22
Oct
As winter turns to spring, and spring turns to summer, it’s time to revise your closet. While many shoes can certainly be worn year-round, some styles emanate a real summer vibe. The top warm-weather shoes you’re certainly thinking about now are espadrilles. You’ve definitely seen them on people’s feet, and you might even have your own pair of these tried-and-true shoes at home.
With so many brands out there that are renowned for their quality like the Verbenas espadrille range, it’s never been easier to find a pair that’s durable, comfortable and stylish at the same time. Keep reading for a detailed breakdown of espadrilles, their history, different styles and what to expect today from modern espadrilles shoes.
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Espadrilles have a recognisable design that used an esparto rope or braided jute sole. Esparto is a fibrous grass used for centuries to braid cords, baskets, and in this case, shoes. Likewise, jute is a vegetable fibre usually used for the production of rope, twine and mats.
Underneath the ropes, the soles of espadrilles are in most cases made of rubber, or heavy foam to provide support and impact-resistance. Many espadrilles feature classic braiding or twisted ropes on the soles, but there are also some more sophisticated designs. For instance, the ones where braided jute is glued onto the sole and then stitched to provide additional strength. The process of weaving, braiding, gluing and stitching is a tough job, usually done by hand.
The colour of soles is mostly the hue of natural woven fibre or in some shades of white. The upper part of espadrilles is usually made of canvas, but you can find them in leather, suede or faux leather in nearly any colour.
The origin of espadrilles is not known for sure, but it’s believed to be over 10,000 years old and without a doubt, they were first used in the countryside. The roots of this rope-soled footwear belong originally to southern France and Spain. It’s uncertain if espadrilles were named after a city in Spain called Espartinas, esparto grass or espardenya ( a seafood type native to Ibiza).
source: pinterest.co.kr
The first models of these shoes aren’t very different from the ones we have today: flat slip-on design with jute wrapping that goes around the ankle. Since then, espadrilles have been worn by both women and men and they were considered as very enjoyable footwear.
Besides the plethora of brands like Verbena shoes, there are also many different types of espadrilles available nowadays. From sandal form to closed-toe styles, flats, lace-up espadrilles, wedges and many more. Wedges and platform espadrilles provide a little height boost and are among the most popular ones.
What’s more, designer names like Verbenas Espadrille are unveiling new takes on the traditional espadrilles by changing up the sole and silhouette to come up with chic, yet unique styles. And once you scoop a pair (or two), you’ll probably want to know how to style them for a chic look.
source: pinterest.com.au
Flat espadrilles, a pair of skinny jeans and a nice linen bag – a truly winning summer look. With skinny jeans, you can wear any type of espadrilles like lace-up, slip-on or wedge. But for wide-leg jeans, it’s better to go for a wedge or some sort of heel that will elongate the legs.
source: popsugar.com
Nothing looks better than a casual frock paired with an espadrille. Opt for a higher heel to a midi or longer dress and keep mini dresses paired with a flat espadrille.
Being closet favourites for spring and summer, rompers and jumpsuits are perfect to pair with espadrilles. Again, short rompers and jumpsuits should be paired with a flat heel design.
Traditionally, you won’t want to wear espadrilles at work, but lately, there are more organisations that are allowing a more casual and comfortable dress code. In such a case, you can show up in jeans and a pair of favourite, yet classic closed-toe wedge espadrilles. Do have a few selected styles, and keep it neutral. Save the hot pink and red espadrilles for summer dresses, as that’s exactly why these espadrilles have been designed for.
Today, espadrilles are a very popular shoe style in Europe, the U.S, Australia and all around the world. They are worn as lightweight casual footwear, especially in spring and summer, and at places with a pleasant climate all year-round. As a warm-weather fashion staple, espadrilles go well with most types of everyday summer outfits.
These shoe designs are most suitable for casual occasions when you want to keep things comfortable, such as backyard barbeques, garden parties, shopping, outdoor concerts, date nights and local markets. Because of their boho look, espadrilles also make the best beach wedding footwear.
Espadrilles are also the top footwear choice among avid travellers because they look elegant enough for pictures while allowing people to walk in comfort all day long. Pair them with braided jewellery, a rattan bag or straw hat and you’re definitely going to look classy in your travel photos.
