Five years ago, had you brought me a pair of shoes that would, today, fit into the court-shoe footwear trend, I probably would have rolled my eyes before referencing the neverending supply of taupe-colored Naturalizers at my local Housing Works. If I hadn't seen the swan-like versions popping up in 2024, maybe I'd be reacting the same way right now. But I have—thanks to brands like The Row and Toteme—which is exactly why my perspective on the pragmatic, almond- and pointed-toe pumps and flats that fall under the court-shoe category has shifted so significantly.
Suddenly, court shoes are all I want to wear on my feet (no matter how often my mom tries to tell me that they look like shoes Ms. Geist would wear before her Clueless makeover). And I'm not the only one. All across fashion, the industry's best-dressed personalities are ditching their classic ballet flats, platforms, and super-high heels for the chic-yet-practical appeal of the court shoe, a comfortable and refined silhouette with an approachable heel, minimalist design, and versatile look that allows them to work with all of today's top ready-to-wear trends, from column skirts and shift dresses to vintage denim and nipped-in blazers.
Scroll down to find out everything you need to know about court shoes ahead of spring when I foresee an especially major spike in popularity for the already-buzzy trend.
The court-shoe trend began with The Row's F/W 23 collection, which debuted last year in February and showcased the brand's now-viral (and sold out almost everywhere) Almond Pump for the first time. Fit with an angled 50-millimeter heel, a rounded almond toe shape, and a curved vamp, the minimalist style quickly found success within The Row's loyal customer base, with both the onyx and soft gray colorways selling at a rapid rate. (I'd click through ASAP to see if your size happens to still be in stock—if not, never fear. I'm sharing lots of alternatives to The Row's Almond Pump below, including some secretly affordable options.)
Shop The Row's Almond Pump
In the year since The Row's Almond Pump first debuted, several highly influential celebs have embraced the court shoe, including Elsa Hosk, Kendall Jenner, Zoë Kravitz, and Alexa Chung, as well as content creators such as Neelam Ahooja, Débora Rosa, and Anouk Yve. As a result, similar styles by The Row and other brands have taken off, building out the court-shoe trend and turning it into a fashion-wide phenomenon.
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Back in the day, this style of shoe tended to look stuffy or boring, but this look by London-based content creator Marilyn Nwawulor-Kazemaks proves that the modernized version doesn't. Here, she styled a slingback version with stirrup leggings, an oversize brown blazer, and The Row's lauded Margaux bag.
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Loro Piana's now almost entirely sold-out Rebecca flats are another extremely popular option for anyone wanting to check off the court-shoe trend in a luxury fashion. Though this tortoiseshell version from the F/W 24 collection won't be stocked for a little while longer, there are still a few sizes in black available on the World Wide Web (and yes, I linked them below, plus some alternate styles if your size is sold out).
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Almond-toe styles aren't the only shoes that fit into this trend. Carven's F/W 24 footwear offering proved that pointy alternatives give off the same vibe, whether they're flat like the ones that can currently be purchased from Toteme and H&M, or have a practical heel, like the below pair from Neous.
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Though the court-shoe look has long been associated with work settings, The Row collector Neelam Gill proves with this look that modernized alternatives aren't limited to the hours between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Throw on a pair with great vintage Levi's and a billowy button-down shirt this spring and watch how good they look.
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If Jasmine Tookes wears something, you know it's good. Sure, hers might be pricey, but her taste is impeccable and always trustworthy. So when she donned these white Loro Piana flats during fashion month, everyone I know got busy starting a piggy bank to buy their own pair.
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This post was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
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