Happy feet

The fashion universe, parallel to the humdrum and ordinary, abides by the oldest law of beauty: that form begets the definition of an object in and of itself. Apply this law to teenagers and the results are eating disorders. Apply it to footwear and the results are bunions and osteoarthritis. Let’s face it, trading comfort for aesthetics in the name of all things fabulous is common practice when it comes to fashion. However, it is only the truly style-savvy who know how to balance the battle between form and function in a single, beautiful ensemble. Some can even do it with a single accessory.

Watches, hats, gloves and the like have merited their own share of "oohs" and "ahhs" as cataloged immortals. Shoes, on the other hand, have remarkably strutted and stumbled between practicality and folly many times over and emerged as gods. We live in an era where technology has equipped us with the ability to finally attain balance between the ideas of beauty and comfort, and shoes have come out victorious. Melanie Pierucci, a young Venezuelan fashion designer and niece to the founder of a very prominent luxury brand (whose gowns are often seen perusing down the red carpet) says, "Fashion is a mirror of society and its needs. The concept of beauty changes according to the limitations we face to attain it. Every piece in fashion has a function, even if only the artist can see it."

This month, celebrate both the practical and beautiful sides of footwear over the years and get the heads up for this season’s hottest shoe.

Walkin’ on sunshine

History has shown that fashion quickly follows on the heels of function, most especially when it comes to shoes. Platform shoes were originally crafted to keep the wearer’s robes from dragging on the ground. Who’d have thought that, centuries later, they’d be running rampant through the ’60s and ’70s on the feet of the "free love" generation? The inspiration behind many of the chunky clogs and sandals those days was Dr. Scholl’s Signature Shoe, a wooden-soled sandal contoured to give feet better grip and to tone the calves. This shoe left the scene when the hedonism and power dressing of the ’80s took center stage, only to make a fierce comeback in the ’90s. Appearing on the runway and in Vogue magazine, the sweetheart slides charmed designers like Tommy Hilfiger and DKNY, who released their own limited edition Dr. Scholl’s sandals. They were soon gracing the feet of Sex and the City’s Sarah Jessica Parker, which had women all over the world clamoring for a pair of their own. Recent ventures have seen Dr. Scholl’s sandals teamed up with Paul Frank, Karl Lagerfeld and Swarovski.

Going to walk all over you

Long the shoes of the subculture, Doc Martens have been wearable testimonials to the underdog, kicking the mainstream in the shins for decades. Associated with the Mod, Punk, Ska, Psychobilly and Goth movements, the stalwart work boots took pop culture by force during Grunge music’s heyday in the early ’90s. Though rock immortals like Sid Vicious and Kurt Cobain were originally associated with Doc Martens, the mid-’90s witnessed a fusion of grunge and romanticism. The release of Singles had hundreds of Gen-X ladies swooning over Matt Dillon and Eddie Vedder as they bared their tortured souls. Soon Hollywood celebs like Drew Barrymore, Juliette Lewis, Courtney Love, Demi Moore, Amber Valetta and Shalom Harlow were making fashion news, rocking Docs with baby doll and floral print dresses. Last year, eBay auctioned off celebrity-customized Doc Martens for the National AIDS Trust (NAT). Docs decorated by Sir Elton John, the Spice Girls, Zoe Ball and Nick Cave were featured at the auction. The close of the online auction coincided with World AIDS Day. Celebrities and fashionistas who have recently added to the Doc Martens style arsenal are Johnny Depp, Kate Moss and John Galliano. Rock on.

Ugly adventurers

The year 2000 was a great year for Uggs, sheepskin boots that have made Oprah’s list of favorites more than once. Rumored to be called "Ugg" (short for ugly), these peculiar, woolly shoes were originally designed by Australian surfer Brian Smith in the late ’70s. The brand soon took the California coasts by storm, and now is seen everywhere from Milan to Melbourne. The fleece-lined boots keep your tootsies warm and dry after catching a few waves or hitting the slopes. On beaches from San Diego to Santa Cruz and ski retreats from Tahoe to Vail, Ugg fever has become a global epidemic. Not so ugly anymore, Uggs have been seen on many fashion headliners like Lindsay Lohan, Rosanna Arquette, Kate Hudson, Cameron Diaz and even Leonardo Di Caprio! In 2003, Ugg Australia organized a fundraising event called "Art and Sole," which raised over $33,000 by signing up the biggest names in Hollywood to create their signature Uggs for an online auction. The proceeds were donated to the Michael J. Fox Foundation (for research on Parkinson’s disease) and Oceana, a non-profit international organization dedicated to protecting the world’s oceans. The results showed the public the true extent of how function (in more ways than one) outweighs form when it comes to Ugg footwear.

Oh my galoshes!

The new millennium’s fluff phenomenon soon took a backseat to stormier weather. Winter wonderland wear quickly segued to swingin’ spring collections, particularly waterproof wear like raincoats, umbrellas and galoshes. While galoshes were popularized when Charles Goodyear discovered how to waterproof garments with liquid rubber, it was in 1962, when Elio Fiorucci (then only 22) featured three brightly colored pairs in a Milan fashion magazine, that these waterproof wonders hit the world of pop culture and high fashion. Ever since, colorful galoshes have been the wet and wild item to get gals through the rainy season. It’s no wonder Uggs and all imitators soon took a seasonal backseat to London’s swingin’ style. Brands like Bebe, Burberry and Ralph Lauren have stamped their signatures on galoshes, making the rainy day heroes the ultimate in chic and functional footwear. Celebrities like Andre 3000 and Tara Reid were soon seen sloshing to events in spring’s hottest shoes. Talk about making a splash!

Whatever the weather

These days, the weather is fickle and no one wants to suffer the pains of wardrobe selections made according to faulty forecasts. Quite thankfully, this season’s favorite footwear is tenacious enough to withstand both the scorching heat and sudden showers, not to mention that they come in every color, too! The Colorado brand Crocs is the name on everyone’s lips – a peculiar, lightweight, outdoor and waterproof foam shoe originally designed for boating. Crocs are cool, comfortable and good for posture. This season, there’s no need to stand around in agony, worrying about bunions or stepping in puddles. Crocs are the ultimate balance of form and function and it’s no wonder heads are beginning to turn. The brand has burgeoned rapidly on the style forefront, garnering brownie points for marrying quirky fashion and cool comfort in the shoe on everyone’s must-have list. Crocs are so hot now that they’ve hit more than just the docks; they’ve invaded the garden, kitchen, clinic and are even on kids in the playground! Originally starting out with The Beach, their first model, Crocs has rapidly expanded their line over the past three years. Among their latest offering is Athens, a two-tone, slip-resistant and practically weightless take on the flip-flop, perfect for hitting the beach or wearing around the house. Crocs has also launched Prima, a slim-fitting ballet flat that is also anti-microbial and odor-resistant. Available in stores now.

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Wisdom and wisecracks are always welcome at whippersnappergirl@hotmail.com.