What does the punk princess who takes her broderie anglaise skirt suits with fuchsia streaks in her hair and her crewneck T-shirt in lipstick-red latex wear to finish off her uptown-rebel look? Just ask me! Honestly, I felt like Oscar de la Renta’s Spring ’13 collection was designed with yours truly in mind (hey, in 1987, I couldn’t be stopped from dying streaks of my hair with Manic Panic, but secretively, all I wanted was to dress like this). Thank you, Oscar, for understanding my deepest desires! But I digress: the shoes to top off the high-octane cocktail of flowing silk-organza, puffs of shocking-pink Persian-lamb, ostrich feathers and silk Faille, zesty prints, and Caribbean-upbeat colors, essentially come in three variations. The pump, some with eyelet-style cutouts, to complement the broderie anglaise, others topped with accent bows and 3D pailettes, and others as clean as can be so as to keep eyes front and center. The cutout bootie, simple yet complex – and just a smidge punk – with one sandal-strap across the toes and another high-rising panel of impeccably laser-cut leather. And the Hudson sandal, in thin, classical straps of hot-pink, aquamarine, frosty blue, and basic black satin.
I’m not going to pretend this heart-stopping show was all about the shoe because it wasn’t. Sometimes a fantastic heel is there to fly under the radar (save for that bootie) and not even attempt to compete with the clothes. Really, how could any shoe steal the spotlight from Oscar’s overtly embellished peplums, flower appliqué party frocks, and eye-searing shades of pink? This is a collection that begs, “Wear me!” and you beg right back to have the honor, with shoes to make it possible, plain and simple.