It's Confirmed: These 6 Heel Color Trends Will Define 2026

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A collage of runway images showing models wearing red, gray, two-toned, yellow, chocolate brown and Cloud Dancer heels.
(Image credit: Launchmetrics Spotlight)
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We may be in the throes of winter, but that harsh reality will in no way fetter self-professed shoe freaks from fantasizing about every trend they'll be wearing this spring (our editors included). Nothing can beat the experience of stepping outside on the first proper day of spring in a pair of pumps. Forget feeling the sun on our skin! Finally being able to swap out winter boots for sandals, sneakers, or stylish heels? That's really the stuff of our dreams. Of course, every footwear-related fantasy is eventually tempered by reality, then by our current bank accounts. Unfortunately, we can't justify spending a fortune every season on the impractical options—ahem, heels. Don't hate the messenger, but we've all had lapses of judgment that lead us to buy shoes we know are too uncomfortable, go overbudget for a buzzy designer pair, or adopt a fleeting trend. No judgment here, friends!

Despite these common pitfalls, that doesn't mean you have to give up on shopping for heels altogether. There's a simple way to still dip your toe in new heel trends without stepping out of bounds: Embrace color. By shifting your focus away from trending silhouettes to the season's biggest color trends, you'll be able to invest in shoes that are both functional and fashionable. If that's not enough to convince you, simply think of how a pair of heels in a colorful shade can break up the monotony of your boring basics. Bright pumps give a whole new meaning to putting a pep in one's step, making them one of the best ways to indulge your fantasies this spring. If you struggle with impulse control, you'll want to keep scrolling, as we've curated the six best heel color trends to buy in 2026. These heel colors are bound to reach new heights.

1. Cloud Dancer

A collage of runway images showing Cloud Dancer heels. On the top left is a model wearing white pointed kitten heels on Sportmax's spring runway. On the top right is a model walking in Saint Laurent's spring runway show wearing a leather jacket, a white button-down, a black leather pencil skirt, black sheer tights, and white pointed pumps. In the bottom left is a model wearing high-vamp pointed white pumps on Stella McCartney's spring runway. On the bottom left is a model wearing a navy leather fringe skirt with white kitten heels in Bottega Veneta's spring show.

(Image credit: Launchmetrics Spotlight; Pictured: Sportmax S/S 26; Saint Laurent S/S 26; Stella McCartney S/S 26; Bottega Veneta S/S 26)

There's no better way to step into the new season than by wearing one of the most talked-about color trends: Cloud Dancer. Dubbed the Color of the Year by Pantone, this shade stands out from the typical stark white we see in design spaces because it draws inspiration from the clouds to create a soft, airy hue meant to evoke the emotion of a fresh start. Although one could argue that white isn't a new color trend, designers have made it feel fresh in their spring collections by focusing on footwear, from Stella McCartney to Saint Laurent. We've seen classic silhouettes ranging from high-vamp pumps to pointed slingback heels made sharper through this color trend. The result is a series of cloud-inspired white heels that anyone would dream about getting their hands on this season.

2. Slate Gray

A collage of runway images featuring slate gray heels. On the top left, a model walks down the runway in Stella McCartney's spring show wearing a long cream trench coat, black leather shorts, and gray high-vamp round-toe pumps. On the top right, a model is wearing gray pointed pumps walking in Saint Laurent's spring show. On the bottom right, a model walks in Bottega Veneta's spring show wearing rimless sunglasses, a gray crocodile trench coat over a tan leather shirt, a yellow slip skirt, a tan clutch bag, and gray shearling heels. On the bottom left, a model in Calvin Klein's spring show walks down the runway wearing gray pinstripe trousers, a red crocodile crossbody bag, and gray mules.

