Eye-candy for the Spring Shoe Addict

Along with the sunshine and warm breezes of spring come sundresses, lazy days spent outside on the campus lawns, and — of course — the annual mourning of snow-soaked Ugg boots, crusted with parking lot salt and memories of frigid walks to class. While it’s always sad to say goodbye to this cozy Ithacan winter staple, the large void left in the bottom of every girls’ closet can mean only one thing: spring shoe shopping.

From wedges, flatforms, sandals and flats, to boat shoes, sneakers, heels and flip-flops, the range of new spring shoes to adore is never-ending. The explosion of geometric and floral patterns, mixed with tribal or feminine accents provides an incredibly pleasing palate for any shoe-lover.

Wedges and Flatforms

One of the most signature warm-weather trends, the wedge, appears to have been cozying up to a pair of flats this winter, because this spring’s biggest emerging trend is the flatform, a mix of the two. Most flatforms feature a relatively flat, one- to two-inch platform, providing the height and style of a wedge minus the steep — and sometimes uncomfortable — angled heel.

Though this particular shoe does not have the sex appeal of 6-inch platform wedges, it combines the comfort of a flat with the high style of a platform shoe, making it a huge spring hit.

Wedges may be sharing their glory with flatforms this season, but their styles are more eye-catching than ever. Tribal, geometric and floral print wedges are everywhere. With shoes like this, it can be argued that clothes are unnecessary; the pattern and colors are loud enough to overpower any killer ensemble.

Sandals

Whether hitting the beach or the bars for a night out on the town, spring sandals of all heights are looking better than ever. Nude shoes (whether sandals, platforms or pumps) are also rampant this season, making this nude sandal from Bloomingdales a spring hit that will not only boost your style, but the apparent length of your legs.

Flat casual sandals are a staple for any spring or summer wardrobe, especially in a vivid color like teal. Dress down a sundress with these Steve Madden sandals, and then dress it up with a pair of spring’s most popular flashy pumps.

Heels and Booties

This season, pumps are all about one thing: color. Corals, teals, lime greens and bright pinks are everywhere. While sky-high, pencil thin heels will always be in style, a chunkier heel is taking the stage as well. This style is not only incredibly fashionable for this spring, but also offers a more supportive heel, allowing for longer wear and more fun to be had. This block heel is especially prevalent in spring booties, like this pair from Urban Outfitters.

Boots

Two words: cowboy boots. Short, tall, heeled or flat, you can’t go wrong with this warm-weather staple.

Sneakers and Sperry’s

When thinking of spring sneakers, Sandra-Dee’s little white Ked’s always seem to come to mind. However, after the appearance of bright colored high-top sneakers in the Marc by Marc Jacobs spring shoe collection, high-tops have been looking more fresh then ever. They can be worn old-school “baller” style or with a feminine touch like lace, sparkles or bows.

The beachy and very popular alternative to a spring sneaker is the infamous Sperry Top-Sider, a comfortable boat shoe worn by much of the Ithaca College campus (despite our lack of an ocean anywhere near Ithaca, NY). They come in a variety of colors and prints, and plenty of less expensive brands offer comparable shoes for a budgeting college student.

With the overflow of gorgeous new spring shoe trends, there is little reason to be depressed by the death of this year’s Ugg boots. Filling that closet void without breaking the bank, however, is another story.