Made in the WSA

The big news last week at WSA, the World Shoes and Accessories trade show at Mandalay Bay, was the demise of patent leather. The shiny trend caught hold of the shoe industry a good three years ago and has had a tight grip ever since. No color was off limits, nor was any style -- pumpkin patent ballet flats, anyone? Fall '09 trends, however, show the party slowly but surely coming to an end.

"Word on the street is that patent is dead on arrival in Europe," says Ellen Campuzano, publisher of FashionFACTSfolio, who conducted the WSA seminar "Fashion Trends for Fall 09." The United States, she predicts, will surely echo the rejection in the fall.

Booths at WSA still had a patent presence, just in smaller doses and blended with other textures. The new kid on the block is suede, which dominates boots of all lengths and also takes an open-toe turn.

According to Campuzano, metallics are headed for the same exit as patents. Expect them to come in muted forms before disappearing entirely.

Other strong trends for fall include plaid prints, quilting features, touches of metal, heels that land somewhere between flats and sky-high stilettos, leather that resembles lace, lots of piping, tailored dress shoes, hot pink pops of color, fringe details, more purples, plums and peasant prints. The trend Campuzano is crossing her fingers for, though, is the riding boot, which picked up speed last fall.

"Do you know what the number one selling boot was for the fifth year last year?" she asks. "Uggs! I have high hopes for the riding boot as its replacement this year."

Accessories saw more of the same with the exception of one prime player: legwear. Hosiery will take a trip through the shredder -- the more runs the better -- and socks will rise above the knee and no longer will be off limits with pumps.