Keeping up with high fashion is not for the faint of heart. Styles come and go in the blink of an eye. By the time you catch on to a trend, it’s probably overdone. That’s why I’m here: to keep my finger on the pulse so you don’t have to.
Now, let’s get down to business and talk about the best fall 2024 shoe trends. Even with the best fashion trends, no look can be complete without footwear—and what would the fashion industry be without shoes? (The honest answer: more comfortable, but alas.) Ahead, I’m breaking down five major shoe trends for autumn based on the fall/winter 2024 runways we shall last season, from Copenhagen to Paris and every catwalk in between. Because now, you can finally shop them all.
High Tops
Put down the Converse; I’m not talking about that type of high top. Rather, the fall runways saw several iterations of what I dubbed “Minnie Mouse shoes.” These mostly come in the form of ballet flats or closed-toe pumps, and the defining feature is a high-rise vamp. For the uninitiated, the vamp is the portion of the shoe that starts at the toes and covers the top of the foot. Traditionally, vamps don’t extend much beyond the toes, but that’s all changing this season. Trendsetting labels like MM6, Tibi, Blumarine, Roksanda, and Fforme are ushering in a new norm. Even coquette queen Sandy Liang partook.
Mansur Gavriel Glove Flat
Givenchy Show Slingbacks
Well-Over-the-Knee Boots
Are they pants? Are they shoes? The goal is to keep everyone guessing. The higher the boot shaft, the closer to heaven—at least, that’s what I feel. All over the fall runways, boots went beyond knee height and went straight into mid-thigh territory. It takes artful stylization to make this type of shoe work on a practical level, but boy, does it pay off. Houses like Versace and Christian Dior featured flat boots, while LaQuan Smith, Fendi, and Gucci went for stiletto heels. Luar double-dipped on trends with a fur pair, but it was Bally that gave me hope I might be able to pull this off, styling a flat pair with jeans and a blazer.
Proenza Schouler Trap Over The Knee Boots
Reformation Ruby Over The Knee Boot
Dior D-Quest Thigh Boot
Square Toes
Square-toe shoes are starting to creep back into high fashion. This is much to my delight, and your podiatrist will probably be pretty happy about it, too. (Shoes with wide toe boxes are better for your feet.) Tory Burch and Bevza took the ballet flat route, as did Sandy Liang, who paired the style with sweatpants. Prada showcased how the feature translates to boots, and so did Eckhaus Latta with much success, at least in my opinion.
Acne Studios Leather Knee-High Boots
Maison Margiela Tabi Penny Loafers
Furry Textures
This season’s shoes are all about fur, fuzz, feathers, and shearling in all varieties of shapes and colors. It’s commonplace for shoes to be lined with fur or sherpa, but seldom have I seen these textures on the exterior—until now. J.W. Anderson, Ferragamo, Simone Rocha, and Marni were among the fall/winter 2024 shows our team found this trend.
Miu Miu Shearling Mary Jane Ballerina Flats
Prada Shearling Mules
Moncler Pacey Genuine Shearling Sneaker
Leg Warmers
The ’80s called, and leg warmers are totally back—in a major way. Except this time, think more ballet and barre than aerobics class. No matter what kind of shoes (or outfit, for that matter) you plan to wear this fall, try slipping into a pair of leg warmers. Knit or furry, vibrant or pastel, there were many different takes on the style from Collina Strada, Kim Shui, Anna Sui, and Susan Fang.
Viavia Zola Chunky Knit Leg Warmers
Simone Rocha Cluster Flower Stirrup Socks
