There is something about Russian model Irina Shayak that makes her relatable to women everywhere. She is an inspiration for women worldwide with her comfortable but edgy fashion sense, making now the right time for a fashion collaboration. This first-ever Russian model on the cover of the 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue has teamed up with luxury shoe designer Tamara Mellon to design a shoe capsule collection.

In the Summertime

They have introduced a trio of options perfectly capturing the summer vibe. The Sand Dune is an edgy black flatform sandal with adjustable straps, the Sun Valley is a high-heeled sandal with a lug sole platform, and the Escape is a summer slouch boot. Mellon talking about her decision to partner with Irina Shayk says that just like Mellon women, “Irina is strong, resilient, funny, and unapologetic about who she is.”

Their mutual admiration was visible in their interviews as Shayk was quoted saying, “I think to collaborate with such a strong woman like Tamara, it really inspired me.” She added that she finds the Jimmy Choo co-founder really sweet and cool.

Inspired by Strong Women

Talking about her inspiration behind the design and the collaboration, she says that her family, especially her mother and grandmother, and strong women everywhere motivate her. Irina Shayk also said that when the chance of collaborating with a strong woman like Mellon presented itself, she was delighted and did not hesitate to sign on.

Speaking about her collection, she states that comfort and style were her top priorities while designing the shoes. She also revealed that out of the trio, the beige boots were her favorite. The leather is nice and light and consists of a lug sole making the boots a practical choice to run around in summer. Describing her designing process, she said that it was fun and exciting, although the pair couldn’t meet in person – the zoom sessions felt no different.

As of now, any upcoming music festivals have been canceled, pretty much worldwide. This means that festival fashion is dying down, and this includes the flower crown trend. However, for Chanel’s Spring/Summer 2021 Haute Couture show, the flower crowns were definitely back in style.

The Chanel Haute Couture Show for Spring 2021

The Haute Couture show showed off some amazing fashion looks, but one thing that stood out to practically everyone was the festival season headpieces. The runway show was inspired by dance, freedom, and summer evening parties with Virginie Viard, creative director, behind the show.

Models wore pastel waistcoats and voluminous skirts while others even stunning wedding gowns. Accessories included belly chains, which gave people a flashback to the early 2000s, and of course, the flower crowns.

Flower crowns were previously associated with lace bra tops, cut off pants, and even rain boots, but Chanel definitely changed that picture for us. The brand paired the crowns with tweed and tulle.

The Rest of the Collection

Aside from the flower crowns, which people now have a new way to style, the rest of the Chanel collection was just as dreamy. There were warm color palettes that included light yellow, green, and pink, which appeared in their pantsuits, tweed skirts, ruffled boleros, and some high-low eyelet dresses.

In terms of footwear, models typically switched between quilted wedges and two-tone black and white Mary-Jane flats. Viard said that she’s always thinking about what women would want to have in their wardrobes today, which is what inspired this collection.

For most luxury brands, like Chanel, flower crowns and belly chains are unusual. However, back in October, Lily-Rose Depp wore a chain belt that had tiny gold letters that spelled “CHANEL” as she walked the runway at the Chanel runway fashion show. Ever since then, other luxury brands have embraced the trend.