(Image credit: Launchmetrics Spotlight; Pictured: Stella McCartney S/S 26; Saint Laurent S/S 26; Bottega Veneta S/S 26; Calvin Klein S/S 26)

Almost in direct opposition to the lively shades spotted in shows, we saw designers turn to moodier slate gray. If Cloud Dancer is about embracing a more sanguine disposition, then slate gray is about acquiescing to the gloom—at least when it comes to your closet. The color has been around for a couple of seasons now, but current events and cultural aesthetics have made slate gray one of the most compelling heel color trends of the moment. While the allure of slate gray can be attributed to the rise of quiet luxury or even the recession, what's kept it relevant is its ability to adapt to different fashion lenses. Like shifting winds in a storm, slate gray can oscillate between stark minimalism and brutal maximalism, as shown in sleek mule loafers in Calvin Klein's spring show and shearling pumps at Bottega Veneta. It can effortlessly represent the full spectrum of feelings—or, rather, personal styles—cementing it as a must-shop color this year.

3. Espresso Martini

A collage of runway and street style images featuring chocolate brown heels. On the top left, a model's walking down the runway at Dior's spring/summer 2026 show wearing chocolate-brown pointed pumps adorned with gold hardware in the shape of a "C." On the top right, a model walks down Versace's runway wearing a black leather eel-skin pencil skirt styled with a matching jacket, a brown structured handbag, white short socks, and dark brown pointed slingback heels. On the bottom right, a Tory Burch model is wearing a navy blue pleated skirt with high-vamp pointed pumps in dark brown adorned with chain hardware. On the bottom left, a Chanel model walks away from the camera wearing a light tan fringe trench coat with an oversize tan suede bowler bag and chocolate brown pumps.

(Image credit: Launchmetrics Spotlight; Pictured: Dior S/S 26; Versace S/S 26; Tory Burch S/S 26; Chanel S/S 26)

If one thing's clear from the spring/summer collections, it's that creative directors weren't afraid to serve up new spins on classic neutrals. Case in point: espresso martini. Although one might argue that designers including this shade could be them trying to re-create the commercial success chocolate brown has had over the last few seasons, footwear on the runway tells a different story. From Chanel to Dior to Versace, we saw shades of dark brown surface in the form of square-toe heels, elegant slingbacks, and hardware-adorned pointed pumps in a way that was indicative of a desire not to conform to what's trending but to make traditional heel silhouettes a bit tastier. By incorporating variations of espresso martini, each newly appointed creative director—Matthieu Blazy, Jonathan Anderson, and Dario Vitale—managed to nod to the rich history of each luxury house while putting their best foot forward. We'll toast to that.

4. Chili Pepper

A collage of runway and street style images chili pepper red heels. On the top right, a model walks down the Tory Burch runway wearing a low-slung white pencil skirt with a two-tone belt, gold chain bracelet, and red pointed pumps adorned with a gold chain. On the top left, a model on Ferragamo's spring runway show walks away from the camera wearing a white striped dress with wood bangles, a black clutch bag, and red pointed ankle strap pumps. On the bottom right, a model walks down The Attico's runway wearing a white asymmetrical dress, a zebra handbag, and red peep-toe platform pumps. On the bottom left, a model in Prada's spring show wears bright red pointed kitten heels adorned with bows.

(Image credit: Launchmetrics Spotlight; Pictured: Tory Burch S/S 26; Ferragamo S/S 26; The Attico S/S 26; Prada S/S 26)

For those who are tired of the same old shoe color trends, designers have cooked up a spicier alternative this season that we're dubbing chili pepper. Not to be confused with the darker merlot that has dominated runways recently, the defining difference of this warmer color is that it's so bright in comparison to its predecessors that it should come with a warning label. Yes, it's really that hot. The shade itself isn't the only reason footwear feels zesty this season, as designers paired the color trend with sultrier details in a way that can only really be described as, well, spicy.

For example, Prada transformed a pair of pointed kitten heels from prim to risqué by incorporating slinky straps across the top that tied into a pristine bow, creating a form of toe cleavage. Similarly, at Tory Burch, Ferragamo, and The Attico, pumps got even saucier with details such as ankle straps, curved heels, high vamps, platforms, and even peep toes. It seemed that designers wanted to make it clear that you might as well commit to taking a couple of risks if you're going to wear chili-pepper red.

