Not to freak you out, but wedges are officially coming back from the dead. Whether you never stopped wearing them (kudos to you if so), or you felt the need to ditch the style immediately post-college graduation, everyone and their mother has a tumultuous relationship with the shoe style, so there’s no denying that that a 2023 return is literally shocking news. But before you fully freak out, the wedges that are coming back now are far from the chunky platform wedges you used to know. The shapes this year are much sleeker and the designers behind them are much buzzier.
Thanks to Bottega Veneta and Khaite, 2023’s wedges are defined by cutout heel shapes that could be works of art in their own right, and many other designers are following suit. With sculptural shapes and streamlined, non-platform silhouettes, I’d even go so far as to say that wedges are *the* shoe trend of the moment and the retailers carrying these styles you’re about to see below are proving me right. Even the fall 2023 collections echoed this sentiment with Ferragamo, Givenchy, and Missoni showing sleek wedges via slingback and Mary-Jane styles that convinced us this isn’t just a one-off shoe moment—it’s whole trend movement. Now that spring has finally arrived, we’re ready to depart from our old ways and preconceived notions and embrace the trend for all it’s worth.
Ahead, see where we’ve charted 2023’s wedge shoe trend from the runways to fashion people’s feeds and then shop the pairs that are defining the movement.
When Bottega Veneta resurrects an age-old shoe trend with a slew of modern updates, you pay attention. This season, the brand introduced wedges in both a standard pump and the metal-adorned slingback style seen here and it immediately piqued our interest. Not only did it mark the return of wedges in our minds, but the cutout heel shape is an especially exciting update.
Okay, Reformation. The brand’s small-but-mighty shoe selection is not playing around this season. And wedges are the one trend they’re backing with full force. Here, in a patent slingback and also in a simple mule which we’ll get into shortly.
These have been causing a big stir in our editors’ Slack channels since the day they first dropped. Between the curved shape of the heel and the tactful use of hardware, it’s safe to say these are the designer shoes ranking highest on our wish lists right now.
Yep, it was love at first sight. I had already started to see this cutout heel shape percolate but when this Tamara Mellon drop landed in my inbox last week, it solidified them as the It style to know in my mind. The designer also informed me that this style features her built-in cloud cushion sole for extra comfort. A win-win, if you ask me.
If you’re looking for a simple, wearable sandal to live in this spring and summer, these sleek wedge mules from The Attico should definitely be on your radar. They’re far from the chunky espadrille wedges we once knew but just as versatile.
Zara just released their take on cutout wedges—in a cool metallic finish, no less—and I wouldn’t be surprised if they sold out in the next week.
While I’ll have to wait until the fall for the beautiful pumps you see in the above runway to become available to shop, these from BY FAR are filling the Ferragamo-shaped whole in my heart in the meantime.
Reformation’s other wedge style is this perfectly wearable mule that you’ll be shocked by how often you’ll end up wearing it.
Not only does Mango’s pair combine an updated wedge heel with ’90s straps but it’s definitely the coolest $100 you could spend all season.
Wedge sandals are obviously popping for spring, but mark my words: come fall, it will be all about the wedge boot.
Knock out two trends in one go with these silver wedges.
These might just be the perfect spring shoes. BTW, they also come in white, orange, and vibrant blue.
Museum-worthy. That’s how I’d describe Alaïa’s aplty-named sculpture mules that blur the lines between art and fashion. While the cutout wedges we’ve been talking about all have a similar silhouette, these stand in a league all their own.
The avocado shade of green that’s suddenly everywhere right now works especially well on these simple wedge mules.
The buckle detail and hardware straight up look like luxury. I would have never guessed how cheap these slides really are.
Yep, they also come in black.
There’s something so sporty and Prada red label-inspired about these straps.
On-trend and easy.
Reformation tells me that this pair in the silver shade are selling especially quickly right now.
The sandals that every fashion insider seems to own.
By now, you might start to be seeing that wedge sandals stand to be the new block-heel sandals.
So major.
It’s giving summer in St. Tropez.
The 2023 update to those neutral heels you wear to every wedding.
BRB, placing bets on which celeb will wear these first. I’m putting money on Kendall Jenner.
