New York Fashion Cool-Aid™: Celestial Chic “Star” Footwear

Stars are suddenly everywhere and I’m not referring to the kind you might have seen at the Tribeca Film Festival. The concept of celestial chic was featured in so many collections for SS2015 that now it’s just a matter of seeing which of these interpretations actually float down to earth and translate from the runway to real life. Ironically, nothing is making me feel more grounded than these “twinkle toes.”

Yves Saint Laurent star sneaker

Brands including Anna Sui, Saint Laurent, and Tommy Hilfiger apparently want you to walk on a cloud with their star embellished footwear. Think glam rock; Ziggy Stardust five-inch platform optional. Stella McCartney has a pair of star embellished creepers with a thick, high sole called Elyse while Saint Laurent’s sandal platforms are almost exact replicas of the glitter rock era.

My Gold Booties

For me, this starry obsession all started just a few days ago with a photo from model Joan Smalls’ Instagram. What immediately caught my eye was her footwear: Tommy Hilfiger booties with multi-colored metallic leather stars and a low stacked and sculptured shiny red heel. Not only “Yes, Please!” but “OMG! Need these!” cried out the side of my brain that continues to delude itself into thinking that I’m a ’70s era rocker chick. With only three phone calls I tracked down the last pair “company-wide” in gold which I also love (Joan’s are black) in my size. Once they arrive from LA-LA Land (as soon as they said they would check the L.A. store I knew that they would be found), I will do the fleet-footed dance of joy and contemplate a worthy outfit.

Joan Smalls in Tommy Hilfiger booties

Judging by Joan’s IG photo, she was feeling both the stars and the stripes, but in a sophisticated manner rather than in a literal patriotic holiday way. Her soft looking and unstructured black and white striped silky blouse is a nice counterpoint but I prefer the crisper version I found in this Sass & Bide tailored jacket ($550). I also admired/purchased this TH Runway vest but would probably resist the urge to team it with the star booties; even my propensity to go all “matchy-matchy” knows some limits. LOL

Anna Sui star boot Spring 2015

Another example of a “star” witness is Anna Sui’s lace-up star bootie made in collaboration with Ballin also from the runway of SS2015. Saint Laurent has both sneakers and the aforementioned platform sandals with star motifs in more typical patriotic/nautical colors.

Jimmy Choo black star-studded Dart boots

Perhaps the Jeffrey Campbell “See Stars” booties that I bought in 2012 (seen on Selena Gomez) may have been my “gateway drug.” I believe they were copied from the Jimmy Choo star-studded Dart booties that were popular then, at $1,525 versus around $270 for the Campbell boots. Giuseppe Zanotti continues to make a popular high heeled sandal with raised gold stars as does Kate Spade in a more sedate pump and ballet flat version. The trend is quite different when you compare the two older JC (HA! Same initials) examples from the current models; the raised silver metal stars lend a moto/biker babe-vibe while this year’s metallic leather versions convey a more rich bohemian hippie aura. That’s my justification for owning more than one pair of star booties and I’m sticking to it. In terms of footwear and a few other closet items, I’ll just keep “reaching for the stars.”

– Laurel Marcus