Spring 2009 shoe trends for women are all about excess. Shoes with embellishments from zippers to chains are all set to dash off of the runway and into high street shoe fashion stores. Ladies, if you have saved any of your platforms from the 1970’s, especially those with fringes and straps, then now is the time to dust them off and let them shine.

What was fashionable yesterday about shoes is still relevant, only greatly exaggerated. Zips have been doubled, studs trebled and heels lengthened. On top of this accents are more dramatic and creative design has run riot as chains, spikes and statuesque heels, that really resemble statues, have been added.

Colors for spring shoes in 2009 range from neutral beige, taupe, tan and cream to those which are more vibrant, such as hot fuchsia pink, green or orange. This allows women a great palette from which to mix and match with outfits. Colorful shoes can brighten up a bland garment, whereas those in a neutral color can help to tone a lively garment down.

Shoes are bursting out all over in floral embroidery and embellishments to match the spring countryside and gardens. Flower prints adorn many shoes, giving feminine appeal.

Gladiator sandals and heeled Huarache shoes are larger than life, with more straps than ever. Fringes, buckles and studs have been added for extra pizazz. If you have any left in your wardrobe from last season then you can simply add leather straps to them to bring them up to date if you don’t want to splash out on a new pair.

Artistic shoes are also on the rise. These have a watercolor appearance on their material, which may resemble tie dye effects or splashes of subtle paint. This design is to be found on flat pump shoes made from cotton, right up to impressively high heeled varieties of sandals.

One thing that most spring shoes for 2009 have in common is the way that they appear to be growing up the wearers ankles! Almost organic in design, shoes don’t end where they used to, but simply go on and on, draped with embellishments similar to those seen as fashion jewelery in the 1970’s.

At the same time, there is a touch of a bondage theme going on, with black, shiny material creeping up from platform shoes higher up the leg in a cutaway design. To these you may find chains or spikes added, which are reminiscent of the punk era in Great Britain in the 1980’s.

Perhaps the most fascinating of aspects about spring shoes trends though, is the creative heels. What may be called ‘barley twists’ if on antique furniture have been added to heels such as those designed by Alexander McQueen, while Rodarte’s heels have punk chain detail hanging from them. My personal favorite though, has to be Marc Jacobs architectural heels, which surely resemble the future of fashion for shoes.