Creative ways to style footwear this spring, according to a Melbourne Fashion Week stylist

From top to toe.

The Fashion Journal team is forever seeking out new ways to style our existing wardrobes. It’s led us to have fun with layering, explore wearing skirts as tops and tops as skirts, create fashion accessories out of unsuspecting items and revive pieces we thought we’d fallen out of love with.

Style inspiration can come from anywhere and we’re always on the hunt for people with ‘the eye’ for creating outfits that really make our brains tick (it’s a big reason we launched our series, Hey, I like your style!). Naturally, though, if there’s one constant, reliable source with the most credibility here, it’s stylists.

For more style inspiration, head to our Fashion section.

Karinda Mutabazi is one of our local favourites, routinely working with Melbourne Fashion Week as a stylist across runways and other events. This year was no exception – she was hard at work styling pieces from labels like Par Moi, Solid Ochre, Third Form, Wa-Ring and Willow for the Volvo Electric Runway at Queen Victoria Market, as well as one of the fashion capsules dotted across the city. As a media partner once again for this year’s Melbourne Fashion Week, we were there in the flesh to witness Karinda’s work spring to life.

We loved it all, but what particularly impressed us was how Karinda tied the footwear to each look. Working with spring styles from Midas, she expertly balanced masculine and feminine elements, played with proportion and worked with a vibrant colour palette to bring each look to life. It was a common story across all runways at this year’s Melbourne Fashion Week, with new season and classic styles paired perfectly to each outfit. With some of the silhouettes likely already in your wardrobe and so many now available at Midas, Karinda has some sage words for those looking to style this season’s footwear like a professional.

The classic loafer

Loafers are a personal favourite of mine, given they never tend to truly really leave the trend cycle. They look just as good well-loved and a little beaten as they do brand new, so they’re a style worth investing in for wardrobe longevity. I love the twist on the classic Euro-style moccasin loafer from this year’s collection. The block heel is super cute and gives a more elevated look to a classic shoe, and they’ll suit almost any silhouette. I love them with tights and a mini dress. You could also pair them with a barrel jean or oversized set, opt for something more slimline or even add a cute denim short. Midas has some great shapes at the moment including some dressier options with a slight heel, some with gold hardware and some in suede.

Slingbacks

Slingbacks have been circling for a while now, and for good reason. They’re the perfect shoe for when you want to look chic but feel comfortable. If you don’t yet have a pair, they’re worth investing in because they’ll elevate an everyday look but also suit a more formal occasion, like a wedding. They’ve also proven they have staying power beyond the fluctuations of the trend cycle. I love wearing a pointed slingback with an oversized jean, so the point pokes out the front. They also look super chic with a tailored pant for professional contexts, and I love seeing the fashion girlies play around with layering ankle socks, anklets and other accessories.

Mary Janes

The beauty of a Mary Jane is that it comes in so many different shapes and styles. There are different heel heights, different colours and different weights, with some really chunky and some quite delicate. Regardless of what shape you find your Mary Janes, you can wear them as is or add a sock! It instantly updates your entire look and will make it feel more ‘fashion’. Depending on your exact shoe, you can also style it in different ways. You can really lean into the Mary Jane classic style with a mini or midi skirt, playing up the feminine aesthetic. I like to toughen up my look with an oversized suit, which often works best with chunkier or heeled styles.

Chunky slides

I love to play with volume and balance proportions when styling, as it’s such a simple way to add interest to an outfit. Unsurprisingly then, a chunky-format slide is one of my favourite summer shoes. They look brilliant with an oversized pant for summer, particularly styles that are slightly longer in a lighter fabrication, so they flow down over the shoe. They also look great with a mini skirt or shorts.  Really, they’ll pair nicely with anything light, easy and breezy. It’s a nice counterbalance as a chunky slide will often add weight, and a focal point, to an otherwise soft outfit.

Browse the full Midas range of Spring styles here.