Clarks and Orla Kiely collaboration takes on 60s and 70s spin

Model wears Orla Dotty.

After a successful collaboration for Spring/Summer 2014, British shoemakers since 1825 Clarks is once again collaborating with designer Orla Kiely for Autumn/Winter 2014 now available in store and on-line.  

With a contemporary spin on 60s and 70s design, the capsule collection spans six styles.

Love the rich autumnal shades, brogue detailing, soft leathers, and pony hair.  Part retro, part timeless.  

Orla Daphne boots.

Orla Dixie boots.

Orla Dora

Note the chunky block heels and use of square buckles and bold round buttons.

Meanwhile Westfield UK Launches Latest Fashion Project - ‘AW14: The Talking Points’ is all about shoes.

Above, winning styles from smart to casual broques - from Clarks's AW2014 collection. Note the combination of leather with tweedy fabrics.  Iconic classics refreshed into contemporary styles.
Product Photos by Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect.

Heels vs. Flats - flat shoes have long felt like the poor relative to leg-lengthening, party-going high heels.  

But the tides have turned. With the catwalk awashed with trainers, brogues, loafers and slippers.

Westfield UK - Europe's largest urban shopping centre in London’s White City/Shepherd Bush – has launched a new fashion project: an energetic, feel-good film on Heels vs Flat Shoes, created by Sean Frank.

Team ‘flat’s’ take on team ‘heels’ in a dance competition, which shows the extensive range of shoes at Westfield, referencing 70’s dance shows Soul Train, ads of the 90’s and RnB videos.  

WATCH the video by clicking here.  

British designer Orla Kiely's first shoe designs for Clarks - Fun and Stylish!

Orla Kiely and Clarks -two great British names have come together to produce some of the most desirable footwear for this Spring.  Ever since the six styles in the capsule collection were previewed last September, I couldn’t wait for them to be properly launched as they are this week, and get my hands on them.

Orla Kiely’s well-known for her iconic prints and for this, her first ever footwear collaboration for Clarks, the Queen-of-Prints designer shows off her love for pattern, colour, texture and rhythm, throughout the range, incorporating the colours iconic of her collections - green, mustard, navy and red colourways, with a real sense of sophisticated, stylish fun, with a good mix of influences from the 60s and 70s.

Among the styles is one featuring a high-block heel with platform, two beautifully feminine mid-block heels, an elegant mid-wedge, a sling-back with oversized buckle detail and a fabulous sling-back Mary Jane. 

Note the attention to detail and the play with colour-blocking.

Orla Kiely comments: “I always wanted to design a footwear collection and for me Clarks was a very natural fit - particularly with their world renowned heritage and quality. Starting out from my original collection of bags and ready-to-wear, to the current wider lifestyle range I’m really proud of, it’s brilliant to now be able to add a stand-out shoe range to complete this. We worked closely with the amazing Clarks team to create our vision and I can’t wait to see women worldwide wearing them!”

Alison Sudbury, Head of Marketing at Clarks, UK and ROI comments: “Working with Orla and her team has been an absolute pleasure – particularly to deliver her first ever footwear collection. We are incredibly proud of how the styles reflect Clarks’ mantra of Effortless British Style; with a twist on Kiely’s iconic prints, colours and vintage design influences, combined with the recognisable quality of both brands. With an eye for what women truly women in design, I look forward to watching these hit the shelves and subsequently fly out of stores!”