The official start to summer may still be several weeks away, but there’s no question that the trends of the season have already arrived. Based on what designers cooked up for the spring/summer 2023 collections, things are looking sleek, sculptural, and ultra-elevated this season, and that’s especially true for the major shoes on the menu.
After combing over the runways, my social media feeds, and the market, I’ve landed on the seven shoe trends that I’m positive will have the biggest effect on style for the season ahead. With the sleek wedges inspired by the ones we saw from Ferragamo and the floral-appliqué heels by the likes of Magda Butrym and pretty new iterations on ballet flats, consider this list to be your North Star for all things stylish summer footwear. Ahead, dive into the seven major summer shoe trends that will no doubt come to define the season.
Not to freak you out, but wedges are officially coming back from the dead. Thanks to the sleek and refined versions from Ferragamo and Khaite, 2023’s wedges are far from the chunky espadrilles we used to know and I’d even go so far as to say that wedges are *the* shoe trend of the moment and one that will define the summer.
The longer that ballet flats trend, the prettier the iterations emerge and the latest among them are ultra-delicate mesh flats. With viral pairs like the Alaia netted flats and Khaite’s crystal-adorned mesh pair, these breathable flats are already all anyone can talk about or shop for.
Sculptural metal embellishments can be found on everything from handbags to shoes right now, but one minimalistic sandals, the trend might be its prettiest (and most wearable) iteration yet. Look for artful metal accents that lend an elevated feel or otherwise simple sandals.
Summer may be the time of year when our styling choices veer towards the simple and minimal, but the wave of brightly-colored sneakers bubbling up right now is anything but. From shocking yellow Onitsuka Tigers to the Adidas Gazelles that come in the prettiest pastels, reaching for a colorful pair of sneakers is the freshest choice you can make right now.
The rosette trend is all anyone can talk about this year, and for summer, the pretty florals are only blooming bigger. Floral-appliqué sandals by the likes of Magda Butrym make such a chic statement for the summer. Reach for them to dress up a simple outfit.
While more of a niche detail, there’s an undeniable trend happening across flats and heels and it’s all about a glossy patent-leather finish that lends a chic, dressed-up feel to anything.
As we’ve touched on already, it’s the summer of flats and chief among them are Mary Janes, a fresher take on ballet flats that seem to only be getting better and better by the day. The buckle detail adds just a touch of detail that makes them interesting but so easy to wear with everything from skirts to jeans to dresses.
