I had the pleasure of participating in a Q&A session for stylist gone yogi, www.simakumar.com (Bespoke Yoga) - Hope you enjoy my shoe therapy advice.

Sunny Shum buys shoes for a major Canadian footwear retailer, a job most young girls dream about. She has been in the apparel and footwear business since the age of 15 and there is no doubt her immense love and passion for the fashion industry has guided her through a successful and diverse career path.

Sunny loves dark chocolate and eats a piece everyday. She has a weakness for cheese, loves the adrenaline rush from roller coasters, thinks puppies should always stay puppies, and last but not least she thinks she should be allowed to wear heels while doing yoga. You should see her standing tree pose in her YSL’s.

BY:  What do you see as the strongest trends for S/S 2010?

SS: Menswear:

Menswear styles and details have been a huge influence in ladies footwear this year and it’s a sure thing this trend will continue into Fall 2010. Boyish brogues add a touch of masculinity to S/S 2010’s delicate fabrics and ruffles. Brogue details show up on dress heels and oxford styles are brought up on heels. This season is all about counter-balancing masculine and feminine shapes.

www.anthropologie.com
Platforms:

While 2009 was all about soaring heel heights, this year is about supporting the heels with platforms. Single, double and island platforms, you name it, they are queen this spring/summer 2010. Don’t expect anything classic or boring, expect over top and fringe.

Fendi platform via www.style.com
Exotic Features:

Natural-inspired decoration is a strong detail on  sandals and shoes. As well as warm earthy colors in shades of cognac, bark, matte, metallic and nude. Some details and materials that are often exaggerated: semiprecious stones, shells, snake trims, metal coins and little beads.

Misbehave via www.thegloss.com
BY: What are the “Must Have” styles?

SS: The Wedge:

Step aside Miss Stiletto there’s a new gal in town. The wedge silhouette can  give you height with all the comfort. I like my wedges with a little twist and my choice of wedge this year is the Dolce Vita in black with a hint of rock’n'roll.

www.solestruck.com
The Jewelled Flat:

If there was one shoe every women needs in her closet this spring/summer, it would have to be a flat gladiator sandal with some embellishments. Sam Edelman has a nice range of sandals and the Hudson in metallic snake with oversized jewels is my pick.

www.samedelman.com
Clogs:

I never thought the wooden clog would come back, but it’s a key must have style this spring and it acts as the perfect transition shoe into fall. These wooden shoes have inspired the looks of designers Chanel and Louis Vuitton. I think Stuart Weitzman has translated it well adding the peep-toe to the traditional clog with scalloped trim detail and studs.

www.stuartweitzman.com
BY: What labels would you say are ones to watch?

SS: I think going “label-less” is the best way. I feel the loyalty to brands is less important nowadays because the consumer is smarter and more informed. As long as the shoe is well made, comfortable, current and priced “right” for the market, that is all that matters. However, if I had to pick three accessible labels that I admire and think are doing creative things, they would be: Modern Vintage - www.shopmodernvintage.com, Omelle www.omelle.com, Sigerson Morrison www.sigersonmorrison.com

BY: What advice would you have for women who want to stay on trend but don’t have hundreds of dollars to spend on shoes?

SS: I am a big fan of getting the best bang for my dollar. I do believe there is no harm in spending money on “classics” however fashion looks can be done on the “cheap”, you just have to be resourceful:

I would visit the vintage and second hand stores for this years big trends. You can easily find wedges and oxfords at a great price. Jazz up a plain sandal or pump by simply placing an embellished shoe clip. It’s an easy and inexpensive way to stretch the use of one shoe. Be kind to your good shoes. Take care to properly treat with leather and material protector. Get into the habit of using a shoe horn when sliding your shoes on and use shoe trees and stuffers where you can. This will help maintain the shape of your shoes. If you take the step in caring for them now, they will last much longer.

BY: What are your thoughts on “vegan” and ethical footwear?

SS: It’s a preference and many people do prefer to purchase leather free shoes and footwear made with no animal by products. It’s not too difficult now as many manufacturers have produced high grade non-leather materials that look and feel just like leather. I understand the concerns some people have with using leathers, but it’s a trade that has been around for centuries with improved methods of treating leathers. A well made shoe is one done by hand, by a shoe cobbler in real all-over leather. This guarantees a perfect fit.

It come down to preference, there are pros and cons to both methods of manufacturing.

BY: How many pairs of shoes do YOU have?

SS:  96 pairs to date.

*Dive into the world of fashion stylist gone yogi daily on www.simakumar.com (Bespoke Yoga).

Sunny Shum, Your Industry Insider | Follow me @partly_sunny