Matthew Williamson’s Spring 2013 Shoes: When Expressive Design Was Built From the Ground Up

When Matthew Williamson introduced his first dedicated footwear collection in Spring 2013, unveiled during the London fashion season, the move felt less like an experiment and more like a natural extension of his vividly expressive fashion language.

Known for saturated color, ornate surface work, and movement-driven silhouettes, Williamson approached shoes as architectural foundations—designed to anchor bold looks from the ground up rather than merely decorate them.

Created in collaboration with shoe designer Joanne Stoker, the Spring 2013 collection translated Williamson’s signature swirls, jewel tones, and organic motifs into sculptural heels and sandals with strong visual presence. Instead of minimalism or trend-chasing, the designs leaned into texture, curve, and proportion—drawing inspiration from butterfly wings, iridescent insects, and botanical forms rendered through color and embellishment.

Sienna Miller grounds her leopard-print coat and lace dress with relaxed black ankle boots, while Matthew Williamson keeps things polished yet casual in tan leather brogues as they attend the Vogue party during London Fashion Week SS14 on September 15, 2013, in London (Credit: INFphoto)

Viewed from today’s perspective, the collection represents a distinct chapter in Williamson’s career. As of the mid-2020s, his creative focus has shifted primarily toward interiors and lifestyle design—most visibly through large-scale home collaborations and high-profile commissions, including the BRIT Awards trophy for 2026.

While he no longer produces standalone seasonal shoe collections, his continued footwear collaborations—most notably with Kurt Geiger—underscore the lasting relevance of his design language in shoes.

The Spring 2013 debut remains especially significant because it captures Williamson at a moment when fashion, footwear, and craftsmanship intersected with maximum intent.

Below, we revisit 10 standout styles from the collection—each illustrating how expressive design can still succeed when footwear is treated as the structural anchor of the look. This principle remains timeless long after its original runway moment.

A sculptural snakeskin-effect sandal with an ankle strap and sharply angled heel showcases Matthew Williamson’s fascination with texture, curve, and architectural balance

This nude platform sandal is elevated by a beaded fringe ankle detail and a sculpted heel, blending soft femininity with deliberate structure

A bold red suede slingback sandal features cutout panels and a stacked platform sole, using color saturation to emphasize shape and proportion

A sheer mesh sandal outlined in vivid green piping transforms organic, wing-like curves into a lightweight yet graphic silhouette

Fine mesh panels and intersecting straps give this sandal an airy, layered effect, grounded by a contrasting platform and slim heel

A printed ankle-strap sandal combines geometric textile patterns with a bright platform and heel insert, reinforcing the collection’s expressive, bohemian energy

This navy sandal pairs glossy, wave-like overlays with a block heel, balancing fluid ornamentation against a stable, wearable base

A block-heeled sandal in fiery red and orange tones uses painterly fabric placement to bring movement and warmth to a grounded silhouette

A pointed-toe pump covered in multicolored patchwork print highlights how a bold pattern can remain wearable when anchored by a classic heel shape

Flat sandals with translucent mesh uppers and swirling appliqué lines echo the collection’s insect-inspired motifs while offering a lighter, more relaxed counterpoint

Matthew Williamson’s Footwear Legacy in a Broader Fashion Context

While the Spring 2013 collection marked a focused moment in Matthew Williamson’s footwear journey, it didn’t exist in isolation. His approach to shoes—bold color, sculptural lines, and expressive surface design—has continued to surface across collaborations, red-carpet appearances, and fashion-week moments where footwear plays a supporting but deliberate role.

The examples below place his shoe work into a broader editorial and style landscape, showing how his design language translates beyond a single season while remaining grounded in wearability and visual impact.