Spring 2013 Trend Report: High Stepping in High-Fashion Sneakers

Though sleigh bells, stuffed stockings and gifts in shiny wrapping may be on the minds of holiday shoppers, in a just few months retail stores will be packed solid with all types of spring footwear. With that thought in mind there was a noticeable continuing trend on runways during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week that made models a little less tall.

High-fashion sneakers have been featured on the fabulous catwalks of Marc Jacobs and Lanvin for the spring 2013 season. High-end designers Giuseppe Zanotti, Givenchy, Prada, Isabel Marant, and Jeremy Scott also have reinvented this normal causal wear item into cutting-edge, high-end footwear with innovative designs with contrasting themes of glamour and edgy fashion. Alexander McQueen also gives a creative interpretation of the perfect high-end footwear with an exclusive collection collaboration with sneaker giant, Puma.

Unlike the plain, standard fare simply used for the gym or the more rugged-edged footwear collections of athletic superstars, for spring 2013 high-fashion designer continue to combine a more glamorous approach with comfort and ease. Expect to see more sneakers with wedged heels, knockout studs, neon bright colors, and lavish high top dipped in metallic shades.

Now that that some of the runway amazons have traded in their Jimmy Choos and Blahnik stilettoes for trendy sneaks, will fashion-conscious consumers follow suit? And don’t be left out in the cold by waiting for the pile-up this spring. Remember, the fashion bird is always ahead of the curve.

All styles can be found in exclusive fashion-forward departments stores like Nordstrom, Barney’s, and Bergdorf Goodman just in time for the holiday season.

–Dana E. Givens