Summer Footwear Trends Segment On Telemundo NY — Watch The Clip And Get The Scoop On All The Shoes Featured!

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of stopping by Telemundo 47’s “Primera Edición” to chat about every woman’s best friend — shoes! — and discuss some of the predominant trends this summer season. You can view the segment in its totality above (or click here) and ogle at all the amazing shoes on display. But, if you don’t speak Spanish and want to know more about the trends and styles featured or you do speak Spanish but you’re curious about where exactly you can snatch up these shoes, read on as I’ll be breaking it all down here!

First, let’s break the footwear down per trend category.

MODERNIZED GLADIATOR SANDALS

Today’s gladiator sandals are considerably edgier than the strappy styles of yore. We’re seeing sandals with rows of buckled straps that reach up to the knee or even higher, to the thigh area — some with chunky heels or sky-high stiletto heels — as well as unusual color combinations, shiny metallic styles, and sophisticated evening versions with daintier details and tons of sex appeal. Here are the two styles we focused on in the segment:

Chinese Laundry Clarity Sandals, $99.95 at ChineseLaundry.com

With a chunky wooden heel and buckled straps in a yellow gold hue, these sandals make quite a statement — especially since they reach up to below the knee, giving them a bit of a dominatrix-y edge.

Vince Camuto Salato Sandals, $250 at VinceCamuto.com

These stunning Vince Camuto sandals are a delicate and elegant take on the classic gladiator sandal, featuring thin buckled straps with gold-toned studs, an open heel, and two ankle-hugging straps. Odalys Molina, the host of the segment, mentioned that these reminded her of Kim Kardashian!

COLOR-BLOCKED SHOES

The segmentation of  colors and their subsequent juxtaposition has been a popular design tactic for years now, meant to create an interesting visual tension. And this summer, the color-blocking trend continues to enjoy its moment in the limelight, with a particular emphasis on black-and-white combinations. Here are the two styles shown:

Carolinna Espinosa Vancouver Leather Pumps, $255 at Shop.Nordstrom.com

This is a very clear-cut example of black and white being used to create contrast. The front of this pointy-toe pump is a crisp white, as is the 4 1/2″-tall heel,  but the harness-like, overlapping straps along the vamp and surrounding the ankle are all in an ebony-colored leather with snakeskin embossing.

Carolinna Espinosa Allentown Sandals, $225 at Shop.Nordstrom.com

These cheeky sandals feature a classic houndstooth print, but the unexpected yellow heel adds a sense of excitement to the shoe.

PUNCHY PERFORATIONS

For a dose of holey hotness, check out the plethora of perforated sandals, pumps, and wedges this season, which have uppers featuring everything from perfectly symmetrical round perforations to cage-like grids, triangular cut-outs, and eyelet-inspired floral designs. Here are two lovely examples of this trend:

JustFab Adnan Wedges, $49 at JustFab.com

This audacious wedge sandal features a 5″-tall wedge and a 2″-tall platform, both in a faux cork material. The aqua uppers, meanwhile, boast triangular and square cut-outs that look like something you’d encounter on a paper-cutting craft project.

Vince Camuto Fontanela Heels, $139 at VinceCamuto.com

A hybrid between a high-heeled sandal and an open-toed bootie, these Vince Camuto heels feature a caged design but with rounded arches creating the desired pattern as opposed to the traditional vertical and horizontal lines affiliated with fenced motifs. The snakeskin-embossed taupe leather, meanwhile, feels sophisticated and posh.

ESPADRILLE FLATS

Lauren Bacall sported them in 1948’s Key Largo. Audrey Hepburn famously kicked off her high society heels and frolicked in a pair of comfy espadrilles in Roman Holiday. But perhaps no one popularized flat espadrilles quite like Grace Kelly, who was snapped wearing these casual shoes, while filming To Catch A Thief in the French Riviera. Nowadays, espadrilles can exude the same effortless charm, but they’re available in a wide array of styles — not just with solid canvas uppers and jute soles. This summer, flat espadrilles are everywhere — some boasting animal prints and floral motifs, others bearing nautical stripes or geometric motifs, some featuring supple suede or leather uppers, and some even embellished with studs and jewels. Here are two of my favorites:

We Are Handsome x Soludos Paradise Espadrilles, $65 at WeAreHandsome.com

Part of a limited edition collaboration between We Are Handsome, which specializes in statement-making swimwear with photorealistic prints of wild animals and exotic landscapes, and footwear brand Soludos, these espadrilles feature a palm tree print that feels perfectly apropos for the season of beach outings and seaside adventures.

Vince Camuto Dalmi Espadrilles, $89 at VinceCamuto.com

Made of a remarkably soft suede with plenty of shimmer, these Vince Camuto espadrilles feature a traditional jute sole and a crocheted toe detail, but what makes them remarkable is the laser-cut, medallion-like designs found on their front panel.

TRIBAL MOTIFS

Bohemian style reigns supreme this summer and tribal accents play a huge role within that free-spirited fashion fray. This, of course, is manifested in not only clothing but also in footwear, with sandals, heels, and flats boasting geometric patterns, woven details, and printed symbols inspired by ancient Aztec, Mayan, Navajo, and Cherokee tribes.  The following two shoes speak to this tribal trend in footwear:

Chinese Laundry La Paz Sandals, $79.95 at ChineseLaundry.com

The triangular motifs along the front band instantly add a tribal flair to these ankle strap sandals, as does the intricately woven heel counter.

