The Best Shoes from the Autumn/Winter 2013 Runways

Looking to update your footwear collection for fall? Take a look at our collection of the best shoes from the fall 2013 runways.

During the autumn/winter 2013 catwalk shows most of the shoes stomped by in a flash, leaving us without a chance to see them in all their gilded glory. Fortunately, we’ve gathered together a curated collection of the best footwear shown on the runways that season – because there’s no better way to spend a cold, drizzly fall evening than perusing the most bejewelled, most elegant and most lust-worthy catwalk shoes.

Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen
Alexander McQueen

Sarah Burton’s tiny collection for Alexander McQueen managed to squeeze an infinite amount of luxurious detail into just ten catwalk looks. Eighteenth-century style regal court shoes were encrusted with pearls, feathers and crystals and embellished with metal toe caps. Inspired by the high church’s ecclesiastical wardrobe – think nuns, popes and angels – and the European nobility of the Elizabethan era, Burton’s outlandish and elaborate shoes would have felt at home on the feet of the Virgin Queen. Whilst these pieces are almost certainly too decadent for most of us, presented with the same level of finish and attention to detail as a couture collection, we can imagine a very lucky girl wearing a pair of these pearl-encrusted shoes to a decadent ball.

Giambattista Valli

Giambattista Valli
Giambattista Valli

Giambattista Valli’s collection offered up two distinctly different shoe types: the first, a flat furry loafer; the second, a sheer peep-toe bootie. The loafers often dressed down cocktail dresses and formal brocade skirt suits, while the booties dressed up oversized coats and sporty bomber jackets. The pony-skin loafers seemed a more elegant, grown-up alternative to the Vans slip-on beloved by skaters, appearing in delicate pink, black and beige versions. The booties, on the other hand, had cut-outs at the toe and heel, a spindly stiletto heel, and a mesh upper to give the appearance of a truly minimal shoe.

Dolce & Gabbana

Dolce & Gabbana
Dolce & Gabbana

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana’s fall 2013 collection was inspired the Cathedral of Monreale and the exquisite golden mosaics and murals of the designers’ rich Italian heritage. These decadent statement shoes, encrusted with jewels and adorned with flowers, offered a more romanticized – and more wearable – view of the Catholic church than Sarah Burton’s. We can see ourselves wearing the adorable velvet ankle-buckled shoes with jewel-encrusted block mid-heel as a comfortable evening shoe, while the stunning bird cage wedge garlanded with pretty pink flowers would perhaps best be saved for summer garden parties.

Best of the Rest: Boots

Boots: Saint Laurent & Céline
Boots: Saint Laurent & Céline

Saint Laurent’s strapped, buckled, studded and spiked flat black ankle boots are the perfect way to toughen up your style this fall; nod towards the season’s prevalent punk trend by teaming a pair with your favorite little black dress. For those with a more minimalist style, Céline’s thigh-high block-heeled boots are the perfect option. These slim-fitting boots, in a variety of taupe, cherry red, slate grey and olive shades, will create the illusion of infinite legs.

Best of the Rest: Heels

Heels: Christian Dior & Kate Spade
Heels: Christian Dior & Kate Spade

The architectural wedge and graphic monochrome coloring on these Christian Dior heels made for a typically minimalist spin on a classic shoe shape by Raf Simons; we love how he’s taking the famous fashion house towards a new and updated, more modern elegance. As usual there were plenty of fun, girly heels to be spotted at Kate Spade New York’s presentation, but our favorites were these playful heels with a glittery collar and bow tie ankle strap.

Best of the Rest: Flats

Flats: Marni & Alberta Ferretti
Flats: Marni & Alberta Ferretti

Flat shoes were the unexpected hit on the fall runways, with countless designers opting for comfort over the usually ubiquitous skyscraper heels. We loved Marni’s metallic two-toned flats, just perfect for skipping over puddles during a drizzly day in the city. Alberta Ferretti’s beautiful embroidered and embellished flats, however, make for a chic eveningwear alternative.

Cover photo: lucidnewyork.com

About the author

Natasha Cornall

Natasha Cornall is the editor of Drawdrobe. She's a keen baker and a writer specializing in fashion and beauty.

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