A few years ago, I was trying on a pair of Melissa shoes when the shop owner, a good friend, said my feet were too wide for the shoe.

“All that foot cleavage isn’t good,” she said, as I stared down and looked at the sides of my foot over-spilling the non-existent sides of the shoe and onto the wood floor below. This fairly traumatic life event forced me to recognize this seasonal issue, which I now spot wherever I go.

The popular definition of foot cleavage is when your toes are showing but in cases like mine – we add width, (especially when there are no sides to a shoe), the elements, and our gams well up to new proportions as if they’d undergone an augmentation.

How to avoid it? Meghan Cleary, (or Miss Meghan), shoe expert, author of The Perfect Fit: What Your Shoes Say About You and creator of Miss Meghan® footwear, says an easy way to avoid foot cleavage is to look for wider straps.

“Foot cleavage is definitely a very subjective topic as well – some people love it and think its super sexy to show the tops of toes, some people think it’s gross. So you have to determine what’s good for you and then shop with an eye toward silhouettes that will give you more support around the foot – especially in the front.”

She also suggests looking for shoes that “hold” you in at the sides with straps or a higher toe box, especially for wider feet.

She points out her own vegan crossover wedge as an example.

Meghan Cleary Crossover Wedge

Here are some of my personal, anti-foot cleavage favorites that have nice toe beds and thicker straps:

Neuaura Kino

Cri Hannah

OlsenHaus Love

Naya Gladiator

Image: LaurenV.

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Nature-Inspired Tones

Maybe it’s because we don’t want to stand out as much, maybe it’s because the sun is no longer our greatest friend and we’re paler. Whatever the case may be, the front part of 2009 will be inspired by nature and all her subtle tones. If you favor fall’s jewel tones, don’t let this trend bring you down; there are lots of other trends listed here to incorporate and spice it up. (Image: Filly Designs)

Grecian

Gauge this one by how 2009 brought in award show knockouts for the People’s Choice Awards and the Golden Globes where half the starlets were floating down the red carpet with off the shoulder numbers. 2009 will definitely be the year to show skin. This might also be the year you really start utilizing the OnDemand free exercise programs or at least walking the dog faster. (Image: My It Things)

Folk Dresses and Blouses

Once upon a time there was a little pixie who slept on a bed of moss and drank droplets of rain”¦well, you might just feel that way slipping into this trend but more mature.

While bold, Russian inspired embroidery catered to the fashionable palates of 2008, folksy dresses and tops with fringe, beading, tassel and ample space to show your décolletage make us whinny with delight in 2009 and run for push up bras to force the issue. (Image: Johnny Was)

Shoes

According to Miss Meghan, shoe expert, TV personality and author of The Perfect Fit, shoes are getting higher and higher:

– “Platforms are going higher – Louboutin unveiled an 8 inch heel this fall, and while platforms might not get that high across the board, platforms are definitely here to stay.”

– “Designers are focusing on the heel – this has been prevalent among high-end innovative designers like Prada, Miu Miu and Giuseppe Zanotti for two seasons now, and we will see it trickle down into the mass market brands as well in a bigger way.”

– “We saw purple in Milan last fall, and we will see it in an even bigger way this spring.” (Image: Melissa)

Cutaway Clothes and Sheer Paneling

Hold on to you 80s Apollonia (see Prince and Purple Rain for reference). I saw this creeping in slowly last year and here it is, begging us to oblige. Narcisco Rodriguez’s spring/summer 2009 collection is loaded with it and smaller designers are catching on too. Tip? Make sure the skin you show is ready for its close-up. (Image: Style.com)

Bigger, Bolder, Much More Funky Jewelry

Chunky stones, big pearls, strands of gold, eclectic charms and probably way too heavy earrings rule the roost. Anything that doesn’t just sit quietly and glimmer. Personally, I love big cocktail rings and strands of necklaces so sign me on for this trend.

As I go on writing I want to impart my wish for you to not incorporate all these looks together or it will be your fashion demise. (Image: Angel Court)

Really Distressed Jeans

When I first heard about this trend by a local boutique owner I was horrified. Ripped jeans? Come on! But it’s true, distressed, ripped, frayed and torn jeans are everywhere this year but they have to be showing skin in just the right areas: the upper thigh and just below/above the knee are preferred. Skip too much rear exposure.

Just when you wanted to make shorts out of them”¦

(Image: Thrashed Jeans)

Nature-Inspired Accessories

Feathers, butterflies and and recycled wood grace our fingers, heads and chests. While the idea of getting back to nature has never been more prevalent (very transcendental), fashion begins to reflect our innermost desire: to value the simple things.

Wood nymphs beware.

I could go on. Harem pants, the art of color blocking, crumpled fabrics and space suits”¦

(Image: Moth Love)

Why don’t we all take a deep breath and think about where we live, how much we go out, what our lifestyles are truly like and how often we’d need a spacesuit for dinner with friends before we buy. As the year goes on, stay tuned to see how sustainable designers and boutiques will support these trends and how you can support them.

The post From Spacesuits to Greek Goddesses: a Look at 2009 Fashion Trends appeared first on EcoSalon.