Better Than Ballet Flats (and Loafers): The Shoe Trend It Girls in NYC and Paris Will Be Wearing This Spring
It's classic but fresh at the same time.
This story was originally published on September 5, 2025. It has since been updated.
There's a feeling I get when I spot a specific jacket detail or shoe silhouette that tells me it'll become a thing, and I trust it implicitly. Whether a bunch of influential people have worn it yet doesn't matter. They will in time. They always do. That exact feeling arrived last season when I was looking at the footwear section of Phoebe Philo's website and laid eyes on the designer's Club Slipper, an ultra-sleek pump with a short, one-inch heel, a square toe, and a high vamp. It comes in two colors—oxblood and black—and features stitched panel detailing on the soft, supple leather, which gives the style an almost glove-like fit. It's a perfect shoe, one that can't possibly go unnoticed by the masses.
When, shortly afterward, I saw a similar style at Reformation—called the Inez Pump, which comes in black, Espresso Eel, and Cream Puff—I knew I was on to something. A new arrival at Zara in olivey green was the final straw. A fresh shoe trend had staked its claim, and I was predicting a bright future for it. Defined by its high vamp, this shoe style is sleek, sophisticated, and classic to a fault, all the while feeling different from any other trendy shoe on the market right now. It's better than a ballet flat in that it's more elegant and refined, and more unexpected than a loafer, which is probably why It girls in NYC, Paris, and London are wearing it ahead of spring. Styled with miniskirts and sheer tights, vintage jeans and graphic T-shirts, and tailored black trousers, high-vamp pumps are the no-brainer shoe style to wear now and through to 2027. It's the new everyday shoe that's shockingly versatile and primed to earn compliments.
On the Runway
To further prove how worthy this shoe trend is of being invested in, high-vamp pumps were all over New York Fashion Week, showing up in collections for Tory Burch, Proenza Schouler, Michael Kors, and Calvin Klein. All featured heels with a noticeably raised vamp that gave an almost glove-like fit. And with fashion month only just beginning and plenty more shows to come, I have a feeling these won't be the last catwalks we see graced with the trending shoe style.
Ahead, see how fashion people are styling their high-vamp pumps and shop the shoe trend I'm going all in for this spring.
How to Style High-Vamp Pumps
Get the look: Graphic T-shirt + White jeans + High-vamp pumps
Get the look: Bomber jacket + Cigarette pants + High-vamp pumps
Get the look: Black top + Khaki pants + High-vamp pumps + Oversized sunglasses
Get the look: Furry coat + Tights + High-vamp pumps
Shop High-Vamp Pumps
I'm ordering these right away. They give the look of a cool flat with just the right amount of heel to give me some lift.
This is arguably the most beautiful shoe I've seen all year.
For an affordable alternative, you can't beat this $70 on-sale pair from Mango.
I'm still trying to decide between buying the black version and this one in Espresso Eel.
I just found these and am already planning a trip to Toteme's Upper East Side store to try them on.
The kind of shoe you'll own and wear forever.
For any time that your outfit needs a boost.
Aeyde makes the kind of shoes fashion girls wear again and again.
Jude is one of those brands that, at least for now, only the chicest people know about. It'll be everywhere soon, but if you want to own something now that many people own, buy a pair of Jude shoes.
If you already own something similar in black, go with this burgundy COS option. The color is so rich.
Who doesn't love a good snakeskin shoe?
These are selling out so fast.
Butter yellow: the color of the season.
A great going-out shoe.
Why Trust Us?
AtBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing , fashion is our specialty. Our editors have years of industry experience, from reporting on seasonal fashion trends seen at international fashion weeks to working with some of the most recognizable names in fashion. Every item we recommend is carefully selected based on current trends, quality, and real-world wearability.
We regularly try pieces ourselves, including everything from bestselling jeans to designer shoes, speak to external experts and fashion insiders, and stay closely connected to what our readers are searching for. Our advice is grounded in expertise and has to pass our exceptional taste levels—so you can feel confident in every recommendation.
