Fashion and Cars: The Matching of Soles and Souls

Shoe design analyst explores shared ‘language’ between shoes and cars

2012-07-16

Fashionandcars

"DETROIT – Shoe collections for this year's spring season drew heavy influence from the glamour and opulence of 1950s hot wheels. Oozing sex appeal and status for men and women alike, the legendary chrome-finned Chevrolet Bel Air inspired summer clothing and footwear collections in Italy and elsewhere.

Even not-so-fashionable yet practical shoe categories draw design inspiration from automotive technologies. After spending years studying people's relationship with footwear, Italian writer and shoe design analyst Andrea Silvuni believes you can learn a lot about a person's character from the shoes on their feet and their choice of wheels.

“In the same way Chevy Bel Air’s stood for luxury and power and showed you were doing well, rocking your Italian designer heels will reveal your inner power and provide others a window into your personality,” Silvuni said. “No matter the type of shoe, there are always reasons behind that choice and how they convey who we are and what our mood is.”

Every shoe and car can provide a window into secrets of personality. Choice of color, style and other design details of cars and shoes can say a lot about a person.

Urban city cars, like the Chevrolet Spark, draw on inspiration of everything from open-toed flip flops to motorcycles and are driven by unconventional owners open to new experiences and adventures.

Striking design elements of ballet pumps can be found in Chevrolet's global small car – the Sonic – with an aggressive-looking front, compact taut side panels and a rising shoulder line, appealing to multiple markets from Europe to the United States and the Far East.

“Like cars, shoes share the design language that conveys aspects of a personality,” said Silvuni. “The sloping roofline, concave shoulder lines of a Chevrolet Cruze and a well-appointed wedge create a dynamic, sure-footed stance in the same way.”

With the explosion of the muscular multipurpose crossover vehicles, designers have adopted a bolder look with a low roofline and high sweeping waist, incorporating sportswear-inspired interior features to meet the exact demands of cross-trainers and adventure-pursuing families.

Chevrolet and Andrea Silvuni mapped the design language of car models and shoe types, reflecting a person's personality and characteristics:

Shoe Style: Flip-flop
Wide open stance, accentuated by strong, clean body sides free of cladding.
Car: Chevrolet Spark urban city car
Owner's Footprint: Laid back, open toed and not traditional. Challenges convention and open to new experiences. Never sure what will happen tomorrow but sees every experience as fun and functional.

Shoe Style: Ballet Slippers/Pumps
Aggressive looking front, compact taut side panels and a rising shoulder line
Car: Chevrolet Sonic
Owner's Footprint: Comfortable in all environments, sweet and dependable person who is also kind and considerate. Prefers a lifestyle free of frills.

Shoe Style: Wedge-Heeled Shoes/Platforms
Concave shoulder lines, short overhangs at the rear with a dynamic stance
Car: Chevrolet Cruze
Owner's Footprint: Stylish and sure-footed with logical solutions to any problem. No nonsense in relationships; values reliability and trust. A social butterfly.

Shoe Style: Brogue
Expressive design with a wide, athletic stance
Car: Chevrolet Malibu Owner's Footprint: Conservative, reliable, trusting and incredibly calm under pressure. An ambitious, stylish and bright person. Also sophisticated and detailed, carrying an air of achievement.

Shoe Style: Cross trainers
Sharply sculptured athletic stance with angular shapes that emphasize sporting intent, with a sleek, rising shoulder line
Car: Chevrolet Equinox
Owner's Footprint: Athletic, assertive and a flexible leader quick on his or her feet. Gets things done and feels powerful as a result.

Shoe Style: Super-high heeled stilettos
Low-slung V-shaped nose and aggressive ready-to-pounce stance
Car: Chevrolet Camaro or Corvette Owner's Footprint: Sexy, confident with a wild streak. Knows where sex appeal can get them.

“Digging deeper into the anatomy of shoes and cars, we are able to identify many engineering commonalities,” Silvuni said. “Advances in automotive and tire technology inspire footwear designers to develop rubber soles that help you grip the sidewalk on a rainy day and protective waterproof shoe coatings that can be found in vehicle seat materials.”"

