The Russia Journal

Sneakers are the latest craze this season. And not just ordinary sneakers; the newest trend is to make other kinds of shoes look like them. Who would have thought that the classically elegant Alberto Guardiani label would ever produce footwear that looks like sneakers?

The place to find the widest selection of sneakers this season is Prada, a favorite label of Muscovites. Even Radio Maximum DJ Rita Mitrofanova is in love with the label and walks around in Prada sneakers. "Prada, my love! Prada footwear is really priceless. It’s trendy, comfortable and practical," raves Mitrofanova.

The new collection offers more than just the classic white model with the trademark red stripe. There are red, brown, blue and black leather, and suede sneakers. The collection also includes silver sneakers. Silver has become a hot color this season but with our dusty roads you risk them quickly turning a grayish-brown.

One of the city’s first funky boutiques, Le Form, also boasts a wide selection of sneakers. There you can find Santoni sneakers, which are reportedly up to 80 percent handmade and priced accordingly – $280-$550. Also available are this season’s trendy and practical items from adidas. Noteworthy in this collection of sneakers are the Monaco GP and Tuscany GT models. Both are inspired by the original Monza racing boot, first developed by adidas in the 1980s.

Adidas is definitely gaining in popularity around town and fashion observers are debating who benefited most from the collaboration between adidas and Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto. Whatever the answer, consumers gain more than both of them combined! Adidas sneakers, currently available at James, are reminiscent of wrestling sneakers and, according to the boutique’s managers, the hint of violence in their image has been a factor in catching the consumer’s eye.

Adidas is now presenting a new sneaker line, ClimaCool2, which will replace the previous generation of ClimaCool and will cool feet even more effectively. Tests conducted at the adidas research center have proven that ClimaCool2 is 32 percent more effective for cooling feet than ordinary sneakers. The new technology will be featured in a number of adidas sneaker varieties, including running, basketball, tennis, cross-training and hiking.

The combination of practicality and street style can be found in the collection of another idol of Muscovite trend-seekers, Giorgio Armani. Apart from the Mauritanian sandals with pointy and turned-up toes, loafers and slip-ons, the collection includes classical flat pumps that are equally comfortable and suitable for the office or the dance floor.

While I was sizing up the merchandise at Vivienne Westwood, several trend-seeking young ladies snapped up her leather flip-flops and red flat sandals fastened with wide laces. I was standing there and wondering: Should I buy a pair right away or should I wait until they go on sale? But these creatively patterned wedge-heeled open-toe shoes will go before the sales arrive. Finally, my greed got the better of me and I decided to get them after the May holidays.

While I was thinking of Vivienne Westwood and my wallet, my girlfriend dragged me down to Podium on Tverskaya. She was more successful than I was, and she bought a pair of Celine wickerwork wedge-heeled shoes. As my old friend loves to say: "The 1970s are back!" Solid as they are, these shoes are pretty casual and fun, matching my friend’s carefree personality.

This season, Red Code boutique has some nice open-toe Burberry shoes. I think they would be perfect for pop star Lada Dance. They are weightless and you can barely feel them at all. Walking in them feels like walking barefoot. The laces are made of transparent plastic. I don’t know if Lada Dance would really like them or not, but they are definitely practical.

For those who like all things original, I recommend checking out the boutique of rare Russian brands, Marki. You can find exclusive and expensive footwear from Rocco P there, plus there are hunting boots with both rounded and pointy toes from Ukrainian designer Lilya Pustovit.

For men, I recommend Sedmoi Etazh, where the new Alberto Guardiani collection has appeared. There are soft sandals of pony skin and suede coffee-colored loafers. The sandals have almost no soles: Their bottoms are made of the same material – pony skin. They are pretty classy and you can wear them anywhere in the world this summer.