Sneak Peak Of ZiGi NY Fall 2010 Collection

New York City-based brand ZiGi NY has amassed a devoted fan base with its trend-driven collections, which forecast the most popular footwear styles and motifs for each upcoming season. Best of all ZiGi shoes are an affordable alternative, making them particularly popular among thrifty, frugal style hounds. Recently, I had the chance to preview the Fall/Winter 2010 collection — and, since sharing is caring, I’m offering my sister shoe lovers a glimpse at the predominant themes, silhouettes, and prints in the collection.

Below, you’ll find a few of the highlights, arranged into categories demarcating various subsections within the collection. Take a look!

MILITARY INSPIRED

We may all be rooting for the troops to come back home but, when it comes to footwear,  it seems like we’re far from pacifists, thirsting for camouflage prints in shoes like the slouchy boots pictured above, which features four leather buckle straps and a slightly cone-shaped heel. Another standout is the brown leather pump pictured above, which features camo print piping, zipper trim details along the edges and the toe, and a grooved platform. And the military motifs don’t end with camouflage prints. The traditional combat boot is also given an urban, rock ‘n’ roll twist (as with the style pictured at the very top of the page) through the incorporation of chunky heels, silver grommets, and punk-y studs. I’m a sucker for camo print, so these two shoes had me practically drooling!

ANIMAL PRINTS

The Fall/Winter 2010 collection includes various styles featuring zebra and leopard prints but these safari-flavored styles conjure up reference wildlife in unexpected ways. A hefty brown pump, for example, features a leopard print that’s been weathered to the point of looking worn-in and faded. Or a pair of ankle-length, pointy-toed boots feature a funky zebra print made of a glimmering mesh material. These boots are probably among my favorite pieces in the collection — I just love how the mesh material an the bold side zipper give this silhouette a streetwise rocker edge.

CLOG CRAZE

As you may know, clogs are making a big comeback starting, well, right about now. The trend will apparently continue through the fall season and so ZiGi incorporated a variation of both straight-forward clog styles and clog-inspired silhouettes: from a buckled camo print slip-on style to an ankle booth with construction boot-esque lacing, a dark wooden heel ,and exposed brass stud details attaching the uppers to the soles. Now, I’m not a clog fan by any means but even I can live with a pair of these in my closet!

RIDING AND MOTORCYCLE BOOTS

Equestrian-inspired boots and motorcycle boots never really go out of style, so the key is reinventing them each season. ZiGi did so with the equestrian boot pictured above by contrasting leather colors to create a slightly Western motif and adding a funky leaf charm detail along the shaft. The tall motorcycle boot, meanwhile, is livened up through the bright red stitching along the side zipper.

MENSWEAR INSPIRED SHOES

Gender-bending shoes are all the rage for fall, as women start frolicking in wingtip and oxford-inspired shoes and boots. I love the chestnut-colored ankle boots, with their slightly granny-esque lacing and carefully placed perforations. They make pushing the boundaries between masculine and feminine look like so much fun.

FUR TRIMMED PIECES

Once we start moving closer to the winter months, fur-trimmed shoes and accessories come into play: from short Chooka boots with plaid print details to a chocolate brown wedge boot with faux fur covering the entire boot shaft. But my absolute favorite fur-trimmed piece was the handbag pictured here, which also features oversize, cone-shaped gold tone studs.