 

http://bit.ly/PiZ7xG

Chevrolet Launches Try-Out Program, Year-End Incentives

2013_chevrolet_cruze_f34_ns_71012_717
Just the Facts:

  • Chevy Confidence marketing program launches today.
  • Program includes "Love it or Return it" on 2012 and 2013 models after 30 to 60 days, if under 4,000 miles and damage free.
  • Special no-haggle prices offered on all 2012 models.

 

DETROIT — General Motors' Chevrolet Division today launched what it is calling its Chevy Confidence program that offers car buyers a "Love it or Return it" try-out on 2012 and 2013 model vehicles they purchase. In addition, Chevrolet is offering special no-haggle prices on the leftover 2012 models they buy.

Chevy Confidence allows customers to buy a new 2012 or 2013 model and, if they don't love it, return it between 30 and 60 days of purchase if it has less than 4,000 miles on it and has no damage. In an effort to clear out 2012 inventory for the new model year, Chevy also is offering what it calls "special preferred prices" in addition to all current vehicle-specific incentives on all 2012 models. The prices basically are no-haggle; the price you see is what you pay, Chevy says.

"We have transformed the Chevrolet lineup, so there is no better time than now to reach out to new customers with the love it or return it guarantee and very attractive, bottom line pricing," said Chris Perry, Chevrolet global vice president of marketing. "We think customers who have been driving competitive makes or even older Chevrolets will be very pleased by today's Chevrolet designs, easy-to-use technologies, comprehensive safety and the quality built into all of our cars, trucks and crossovers."

He added: "Research has shown customers respond positively to the confidence companies demonstrate with programs like this and appreciate the peace of mind that comes with knowing they have the option of being able to return their vehicle," said Perry.

Chevy Confidence is clearly an effort by GM to clear out 2012 inventory, close the model year on a high note and kick-start the 2013 model year for its highest-volume brand, yet do it in a way that doesn't scream "fire sale," but rather stresses value.

GM executives have been sensitive to criticism this year that its U.S. sales have not been outstandingly strong. That has generated headlines noting GM's market share has slumped to levels not seen in a century. Meantime, long-time company officials have argued that hefty incentives to move the metal hurt resale values and average transaction prices that GM has worked hard to improve to maintain profits and image.

GM, and specifically Chevrolet, has a host of new models coming in the 2013 model year, including the completely revamped Chevrolet Malibu, the all-new Chevrolet Spark microcar and a freshened Chevrolet Traverse crossover.

In the 2013 calendar, Chevrolet starts rolling out its all-important, completely redesigned full-size pickup truck, the Chevrolet Silverado, and the full-size SUVs — the Chevrolet Tahoe and Chevrolet Suburban — that spring from the pickup truck's architecture."

 

http://bit.ly/MiuLZn

Forrest
Happy Friday Everybody! We Hope You All Had a Wonderful 4th of July and Have a Great Weekend!

On This Day (July 6th) In 1994, Forrest Gump Opened In Theaters.

What Was Your Favorite Decade/Event In American History That Forrest Lived Through, Or Your Favorite Scene in the Movie?

Spy Photos: 2014 Chevy Tahoe Spy Photos

2014tahoespyphoto
"SOMEWHERE IN, Michigan — Speculation over the next-generation Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon began when the current-generation truck and SUV started production in 2008. With gas prices high and the social pressures on automakers and consumers alike to favor small, green vehicles, GM's big, body-on-frame SUVs were on shaky ground. The two most likely options for these workhorses was kill or crossover. Even previous spy photos couldn't confirm one or both of these hypotheses.

Based on our most recent spy photography, however, we can confirm that the 2014 Chevy Tahoe will be a body-on-frame, truck-based, proper SUV.

Like the 2014 Silverado on which it's based, the 2014 Tahoe will likely be on a diet over the current gen, saving weight in order to achieve moderate fuel economy. We're also expecting the Tahoe's new fifth-generation small-block V8 (5.3 liters) to benefit from direct fuel injection.

Inside Line says: Direct injection and weight savings could save one of the last of the full-size, body-on-frame, utility-focused SUVs."

 

Click to see more photos.

http://bit.ly/N61Itm