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One of the most memorable images from February’s Fall/Winter 2024 fashion collections came courtesy of ChloeA group of show-goers, including Sienna Miller, Jerry Hall and Pat Cleveland, sat front row in nearly identical giant platform wedges. It was a comeback orchestrated in the mid-2000s, when chunky wooden heels epitomised bohemian style, and an affirmative statement from the house that wedges were back with a vengeance.
Lifting tilt
Chloe Maxime leather and wood sandals, £925
Maryam Nassir Zadeh Olympia Leather Wedges, £475, es:ssense.com
Paris Georgia Valentina leather wedges, £510
Jimmy Choo Sacoria 85 Satin & Faux Pearl Wedges, £1,496
Saint Laurent La Scandale 110 patent leather sandals, £850
Christian Louboutin Ariella Zeppa leather and raffia wedges, £690
Gianvito Rossi leather wedges, £615, mytheresa.com
Of course, the shoe predates the turn of the millennium, and even the 1960s and 1970s, when bohemianism memorably took hold. fashionMost credit Salvatore Ferragamo with popularizing the style when the designer introduced a cork wedge to the Italian market in the 1930s, due to a shortage of the steel he typically used for his heels.
Since then, they have become the epitome of a certain casual glamour. “Wedge sandals have been popular with our customers for a long time because they add height while maintaining comfort, especially for parties or vacations,” she says. Miteresa Commercial and sustainability director Richard Johnson cites Valentino, Jimmy Choo, Gianvito Rossi, Christian Louboutin and, of course, Chloé as champions of the style. “Some of the most popular brands have launched wedge styles that have become bestsellers, bringing the shape back into the spotlight with a more modern twist.” Johnson suggests pairing heels with “flowy dresses, skirts or under a pair of wide-leg jeans” for an easy daytime look.
Wedges can also do double duty. Phoebe Philo, the former creative director of Celine who returned to fashion with her own label late last year, has made the wedge heel part of her new ready-to-wear collection; her version is a sleek, all-black style with a simple strappy heel, which easily takes the shoe into eveningwear territory. Similarly, contemporary label Paris GeorgiaDesigned by Paris Mitchell Temple and Georgia Cherrie, she creates strappy styles that pair well with dressy outfits. “We are both naturally drawn to [wedges] “They add a practical touch to a heel,” Cherrie says. “You can wear them all day, but we wanted to make sure they were also appropriate for any occasion, so we designed a sculptural heel that adds a sense of lift to the classic wedge.”