Welcome Spring in Colorful Flats
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
It's time to get rid of your heavy boots and pull out those light, colorful and trendy flats to welcome spring.
Flats are everywhere, on the streets, in offices and especially on the catwalk. Thanks to their versatility, various colors and extreme comfort, flats have become a must-have for fashion-forward shoppers who need a break from their killer heels.
Pastel Is the Answer
Ahn Ji-hee, 32, is a shoe designer who launched her own shoe brand called MCNelly in 2008, and with her experience from working at Salvatore Ferragamo, she focused on flats from the beginning.
``First of all, and most importantly, they are comfortable! They allow your feet to rest from wearing high and pointy heels,'' she told The Korea Times.
Ahn's shoes were recently featured at Seoul Fashion Week that ran from March 26 to April 1 and it was a great opportunity for her to meet new people and expand her business overseas.
MCNelly currently has shops in Seongsu-dong, and the shoes are also available on her Web site.
Choosing the best color is never easy when you are in front of a display of numerous flats and trying to decide which ones to try on, but Ahn suggests pastel shades are the safest.
``Darker hues like black and dark blue are steady sellers, but since it is spring, it's better to purchase pastel tones! The floral print, sky blue and pink flats are bestsellers these days,'' Ahn said, pointing to sky blue flats.
``Wear them with a skirt or light colored pants, and you will be ready to go on a trip, or a picnic or even to work.''
For more information on MCNelly, visit www.mcnelly.co.kr.
The season is spring and it hasn't quite warmed up yet but what better way to prepare than to slip on a pair of flats? Sales for flats have jumped recently. According to Lotte Department Store, sales for flats for the first quarter of this year surged 30 percent over the same period of last year. Many more flats were sold during the department store's spring sales this year, which began in early April. Lotte saw an 83.1 percent increase in sales of flats during this period over the comparable period last year, while Hyundai Department Store and Shinsegae saw a surge of 85 and 70 percent, respectively during the same time.
Following this trend, some department stores have started to display flats by the entrance for greater visibility, while others such as Lotte launched a separate flats corner called ``Shoe & Shoe.'' The shop is a one-stop station for flats featuring various brands, including Misope and Spur.
Take Your Pick
BF Sole and Babara are two of the most famous and popular companies offering flat shoes in Korea. Thanks to their numerous designs and affordable price range, they have outrun other brands that have joined the flat shoe race recently.
BF Sole started out as a small shop in Hongdae in 2007, but now has more than 40 shops around the nation. The company employees said that more than 600 people a day visit the shops, while 100 actually purchase a pair of flats. Compared to the rather expensive foreign brands, it offers cheaper prices, mostly ranging from 29,000 to 43,000 won. BF Sole's basic flat shoe design includes a small ribbon on the nose of the shoe, some the same color as the body and others matching or opposite colors. Visit www.bfsole.co.kr.
While Bf Sole attracts shoppers who are looking for pretty and reasonable purchases, Babara aims to beckon those who are willing to pay a bit more.
Babara started out back in 1989, and now has more than 50 shops around the nation. In 2009, the company branched out to Japan, opening more than 20 shops in Shibuya, Kobe, Yokohama and others. Babara adds more of a designer twist to the flats, decorating them with ribbons, sequins and buttons. The brand also offers a Kids section called ``Babara Kids'' and a more luxurious line labeled ``Babara 1860.'' The prices range from 100,000 to 300,000 won. Visit www.babaraflat.co.kr.
Foreign brands, including French Sole and Repetto, are also popular. French Sole only sells flats that have been made in France, giving them a distinctive feature of being truly ``French,'' while Repetto offers the simple designs and technical flats of ballet shoe masters. The prices are a bit higher than local brands, mostly starting off at 200,000 won. French Sole has booths in Lotte department stores with a main shop located in Sinsa-dong, southern Seoul. For Repetto, visit www.repetto.com.
Look Out for Your Feet
No matter how pretty the shoes are, it's important to know if they are still good for your feet.
People may think that flats are comfortable because they don't have killer heels, but this is not exactly true.
``High heels are basically bad because of their height. The sharp heel directly affects your spine, but flats are different. They affect your feet directly,'' doctor Kim Ju-heon from the Joeun Hospital said.
It's easy to think that because the shoes are flat, it's OK to wear them for a long time. But because your feet step on the hard ground without any type of cushioning except for the thin sole, it can tire your feet even faster.
``Walking in flats for a long time can affect your spine later,'' the doctor added.
Most flats are made with thin leather or other thin materials, and shaped so they don't wrap around and support your feet like other shoes such as sneakers.
``Flats are literally flat, and so the pressure is delivered to the soles of your feet and your ankles,'' explained Ahn, adding that was why she focused on comfort when designing her shoes.
Due to the flatness, people tend to use more muscle when walking as well. About 70 percent of a person's weight is focused on the toes, making the walker use more muscles in their feet, ankles and legs.
Understanding the need for some sort of support in flat shoes, Ahn attached patented insoles inside the shoe for more comfort and to protect feet from the impact of walking.
``It's one of the distinctive features of my designs. It's not just about the design, but comfort as well. Comfort that lasts a long time,'' she said.
What Else?
For those who are looking for more support, but still want to welcome spring, turn to famous sneaker brands, including Converse. The global sneaker brand recently launched their spring line, offering their famous shoes in vibrant colors such as pastel pink, yellow and green. Puma, New Balance and Levi's also offer a line of colorful sneakers suitable for the warm season.