BEACHY KEEN
New Label: Martina Riley Spring 2011
Combining style and versatility into the perfect footwear package, the Spring 2011 Martina Riley collection debuted last Wednesday at Pears on the Avenue in Toronto. The first display showcased quality materials with casual designs and in a variety of forms—sandals, heels, and thongs. But, what separates Martina Riley from other shoe lines this upcoming season is the practical, yet chic interchangeable leather pieces. Buy a shoe in black and get a brown spare part too, all for the same price. A popular trend again for next spring, Martina Riley focused on the wedge heel, using leather to give it a texturized, wooden look. While neutrals were favoured over excessive colour, orange tones were incorporated, a clear front-runner of the colour spectrum for the upcoming season. As well, metallics and subtle prints, such as snakeskin, could also be seen in the details of a few pairs. One of the designers’ main goals, according to Martina Riley founders Jane Gutcher and Jennifer Mackintosh, is to demonstrate the flexibility that each shoe has when it comes to the unpredictability of real life.
