Put away the big boots and give those stilettos a rest. We're having a flat moment — an ultra-chic flat moment at that. What's better with our cropped skinnies and little dresses than a pair of irresistible flats? Maybe the season's new flatform silhouette? Here, we've found 20 amazing pairs you'll want to add to your closet right. this. minute.
I have been obsessed with this Lanvin dress since Karlie Kloss cruised down the Spring '11 runway looking like she'd just left a sultry Havana dance party. It just hit stores and the two-toned poppy dress has a knit top and washed silk skirt, but with a price tag of $4,900, it's out of my range. What could possibly be as awesome at just a fraction of the price? Behold, these totally amazing Vena Cava for Tenoversix wooden platform heels ($328). They have that same poppy color, juxtaposed against earth-tone details, that make them one sultry shoe.
>> If quirky flatforms, spotted all over Derek Lam, Vena Cava, and Prada's Spring runways, strike your fancy, it's time to step up to the plate. Don't wait until Spring: our fresh picks from Elizabeth and James, Chloe, and Joie can be worked into your Winter wardrobe now — try them with wooly tights and a pair of skinny cords — and then come warmer weather with freshly exfoliated legs and a cute Summer dress.
>> Next season brings bags from Vena Cava, but for Spring 2011, it was all about the debut of the seriously-platformed wedge sandals Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai did in collaboration with LA boutique TenOverSix. In fact, according to the Vena Cava show notes, the entire collection was designed in Los Angeles, where both Buhai and Mayock are from. The designers cited "the 1980s design movement Memphis, which used bold geometric shapes, bright colors, and a health sense of humor to refute 'good taste' design," as inspiration, showing up in "colorblocking and geometric construction, mixed with a southern California ease and less rigid way of dressing." Hence the flowy skirts, loose halter dresses, and even a pair of overalls snuck in.
>> Vena Cava Launching Handbags for Fall 2011, Designers Hope to Build "Lifestyle Empire" —Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai, who both hail from Los Angeles, have paired up with LA boutique TenOverSix for shoes, which will debut on Thursday during Vena Cava's Spring 2011 presentation; the duo has worked with Via Spiga in the past, starting with the Spring 2009 season. Come the Fall 2011 season, Mayock and Buhai are adding handbags for the first time: "They're going to be mostly structured pieces in the $700 price range. There's nothing else out there at that price point except for Alexander Wang. We're also doing some small leather goods like wallets and evening bag type styles." Eventually, they hope to have a "Vena Cava lifestyle empire," including "flagships, posters, websites and movies." [Viva Vena Cava, WSJ]