5. Banana Peel

A collage of runway and street style images featuring bright-yellow heels. On the top right, a model stands backstage at Loewe's spring show wearing a green minidress, a black clutch bag, and yellow pointed kitten heels. On the right, a Ferragamo model walks down the runway wearing banana-yellow pointed heeled mules. On the bottom right, a model walks in Bottega Veneta's show wearing a blue striped button-down shirt with a navy blue woven leather skirt styled with butter yellow pointed kitten heels. On the bottom left, a Victoria Beckham runway model is wearing mustard yellow ankle-strap sandals.

(Image credit: Launchmetrics Spotlight; Pictured: Loewe S/S 26; Ferragamo S/S 26; Bottega Veneta S/S 26; Victoria Beckham S/S 26)

Do you know the old adage "If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen"? Well, designers didn't take those words to heart, as the consistent through line in the spring/summer collections was turning to other food-adjacent colors when chili pepper didn't suit their taste buds. One shade that was seemingly in everyone's pantry? Banana peel. No, you didn't slip up reading that sentence. Yes, banana-hued heels are becoming a thing. The inevitable takeover of bright yellow began a few seasons back when everyone had a hearty appetite for all things butter yellow: purses, pumps, the works. Although butter yellow might be making its way to the back burner, banana has stepped up to the plate this season.

From Loewe to Ferragamo to Bottega Veneta to Victoria Beckham, we've seen banana-yellow heels ranging from an unripe shade that's brighter than butter to a hybrid between mustard and banana. We know it sounds unappetizing, but trust that it looks appealing. If you spend enough time scouring the collections, you're sure to find a shoe color trend that satisfies you.

6. Not One But Two

A collage of runway and street style images showing two-tone heels. On the top right, a Fendi model is carrying a knitted baguette styled with two-tone peep-toe pink and brown sandals. On the top right, a model is walking in Ferragamo's spring runway show wearing an oversize cream cashmere cardigan layered over a gold fringe dress styled with a black fringe scarf, an orange clutch bag, and two-tone T-strap pointed heels. On the bottom right, a Tibi model is wearing black mules with a contrasting white ankle strap. On the bottom left, a Chanel model is wearing a gold fringe top and matching skirt styled with white and black high vamp pumps.

(Image credit: Launchmetrics Spotlight; Pictured: Fendi S/S 26; Ferragamo S/S 26; Tibi S/S 26; Chanel S/S 26)

Of course, there are those of us who struggle to pick a single shade to shop for the season as we try limiting ourselves to buying one pair of trend-forward heels. Thankfully, the shoe gods have heard our prayers this season. Across the spring/summer collections, we saw creative directors embrace not one but two colors in the form of two-tone slingbacks, pumps, mules, and so much more.

At Chanel, high-vamp pumps in white, nude, and black were adorned with contrasting piping and dipped toes. At Ferragamo, black patent-leather pointed-toe pumps felt even sharper with a contrasting T-strap detail. Similarly, we saw a minimalist take on the two-tone shoe trend at Tibi with a pair of black mules with contrasting straps. Possibly the best example of designers embracing the "more is more" ethos this season could be found in Silvia Venturini's final collection for Fendi, where playful peep-toe sandals embraced maximalism through jubilant color pairings. Think: bubblegum pink and chocolate brown. Whoever said that you had to choose one heel trend, or color for that matter, never saw these collections coming. Consider this your permission slip to embrace color this season.

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Jasmine Fox-Suliaman
Jasmine Fox-Suliaman
Freelance Fashion Editor

Jasmine Fox-Suliaman is a freelance writer and editor living in New York City. What began as a pastime (blogging on Tumblr) transformed into a lifelong passion for unveiling the connection between fashion and culture on the internet and in real life. Over the last decade, she's melded her extensive edit and social background to various on-staff positions at Who What Wear, MyDomaine, and Byrdie. More recently, she’s become a freelance contributor to other publications including Vogue, Editorialist, and The Cut. Off the clock, you can find her clutching her cell phone as she's constantly scrolling through TikTok and The RealReal, in search of the next cool thing.