Ready-to-wear trends may come and go, but if there's one thing I always invest in to give my outfit a new lease of life, it's a new pair of trending shoes. There's no better time than spring to organise a wardrobe clear-out and to take stock of the pieces you wear the most, so once you've put together the perfect capsule of pieces to serve you for the season ahead, it's time to think about accessorising it, and boy does this year have some good shoes to make the most of.
So, what exciting footwear trends have we spotted on the feet of fashion's best dressed so far this year? Well, there's a little something for everyone in this mixed bag of heels, flats, boots and sandals, so whether you're into cool-girl boots, pretty ballet flats, or statement prints, there's something you're going to love in this line-up. Below, I've put together an edit of the six biggest shoe styles set to take over this spring, along with the six that I'll be phasing out for now in favour of something a little fresher. And the best part? You can shop all of these styles at our luxury go-to, NET-A-PORTER, so you'll find everything from affordable trainers to runway heels all in one easy edit. So, keep scrolling to see and shop all of spring's biggest designer shoe trends, I'm confident you're going to love them.
1. SHOPPING: MID-HEEL SHOESSHELVING: PLATFORM HEELS
Style Notes: So this one won't take too much explaining as this choice all comes down to comfort. Platforms may have had a runway and red-carpet moment recently thanks to Valentino and Versace, but all of the chicest (and non-celeb) women we know have bought into a far more wearable trend: the mid-heel shoe. You'll find this elegant heel on sandals, boots and pumps from some of our favourite brands (think The Row, Khaite and Toteme), and if any trend have those kind of fashion titans in its corner, you know it's well worth investing in. Your feet will almost certainly thank you.
SHOP MID-HEEL SHOES:
These have "spring" written all over them.
The kind of evening shoe that'll save your feet for the entire night.
A wear-everywhere slingback you can dress-up for the office or down for brunch.
I'll never get tired of this sophisticated silhouette.
2. SHOPPING: ANIMAL PRINTSHELVING: METALLICS
Style Notes: Don't get me wrong, a shiny, metallic shoe has it's place (usually party season), but if you really want to make a statement this spring, consider animal print shoes. Last year was all about the zebra, and if the runways are to be believed, this year sees the return of the timeless leopard, but my personal favourite? Reptiles, of course. Faux snakeskin and mock croc lend themselves perfectly to shoes and boots, and elevate even the most simple outfit into something fashion-forward.
SHOP ANIMAL PRINT SHOES:
These look even better in tiger stripes than they would in all-black.
Just add blue jeans and a black blazer.
Leopard print should be considered a neutral as these would go with everything from a cashmere knit and leggings to a sharp, tailored suit.
Mock croc, real style.
3. SHOPPING: CHUNKY CHELSEA BOOTSSHELVING: KNEE-HIGH BOOTS
Style Notes: This is less of a retirement and more of a a "see you later", as knee-high boots are eternally chic, but as much as we love the tall boot, spring calls for something a little less covered. The Chelsea boots that we wore throughout autumn/winter are sticking around for spring, and given the inclement weather, that can only be a good thing. Update the boot for the reason by wearing with dresses or the trending denim maxi skirt.
SHOP CHELSEA BOOTS:
Be prepared for spells of rain and cold-snaps with a durable combat boot.
The tan suede lifts this boot into spring territory, just imagine how good they would look with a light, airy dress.
The boot that launched a 1000 copies does come in cream as well as black, and feels like a lighter, warm-weather option.
Add a (little) heel for a dressier take on the classic Chelsea.
4. SHOPPING: COLOUR POP TRAINERS SHELVING: DAD SNEAKERS
Style Notes: One trend we didn't see coming was the huge success of the "dad" trainer, a retro-looking, off-white sports sneaker that looked more 90s than 2020s, but it ended up dominating the trainer trends for near on two years until the Adidas Samba toppled it off the top. So what style is everyone shopping now? Well, New Balance are still an insider favourite, but rather than the throwback 530s, we're looking for something brighter, bolder (and cooler) for the sunnier season ahead.
SHOP STATEMENT TRAINERS:
Clash with printed dresses and wear on repeat.
You're going to want a reliable pair like these in your wardrobe for every eventuality.
Pastels for spring? They might not be groundbreaking, but they're certainly pretty.
Everyone is stocking up on New Balance styles, so keep an eye on stock before these fly out too.
5. SHOPPING: BALLET PUMPSSHELVING: SLIPPERS
Style Notes: Every wardrobe needs a pair of easy flat shoes for the days that you're on-the-go, but there's no reason that they can't be practical but still look polished too. Slip ons are the obvious answer to easy footwear, but most lack the It factor that you can get from a chic pair of ballet flats. From Coco Chanel to Kate Moss, ballet pumps have a very stylish history, and they've made a welcome return for 2023, and this is one trend we hope to see sticking around for far longer than 12 months.
SHOP BALLET FLATS:
Honestly, the prettiest pair of ballet flats on the market right now.
An understated style you can pair with anything.
Thought you couldn't wear ballet flats for evening? Think again.
A Mary-Jane-meets-ballet-pump that ticks off two trends at once.
6. SHOPPING: WEDGES
SHELVING: STILETTOS
Style Notes: We're calling it now before the crowds follow, but 2023 is about to be a big year for wedges. Whether they're subtle spring wedges or raffia espadrilles for summer, we've fallen back in love with the iconic heel, and the best bit is, they're a comfortable, easy-to-wear wonder, so no need to dig out the blister plasters yet. Maybe I'm biased (I snapped a stiletto heel on my way to Fashion Week), but we deserve a shoe that we can rely on, and unlike skinny stilettos, wedge heels aren't going to break on you when you need them most. So take tips from Monikh's laidback styling and dress up your favourite jeans with a wedge heel for day-to-night look that works for any smart/casual dress code.
SHOP WEDGES:
A strong contender for the perfect holiday shoe.
Race you to the checkout.
The modern way to do a "grown up" wedge.
There's something 90's reminiscent about this wedge, making it the ideal accompaniment to the trending column maxi skirt.
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