The "Cheap" Shoe Trend People in London and Paris Are Suddenly Wearing
As a fashion editor, I always endeavour to bring you an unbiased take on the trends—I'm well aware I don't have to personally like something for it to hold value for others. As long as it's relevant, has grounding and could enhance someone's style in one way or another, I'll report on it. However, I have to admit, there's one trend in particular that I had previously written off but which, surprisingly, I've been coming round to recently. Because of this change of heart, I can be transparent with you. Before this year, I always thought white shoes looked cheap. I put this down to a pair of white, two-inch heels I wore nonstop between the ages of 16 and 18. I forget where they were from but I almost certainly picked them up in a bargain bin for under a tenner. They were awful—a shiny, faux-leather material that started to peel after I wore them out in the rain one time, yet I still insisted on wearing them again and again. It's this image that's been tethered to the white-shoe trend in my mind ever since.
However, I've started to realise that not all white shoes are made equal (read: to the low standards of my first pair). In fact, all the chicest outfits I've been saving on my feeds for the last couple of months seem to feature, in particular, white, low-heel shoes; and we can trace their influence back to Prada. At the start of the year, fashion people began snapping up Prada's bright white slingback shoes for their Fashion Week wardrobes. Emblazoned with the iconic logo, they were a cult item during the warmer months, with the brand releasing several variations as we progressed into autumn and winter. And now we're seeing the full effects of the white-shoe movement, with searches for the term spiking by a massive 250% in the past week.
The brand at the heart of the trend? Prada.
Across London, Paris and New York, white, low-heel shoes keep cropping up, paired with party outfits and tailoring in equal measure. Pointed toes pay homage to the Prada OGs, but French influencer Anne-Laure Mais (pictured further down) also proves that almond and round toes have just as much worth, too. The key to making what I would formerly have described as a "cheap" shoe trend look chic is this: styling. In all my favourite examples, the outfits themselves are elegant. Then there's the heel height; low heels feel more effortless than their high-heeled counterparts. Also, the selection of white shoes available has diversified to include ivory and off-white—whilst stark white looks sharp and cool, these diffused tones will blend more seamlessly with your outfits, and in turn, ensure they don't feel out of place.
The moral of the story is to keep an open mind, particularly where shoes are concerned! I'm officially a convert, and I've rounded up an edit of the chicest pairs of white, low-heel shoes across every budget (including any from Prada I could find in stock). Scroll on to find yours.
SHOP THE WHITE LOW-HEEL SHOE TREND:
The OGs (though with a slightly higher heel—the lowest height are still out of stock).
Tick off two shoe trends in one with a white mary jane.
Hannah Lewis pairs her white, low-heel Prada shoes with a sheer skirt for a day in London.
These come in so many chic colours, but the white is my favourite.
If The Row's in on it, you know it's going to be a big deal.
Not the lowest heel, I know; but the wedge element makes it feel like you're walking on air.
These look designer, don't they? They also come in gold if you're equally as obsessed as me.
The trend has also jumped stateside, with Caroline Lin wearing hers nonstop.
It may not strictly be sandal season, but Reformation's Meena heels come in handy year-round.
Charles Keith is really nailing the white, low-heel brief.
Paris-based influencer Anne-Laure Mais wears a pair of white, low-heel mary janes with a black-and-white look for an even chicer impact.
These Khaite shoes will make every outfit you wear them with look more "fashion".
I will never not want a pair of Manolo Maysales.
Next Up: It's My Job to Spot Shoe Trends—9 Pretty Styles That Will Rule 2024
Maxine Eggenberger isBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK’s deputy editor and has over thirteen years of experience in fashion journalism. She been creating engaging and elevated style content specifically forBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK since 2018, covering runway reports, emerging trends, long-form features, self-styled shopping stories and columns, including her edit of the best new-in buys. She ensures the highest editorial standards are met across the site, leads the editorial team in their SEO strategy and keyword planning, works closely with the beauty team on content initiatives, represents the brand at industry events, and regularly contributes to social media, including her ownBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK TikTok franchise, French Style Fridays. Previously, Maxine appeared on ITV's This Morning in her own fashion segment and has interviewed countless celebrities—everyone from Victoria Beckham to Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o.
Prior toBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK, Maxine’s career began when, after completing her first-ever internship at Look magazine, she was offered a position on the brand's fashion desk. She accepted, leaving university a year early in the process. Her passion and natural talent for writing and styling meant she swiftly rose through the ranks to become the title's fashion news and commercial content editor, with a stint as InStyle.co.uk’s fashion and beauty writer along the way. She later served as Look’s acting Editor in Chief, overseeing both print and digital, before embarking on a successful freelance career, working with Grazia, The Pool, and Marie Claire amongst others.
Maxine is based remotely from her countryside home near Edinburgh where she spends her downtime renovating her house, walking her dogs, hosting friends and trying to master the art of making Old Fashioned cocktails.
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