Your Stylist: Statement-making espadrilles

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In this installment of Your Stylist we take a look at all the steep, colorful and statement-making espadrille wedges available for summer. Sure, every year around this time there’s an abundance of the ropey soled shoes, but this time the style has evolved to encompass an oxford hybrid, color blocked soles and fun and splashy prints that really stand out.

Look at the way Lea Michele wore her yellow and beige Dyle espadrilles from Aldo ($100) during the Coachella Music Festival this year. The pop of color on her feet balanced out the bold pink and orange Lacoste minidress and added length to her legs.

Aldo is also making a cool pair of sporty espadrilles with a canvas upper that laces up like a traditional oxford ($80). They’re summery but have a closed toe, which makes them easy to pair with tights and a dress, taking them right into fall.

New line Theodora and Callum has come out with a range of espadrilles that mix patterns and colors for some lace-up sandals that would liven up even the simplest of dresses. This blue and white version ($395) has a diamond-printed sole and a triangle-printed upper that shouldn’t really make sense together, but the solid blue ankle tie works to break up and temper the potentially dizzying combination.

Another boldly printed pair of espadrilles is the pink, tan and black lace-up Lazar shoe from Nine West ($99). The tan tie works to cool down the print, but the lively pattern adds a nice pop of bright color that would work with solid black or cream-colored pieces.

For an elegant take on the statement espadrille, Boutique 9 is doing simple but still pretty treacherous-looking wedges with solid white fabric crossing the top of the foot ($140).They would look great with a billowy white dress, perfect for a beachy affair or poolside party.

And for a solid punch of strong color, both Lanvin ($595) and Dior ($850) have a hibiscus hued sandal that is a bright pinkish-red and just scream to be worn while on a warm, summer holiday. Either would pair well with a bikini and a flowy caftan, making for a pretty dreamy vacation ensemble.

On the cooler side of solid, Kate Spade has a dainty and delicate wedge (left) with white and blue wavy detail on top and a ribbon ankle tie ($225). And the double buckle green espadrilles from Nine West ($89, above right) are casual enough to wear during the day with a little sundress as well as add an unexpected pop of color to the most basic summer uniform - the white t-shirt and denim cut offs.

-- Melissa Magsaysay

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Photos:

Top: Lea Michele at Coachella/Jordan Strauss, WireImage, Left: Aldo Tong wedge $80 at www.aldoshoes.com/Aldo, right: Aldo Dyle wedge $100 at www.aldoshoes.com/Aldo, left: Boutique 9 $140 at www.ninewest.com/Nine West, Right: Theodora and Callum $395 at www.theodoraandcallum.com/Theodora and Callum, left: Nine West Lazar wedge sandals $99 at www.ninewest.com/Nine West, right: Dior Tahiti wedge sandals $850 at www.Nordstrom.com/Nordstrom, left: Kate Spade Ole sandal $225 at www.nordstrom.com/Nordstrom, right: Nine West Blanca sandal $89 at www.piperlime.com/Nine West