with precious materials, lace-ups becoming aggressive in their use of colour and contrasting bottoms, loafers and moccasins featuring a “rock grip” sole, and slippers breaking out of the house to lay claim to comfort on every occasion.

Research and aesthetics constantly weave together to offer a creative twist, giving the styles more pointed and often futuristic shapes. The occasions for using accessories are changing too: more stylish sneakers match with all kinds of wear, including with the more relaxed “new formal” look. And as for lace-ups, they’re dissociating themselves from the standardisation that marked the past.