Chinese Laundry Easy Does It D’Orsay Ballet Flat, $59.98 at ChineseLaundry.com

If you prefer flats to heels, try these monochromatic shoes from Chinese Laundry, fashioned in a D’Orsay style so as to better reveal the sides of the foot. Made of canvas, these ballet flats feature horizontal patterns consisting of maze-like squares, mysterious triangular symbols, solid cube shapes, and gridded lines.

NEON HUES

Once the sunshine starts beaming brighter and the days get longer and steamier, neon hues begin to surface as readily as flip-flops, halter tops, and flouncy skirts. Below, check out some of the most striking, fluorescent footwear styles this season.

Paper Fox by ShoeDazzle Camele sandals, $59.95 at ShoeDazzle.com

ShoeDazzle has been killing it lately! Case in point: these stunning platform sandals feature futuristic side panels in a Matrix-worthy green shade, each with a unique pebbled treatment that lends the shoes a touch-me-if-you-dare textural appeal. Architectural lines and an audacious 5″-tall heel make these go boom like dynamite!

JustFab Teralyn Sandals, $49. Available at JustFab.com

A reinvented take on the classic T-strap silhouette, these pointy-toed pumps feature a neon pink stiletto heel and front platform, as well as pink piping adding contrast to the borders of the taupe snakeskin-embossed center strap and wider ankle strap.

Paper Fox by ShoeDazzle Clique Pumps, $54.95 at ShoeDazzle.com

A nod to ’80s style, these club-worthy pumps feature a geometric print consisting of Op Art-inspired lines in neon green and black.

FLORAL AND TROPICAL PRINTS

It’s common to see dainty floral prints along the start of the spring season but, this year, our fascination with flora is spilling over into our summer style cravings. Blossoms, then, pepper the uppers of high-top kicks, performance-minded sneakers, casual slip-on shoes, coquettish sandals, and sharp pumps alike — some of these floral prints demure and innocent, and others more flamboyant, nodding to tropical destinations and lush rainforest-worthy foliage. Here’s a nice array of floral-emblazoned footwear styles:

PUMA Suede Classic Tropicalia Sneakers, $75 at Shop.PUMA.com

These suede sneakers, first introduced in 1968, have now been reinvented via the addition of curious prints and color combinations. The latest iteration of this classic style features carnation pink, screen-printed graphics of the foliage found in Brazi’s rainforests over supple black suede.

Shoe Cult by Nasty Gal Nicole Pumps, $78 at NastyGal.com

These fashion-forward pumps manage to incorporate a girly floral print and still feature an “I’m a boss” vibe. The synthetic uppers resemble black denim for a streetwise twist, the D’Orsay silhouette incorporates a low-cut vamp, rounded edges along the heel counter, and open sides that make the style all the more alluring — worthy of a shot-caller, fashionista, and temptress alike.

TOMS White Birds of Paradise Classics, $54 at TOMS.com

Are you a sucker for TOMS comfortable slip-on shoes? Then you’ll be enchanted by this new vegan style, which features a tropical floral print that celebrates the magic of the birds of paradise flower (coincidentally, one of my favorite blossoms ever).

Converse Chuck Taylor Denim Floral sneakers, $65 at Converse.com

The classic high-top sneaker style we all know and love gets a playful makeover with tiny rosettes peppered above all-American blue denim uppers.

FLATFORM SANDALS

Though hotly debated among consumers and fashion editors alike, flatform sandals are ubiquitous this summer, recalling the era when Birkenstocks and Teva sandals were best-selling styles. Like their earlier counterparts, these sandals have an inherently athletic vibe and they prioritize comfort via molded footbeds and cushioned soles. And they can often be bulky, wide, and hulking. That said, the new flatform sandal styles also incorporate plenty of fashion-forward details: snakeskin-embossed uppers, unexpected buckles, color-blocked soles, woven soles, and more. Below, check out two different takes on the trend:

Shoe Cult by Nasty Gal Frequency Flatforms, $58 at NastyGal.com

Meant for on-the-go city gals, the Frequency Flatforms feature snakeskin-textured faux leather uppers, white buckles, and a 1″ platform with a treaded sole.

Avon Geometric Patterned Wedges, $29.95 at Shop.Avon.com

These ultra affordable sandals feature 2″-tall wedges with a straw-like texture woven to create diagonal zigzag stripes in alternating black and white shades. But unlike most wedge heels, which essentially look like right triangles, these appear to be almost flat, so that the height differential between the front of the platform and the back is next to non-existent.

PEARL EMBELLISHMENTS

Think of pearls as being the go-to accessories of debutantes, frequent country club patrons, and shi-shi heiresses? Well, no longer! Pearls are now getting a bit of a rock ‘n’ roll makeover — whether it’s in the form of front-back earrings or as embellishments on baseball caps, chunky oxidized metal cuffs, and even shoes.

Dollhouse Mantle Sandal, $39.95 at DSW.com

The Dollhouse Mantle sandals epitomize the newly youthful personality allotted to pearls. These nude-colored sandals feature 1 4 1/2″-tall heel and a wide ankle strap embellished with two strands of faux pearls, each white spherical gem, divided by clear rhinestones.