It’s time to delve into one of my favourite topics to write about, and that’s autumn. With a summer season that seems to have been cut short, you could spend your time reminiscing of the few balmy, linen-clad days we did have. Or you could embrace the change and dive deep into autumn. Me? I’ll be doing the latter, though it does help that autumn is my favourite time of the year to dress for. As the crisp air settles in and leaves begin to change their colours, fashion people everywhere start to think about revamping their wardrobes for the season ahead, and one of the most effective ways to do so is via some shoes.
Coats and knitwear might still feel premature but you can start making (and wearing) smart footwear decisions now. We’ve already touched on the fact that closed-toe shoes are back at the forefront of our minds, so I thought now would be as good a time as any to cast an eye back to the autumn/winter 2023 runways and take stock of the autumn shoe trends that are set to dominate this year.
For autumn 2023, designers have pushed the footwear boundaries like never before, introducing an array of innovative and captivating shoe options that will elevate any outfit to new heights. From the collections it’s clear to see the impact the ’70s and ’80s has had on this year’s autumn shoe trends, as platforms, metallic finishes and slingback were recurring themes. Then things take a pretty turn by way of beautiful bows, along with a very polished take on flats. Indeed, the 2023 autumn shoe trends celebrate individuality and self-expression, and cater to various tastes and preferences. Whether you’re a lover of classic silhouettes or something statement, this season has something for you.
Keep scrolling to discover the nine major autumn 2023 shoe trends, as seen on the runways, and to shop them at every price point.
Style Notes: Autumn/winter 2023 saw many designers look to the past to inform they’re future collections and although many of the shoe trends that overarch the season hail from the ’70s and ’80s, there is one which first crops up farther back in the archives. T-bar shoes first came to provenance in the 1920s and were an integral part of the flapper-girl uniform. Now, however, after Mary Janes made their mark on the fashion scene last autumn, I’m eager to embrace 2023’s T-bar upgrade.
These look the 1920s part.
This Gucci style comes in an array of colours.
A minimal take on the trend.
Style Notes: Flat shoes have never been as popular as they are now, and just when I thought we’d made our way through all the key styles of note, along comes a fresh haul of pencil-point flat; shoes with toes so pointy they resemble a freshly-sharpened HB. Use them to add instant polish to jeans and jersey or make like the Zimmermann, Ulla Johnson and Prada runways and pair with pretty dresses for a romantic take.
The pretty pearl detailing only amplifies the trend.
Sleek and sparkly.
These also come in classic black.
Style Notes: Have you been black court shoes all this time? The easiest of heels are back, and this time they’re being worn with other sleek ’90s separates to give them an edge. Think sexy tailoring, column skirts and a palette largely dominated by grey, white and taupe. As seen at Prada and Ferragamo, these go-with-everything shoes have never really gone out of fashion, but it’s been a long, long time since they’ve been given this sort of high-profile attention.
The flared heel gives these courts the edge.
Mock-croc finishes will give your shoes an expensive-looking finish.
Simple and effective.
Style Notes: The antidote to the flat shoes that typically rule the summer months, platforms are back for autumn 2023 and let’s just say they’re pretty hard to miss. If they’re not brightly coloured or ultra metallic, they’re huge. As in I haven’t seen platforms this high on the runway since Naomi Campbell fell over in her Vivienne Westwoods huge.
Picture these with cream trousers and a vest top.
In a word: Wow.
These also come in a rich burgundy tone.
Style Notes: Silver jewellery had long been overlooked in favour of gold but that all changed last year when designers began serving up statement earrings, jumbo necklaces, and cocktail rings in the cold-tone metal. Then, as these things often do, by spring, the trend had spread to encapsulate clothing. And now, on the cusp of autumn, I’m already starting to see silver on the hottest heels and chicest flats.
Would you look at that wedge!
Tick off two trends in one with a silver mesh ballet flat.
Everyone will want a pair of silver boots by the time winter hits.
Style Notes: Channel Melanie Griffith in Working Girl in the chicest way possible (one which doesn’t involve shoulder pads). Be it a mule, a slingback or, indeed, a court, the ’80s serves as an overarching autumn-shoe trend aesthetic. Think mock-croc finishes, elongated toes with a squared-off end and kitten heels. Briefcase and pinstripe skirt suit optional but absolutely advised.
M&S’s best-selling slingbacks are back!
The perfect ’80s-shoe silhouette.
Try styling these with ribbed socks to up the retro feel.
Style Notes: Be they soft-suede socks or knee-highs with room all around, the defining theme when it comes to 2023’s boot offering is this: They have to be easy to pull on and go. From the stretchy leathers at Lanvin to the extreme slouches at Proenza, I’m embracing this new take on boots, mainly because it means I have a better chance of getting them over my calf.
These boots were a hit last year, so I’m thrilled Reformation has brought them back for 2023.
Sock boots don’t have to be knee-high to tap into the pull-on trend.
These fold over themselves to create a calf boot.
Style Notes: The autumn 2023 is one that embraces the fanciful, and no shoe trend optimises this quite like the big bows that decorated everything from ballet flats to slingbacks. Loewe’s gold velvet pair scream opulence, while Giambattista Valli perfectly demonstrates how the crystal-shoe trend as evolved since last autumn.
The perfect party shoe does exist.
These look so premium.
Then I think of bow shoes, Loeffler Randall is the first thing that comes to mind.
Style Notes: If I’m being entirely honest, I don’t know how I feel about this trend, but as one of the most prevalent shoe looks on the autumn 2023 runways, it would be remiss of me not to give it it’s due. Rubber and foam shoes were seen everywhere from Jil Sander to Loewe, cementing them as a key look for the season ahead. While they might not be my cup of tea, I do understand the appeal; weatherproof and durable, they really are made with a British autumn in mind.
Not your usual UGGs.
These come in so many colours—take your pick!
You know it’s a thing when Bottega Veneta is doing it.
