Mr Porter Video Manual - Lanvin Sneakers

via mrporter

Lucas Ossendrijver's views on sneakers

Lanvin f/w 11 Backstage

via selectism

Pretty backstage images of the Lanvin show. There were some cool shoes featured which I'm sure to find more detailed views of at a later date.

Lanvin f/w 10 Wool & Leather High-Tops

via stylesalvage

Love wool sneakers. Obsessed with this texture.

Lanvin Leather and Jersey Boot

via selectism

There are so many strange elements in these shoes (colours, combination of materials, multiple pull tabs, trim on the heel cap, etc) but what really confused me was the uneven topline on the leather shoe part. Why is it all wobbly? I think I really like them apart from that one odd detail.

Lanvin f/w 10

via net-a-porter & iwantigot

I liked the feel of Lanvin f/w 10 - dark and dramatic with a strong exotic edge. This was reflected well in the shoes which showed some interesting combinations of rounded toes and super fine heels.

Mens Sling-Backs

via luisaviaroma, gq.com & theshoebuff

Lanvin (top) and Dries Van Noten (bottom) both showed mens sling-backs in their s/s 10 shows. I know most people will hate these but most people can just shut the hell up. I think I like them because I kinda like sandals but I kinda hate toes. Happy medium.

Neoprene

Neoprene, which was originally called duprene, was the first mass-produced general-purpose synthetic rubber. Commonly used for many things including wetsuits and laptop cases, here are some examples of its application in shoes. I love how different materials can dictate design, and afford new possibilities, resulting in quite original creations. More on Neoprene at Wikipedia.

top to bottom:
Raf Simons neoprene & leather sneaker via upscalehype
Raf Simons f/w 09 collection showed a strong use of neoprene via gq.com
3 heels by Pierre Hardy via emiblake & iwantigot
Lanvin sneaker via slamxhype
Viktor & Rolf neoprene boot via 00o00
Nike Air Rift White via synamatiq
Nike Air Carnivore Retro "Nearly 17 years ago, it was one of the first silhouettes to use the neoprene boot and a series of straps to create a secure fit around the foot" via burnrubberdetroit

Lanvin Leather & Rope Sandals

via coutequecoute

I liked these because shoes are rarely purposefully messy-looking.

Denim

I did a search on denim shoes after having the thought that they are disgusting and I have never seen any that I like. I wasn't blown away but I did manage to find some fairly decent examples. Lanvin has had a fair crack at this, probably with the most success. The closest to a really beautiful pair was the Lanvin oxfords (top.) Something that I discovered is that in order for them to not look completely nasty, the denim should be dark and contrasted with another material. This allows the denim to become more of a texture and less out-of-place. The sneakers also use this idea quite effectively but probably should not be worn with blue jeans.
Then I found this picture of denim sneakers for dogs (bottom) and thought that maybe in-fact all denim shoes should burn in hell. The jury is still out.

top to bottom:
Lanvin s/s 09 Mens via selectism
Lanvin x Acne Jeans Sneakers via denim&sole
Nike f/w 09 Sneakers via simplysneakers
High-Top Dog Sneakers via mypetswardrobe

Creepers

Creepers have been lurking, slinking and sneaking their way back onto catwalks and I like it. As with most styles of shoe they have a little history, so here is what our clever pal Wikipedia had to say about the soleful style:

They found their beginnings in the years following the WWII: Soldiers based in the deserts in North Africa wore suede boots with hardwearing crepe soles because of the climate and environment. Having left the army, many of these ex-soldiers found their way to the disreputable nightspots of London (Kings Cross and Soho) wearing the same crepe soled shoes. Those became known as Brothel Creepers.

In the late 1950s, these shoes were taken up by the Teddy Boys along with drainpipe trousers, draped jackets, bolo ties, quiff and pompadour haircuts, and velvet or electric blue clothes. The brothel creeper was a hit throughout 50s and 60s.

They were invented in 1949 by George Cox and marketed under the Hamilton name, based on George Cox Jr.'s middle name.

The brothel creeper regained popularity in the early 70s when Malcolm McLaren sold them from his Let it Rock shop in London's Kings Road. Teddy Boys were the obvious customer, but the brothel creeper still proved to be popular among regular customers when McLaren and his partner Vivienne Westwood changed the shop to more rocker-oriented fashion.

The shoe has since been adopted by subcultures such as ska, punk, new wavers, psychobilly, greasers and goth, Japanese Visual Kei, and was noted as the footwear of choice of Bananarama (their preference for the brothel creeper over prettier, girly footwear became emblematic of their tomboyish and rebellious nature).

All that and they make you tall.

top to bottom:
Chloë Sevigny for Opening Ceremony via openingceremony.us
Marc Jacobs f/w 09 via marcjacobs.com
Lanvin f/w 08 via gq.com
Jil Sander f/w 09 via shoelust

P.S. When I die I want to be buried in that Marc Jacobs outfit.