Dolce & Gabbana Embellished floral-print brocade sandals, £545
As I sat down to write this post, it occurred to me that I rarely seem to write the words ‘Dolce & Gabbana’ without also writing the word “brocade” in the same sentence. It really is something of a signature fabric for them, and they use it to excellent effect. These sandals, for instance, would still have been pretty with a differently coloured upper, but this floral brocade makes them extra special – and very Dolce & Gabbana.
Some other words I usually use to describe Dolce & Gabbana shoes:
‘Opulent’ – they always bring to mind decadent parties, in wildly extravagant settings, somehow.
‘Detailed’ – this isn’t a brand known for minimalism: the prints tend to be busy, and the shoes covered in embellishments. It’s a mark of how well they do this that I still normally like the shoes, even although “busy” isn’t a design aesthetic I usually find myself drawn to.
‘Expensive’ – well, D’UH.
Luckily these shoes aren’t too bust or over-the-top: in fact, the shape itself is nothing if not “simple”, and the lower than average heel somehow manages to emphasize and exaggerate the gentle curves of the upper. I think I’d personally prefer these without the brooch on the toe: it’s very pretty by itself, but it looks like it belongs on an evening shoe, whereas the strappy floral upper could easily work as a summer sandal, and be worn a little more casually – I’m picturing a fresh white dress, or even a faded pair of jeans, with a loose shirt.
I’m quibbling over details here, though – the toe embellishment isn’t so fancy that it would stop you wearing these any way you wanted to, so I wouldn’t let it put me off, if I really wanted them. The price, on the other hand…
