STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Luv2Shop · Kate Spade

Patent Leather?

Farrah · Marc Jacobs

Love it. Always have, always will.

pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

I understand your concerns, Luv2Shop. PL doesn't make me think of the exact same things you mention, but I do shy away from it because I'm not used to it. The shine calls more attention to me than I want, but PL can be really classic.

Kitty · Hermes

Farrah wrote:

Love it. Always have, always will.

Ditto.

Miss Mabel · Kenneth Cole

I'm over the patent trend, but a well-placed and classic PL piece always fits in a wardrobe, I think.

Kitty · Hermes

Was it really a "trend"? I kind of just view it as a type of material.

Kelly · Hermes

I think it's a classic, it just experienced a surge for a while. So go for it!

Kenneth Cole

go for it!

joy0302 · Kate Spade

I have always had a thing for patent leather, whether it was popular at the time or not.

blink · Coach

joy0302 wrote:

I have always had a thing for patent leather, whether it was popular at the time or not.

ME TOO. And I have been so thrilled in the past couple of years to add cute PL heels to my shoe shelves. I can't believe anyone would think cheap or whore when I wear mine, that actually makes me sad to think! FWIW, I typically pair PL with less revealing or kind of preppy styles in order to let the shoes be the star.

Miss Mabel · Kenneth Cole

Kitty wrote:

Was it really a "trend"? I kind of just view it as a type of material.

Yes, obviously it is a material.

Poorly stated on my part, I guess. I was using the phrase "patent trend" to describe the past few years of patent madness, particularly brightly colored patent, extra shiny faux patent, and the like. I definitely view the recent proliferation of patent as a trend, and I seem to recall the fashion magazines touting it as such maybe two winters ago?

Luv2Shop · Kate Spade

blink wrote:

I can't believe anyone would think cheap or whore when I wear mine, that actually makes me sad to think! FWIW, I typically pair PL with less revealing or kind of preppy styles in order to let the shoes be the star.

I didn't mean I would think of someone wearing patent leather shoes as cheap or whore like, I just meant it makes me think of other things that are made from PL that are cheap like slutty haloween costumes or catwoman. I am right there with you on pairing them with less revealing or preppy styles to let them be the star, that is exactly what I was thinking when I was imagining what I would wear with them. I do think they would add a nice classic/interesting touch to my shoe wardrobe so I am going to go for it!! Thanks everybody!

Kincali · Dooney & Bourke

me trying to look as unslutty as possible in my red patent t-straps:)

-- Edited by fairlight at 17:19, 2008-07-08

Farrah · Marc Jacobs

Luv2Shop wrote:

blink wrote:

I can't believe anyone would think cheap or whore when I wear mine, that actually makes me sad to think! FWIW, I typically pair PL with less revealing or kind of preppy styles in order to let the shoes be the star.

I didn't mean I would think of someone wearing patent leather shoes as cheap or whore like, I just meant it makes me think of other things that are made from PL that are cheap like slutty haloween costumes or catwoman.

FWIW those costumes are not made out of patent leather and are not classified as such. They are made out of vinyl which only adds to their cheap trashiness.

Suasoria · Chanel

I'll weigh in. Traditionally in the spring/summer a "lady" (insert eyeroll) would switch to her black patent shoes and bags and put away her matte black for the season. The reflective quality of PL made it more appropriate for longer, sunnier days and better with summer whites because when you think about it, PL materials are partly "white" in the light.

While PL is never in or out IMO, the trend I've identified recently is that it is no longer reserved for spring and summer but is now worn year-round. I've gotten used to seeing it in the fall and winter, but for me it will always feel like a summer thing so I'll continue to put my PL away in the fall and say hello to it again in the spring. Just like white pants.

(The things my late, great, fashionable grandma pounded into my poor little head, I swear.)