5 shoe ideas put spring in step

After a bone-chilling, snow-dumping, just-plain freezing winter, we’re more than ready to greet spring with a warm and bright, “hello, sunshine!”

And while the idea of snapping up new swimsuits, shorts and tank tops doesn’t escape us, we’re choosing to start the season off with some serious shoe shopping. After all, sandals, wedges and sneakers are totally forgiving of that holiday weight we haven’t quite yet managed to shed yet, right?

Here are five spring shoe styles perfect for 2014. Just add sunscreen, a fresh pedicure and let those toes wiggle.

Floral prints: Flower power is a perennial spring staple, and, this season, the pretty print is making its way to footwear. Brands including J. Crew, Guess, Florsheim, Ivanka Trump, Ted Baker London and more offer floral sandals,sneakers, pumps, ankle boots, oxfords - you name it. Freshen up your favorite little black dress, girly up your jeans-and-T-shirt ensemble or just add a little pep to your usual office attire.

Oxfords: The oxford or brogue menswear-style shoe was popular for fall and winter, but it’s sticking around for spring, too. Linen, perforated leather or cutout details make the shoe warm weather-friendly, and shiny metallics, animal prints, polka dots, stripes and other prints add whimsy. We like styles from Gap, Dolce Vita and Cole Haan.

Skater shoes: If you kept your Jeff Spicoli checkerboard Vans around, just hoping they’d make a fashion comeback one day, now is the time to pull them out of storage. Slip-on sneakers are all the rage, with high-end designers like Givenchy, Jimmy Choo, Lanvin, Marc Jacobs, Prada and Saint Laurent putting their spin on the skater classic. The latest versions come in all kinds of fabrics - denim, canvas, leather and burlap, and in a huge variety of colors and prints. We are especially digging camo, stripes, lace and florals and with chic embellishments - crystals, leather piping and studs among them. Not ready to spend a week’s pay on a pair of sneakers? You’ll find plenty of slip-ons from brands such as Lauren by Ralph Lauren, Topshop and, of course, Vans, for less than $50 each. Gnarly!

Chunky mules: The mule, a backless sandal, made a serious comeback during the spring 2014 fashion collections, spotted on runways with designs by Celine, Chloe and Victoria Beckham. The modern version features a high platform wedge (see Aldo, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Jeffrey Campbell) or a tall chunky heel (Victoria’s Secret, French Connection, Rag & Bone). Also look for fun details like fringe, cutouts, see-through heels, grommets and other embellishments.

Birkenstocks:They may have a reputation as being an anti-fashion statement, but that’s probably why style insiders seem bent on making them cool again. Isabel Marant, Trina Turk, Edun and others paired ready-to-wear runway looks with the hippie sandals during the spring 2014 fashion collections. And whether you opt for the original, or a Birkenstock-inspired pair from labels like Sam Edelman, Steve Madden or Zara (or, if you have money to burn, sandals from Givenchy, Marni or Lanvin), at least you can be sure your feet will be comfortable. Now, that’s a trend we can get behind.