March is upon us, at last. It’s time to usher in the spring season—and along with it, its fashion trends. During last September’s spring/summer 2024 runway shows, I took notes on which trends, styles, and silhouettes were likely to dominate the season. In addition to supportive ballet flats and chic metallic sneakers, there are five major trends to break down. You’re in for a pleasant surprise, actually, as most of these are (dare I say) foot-friendly.
Ahead, take a peek at which designer shoes all the It girls will be wearing over the next couple of months.
Functionality
At Gabriela Hearst, it was Birkenstocks. At Melke, Dr. Martens. I spotted fisherman sandals and crochet slippers at J.W. Anderson, and—drum roll, please—Simone Rocha had...Crocs. It seems as though designers all throughout fashion month opted to swap out skyscraper heels in favor of more practical footwear. Flats, for example, continued to rule the runways at Tory Burch, Staud, Fendi, and Proenza Schouler. Whether you choose to get comfy in orthotic ankle boots, dad sneakers, or even hit the town in your house slippers, you have high fashion’s blessing. And that’s a beautiful thing.
Birkenstock Boston Soft Footbed
Isabel Marant Eskee Quilted Suede Booties
Hosiery & Socks
Call your mom and tell her pantyhose are back, baby. If you’re taking notes from Etro, you’ll want to stock up on chunky socks to pair with your favorite spring wedges. You can even slip into tights with strappy or open-toed heels, à la Missoni, LaQuan Smith, or Jil Sander. The list of designers who used stockings this fashion month is lengthy—it would probably be shorter to name where I didn’t see them.
Bottega Veneta Domenica Boot
The Row Sock Leather Pumps
Flatforms
We’ve officially moved beyond the realm of chunky and into full-blown flatforms. Add some lift to your favorite loafers like Gucci did, or make like Collina Strada, Sunnei, and Etro and step into some bulky sandals. My personal favorite take, though, goes to Private Policy’s flatform UGGs.
Gucci Angelina Maxi GG Slide Sandals
Intentionally Blank Rule Breaker Flatform Sandals
Exaggerated Texture and Embellishments
Gone are the days of shopping solely for shoes and accessories. Now, you need accessories for your shoes. From Erdem’s floor-dragging fabric bows to Simone Rocha’s bedazzled Crocs, shoes for spring should be overtly textured and wildly embellished. Take, for instance, the fluff ball shoes from Roksanda and Roberto Cavalli. If you thought the feathered trend was over, think again. The Attico played with sequins while Ferragamo dabbled in wood beads. Mach & Mach leaned into all the above with bows, ruffles, and bling. If you’re gonna do it, you might as well do it big.
Ganni Black Soft Bow Heeled Sandals
Dries Van Noten Raffia Fringe Dual-Band Slide Sandals
Flip-Flops
It’s almost as if the fashion powers that be sensed the looming seasonal depression and decided to give us something to look forward to. Yes, we get couture flip-flops for spring. You can thank the likes of Staud, Sandy Liang, and even Burberry. At PH5, rubbery flip-flops and slides allowed the garments to take the spotlight. I can only imagine the delight of the models upon learning they’d be taking the catwalk in a pair of thongs.
Prada Soft Padded Nappa Leather Thong Wedge Sandals
Louboutin Loubi Spike Rubber Flip Flops
