By Kristin Woffinden
With the barometer rising, everyone is ditching their boots and clunky warm shoes for lighter and airier alternatives.
Ballet flats are in this spring.
Not just for ballerinas, ballet flats are popular items at stores like Nordstrom and Macy?s. Patent leather flats with shiny buckles or other embellishments are all the rage, said Brittany Curfew, sales associate in the Nordstrom shoe department. Peep toe heels and espadrilles are also trendy this season, she said.
In the BYU Bookstore, ballet flats are some of the best sellers. Girls especially love the trendy flats with vibrant colored polka dots and stripes, said Melinda Brinton, a 23-year-old linguistics major and Bookstore employee.
?Ballet flats are great, especially for campus wear,? said Jessie Goodfellow a 21-year-old, exercise science major from Manassas, Va. ?They are both comfy and stylish.?
Provo trends aren?t far from those on the runway and in fashion magazines. Women put their best foot forward wearing jewel embellished, metallic wedges or platform heels. Patent leather or bright-colored jelly flats are also in-style this spring, according to Elle and Vogue Magazine.
If designer shoes are not in the budget, shoe addicts can find fashionable footware at stores such as Target and Forever 21 in the University Mall. With aisles lined with trendy flats and heels, these stores are sure to provide an inexpensive fix for your addiction.
Without ballet flats as an option, boys are making their own style strides in leather flip-flops and other airy shoes.
Nathan Shields, a 23-year-old business marketing major from Wrightwood, Calif., said he loves his flip-flops.
?My feet are completely exposed to the air,? Shields said. ?It just feels great.?
For those who prefer a trendier shoe, top sellers in the Nordstrom men?s department include Diesel tennis shoes and Pumas, said Brian Phelps a sales associate. While GQ recommends designer tennis shoes for spring, many guys are looking for simple sandals and comfortable favorites.
?Looks are secondary for me,? said Jacob Stowell, a 26-year-old digital media major from Orem, Utah. ?I wear shoes just as long as they are comfy.?
Justin Mack, a 23-year-old exercise science major from Phoenix, prefers Vans or Converse Chuck Taylors because he can wear them without socks.
?They feel more airy and spring-like that way,? Mack said.