We see some metallic footwear every season, but this year it’s having a fashion moment. You’ll see all sorts of silvers, golds, bronzes, pewters, and mixed-metal shoes across a variety of styles. Some metallics are hectically shiny, futuristic, mirrored, and bright, and others more subtle, dull, weathered, and matte. Metallic shoes can be super dressy and formal, or as casual as a sandal, espadrille, wedge, or sneaker.

Here are some examples.

Metallic footwear is thought of as neutral and versatile. For some, it is a wardrobe essential. It can dress up a look, make a statement, break up a column of colour, and add interest with its shine. The right metallic shoe can bookend your hair and effectively pull together an outfit. It you like shiny things, you’ll probably like metallic footwear.

I like shiny metallic footwear, and vote yay. Gold works well as a neutral for the palettes of my wardrobe, and can bookend my blonde hair. I usually stick to gold, but have also worn silver shoes in the past. Currently, I have two pairs of gold shoes that I use for formal occasions. They are several years old, but in good shape because they are infrequently worn.

This brings me to the thing about metallic footwear that I don’t enjoy. Unless the leather is weathered, textured, or matte to begin with, metallic leather tends to scuff very easily. I like to clean the scuff marks off my shoes so that they look pristine and new. I haven’t yet achieved that with metallic footwear. I’ve had metallic boots, pumps, flats, sandals, and oxfords that were workhorses, but my word, were they prone to scuffing. After a while, I simply made peace with the scuff.

I can successfully clean the scuff marks off my white and cream shoes, but gold shoes are problematic. Protecting them with leather protector hasn’t worked either. It’s why I haven’t bought gold footwear for years, and why I have held off getting these gold ECCO sneakers which I know are a comfortable match for my feet.

Over to you. Do you like and wear metallic footwear? Have you been able to remove scuff marks without damaging the leather?