The ‘90s continue to influence current trends, and in particular, the latter ‘90s. All sorts of footwear that some of us saw and wore back then are coming right back into fashion. If this includes you, you might want to wear some styles again. Or skip them and stick to what works best for you.
‘90s footwear was generally black. Not this time round. There’s a lot more footwear in shades of white, pastels, brights, metallics, patterns, earth tones, and navy too.
On to the trends as I see them. Some are mainstream and others fringe. Some shoes cover several trends at once. There is a wide variety since refined and chunky styles are equally on-trend. Both flats and heels too.
1. Super Square and Super Pointy Toes
The exaggerated ‘90s pointy toe is back. It’s very long, refined, and witchy. They make your feet look longer, and are dramatic. Their counterpoint is the equally on-trend extreme square toe, which can shorten the look of the foot. Square toes are a good roomy toe box option.
2. Platforms and Flatforms
Platforms are heels that make your feet arch when you wear them. Flatforms are heels that allow your feet to stay flat because the front and back of the shoe are raised to the same height. Platforms and flatforms can be dressy or casual. Chunky lug soles continue to trend on a range of footwear styles.
3. Clogs
The iconic classic and casual clog with its ‘70s integrity continues to enjoy a fashion moment. Wear them in any colour and pattern. Some clogs are simple, while others are adorned with hardware like bits, studs, and grommets. Some are very high-heeled and platformed, and others much flatter.
4. Refined Stiletto Pumps
The high-heeled, pointy-toe, classic stiletto pump wafts in and out of fashion. It’s refined, and does not have a platform. It’s back as a dressy option to wear as a glam option with jeans, a professional option with business attire, or to a smart event with a dress, jumpsuit, or separates.
5. Kitten Heels
For those who prefer a lower heel with a refined touch, kitten heels are an option. To recap, a kitten heel is a short stiletto heel below 2 inches in height. The heel curves in from the back edge of the shoe. You’ll find kitten heels on sandals, mules, slingbacks, pumps, and sometimes loafers too.
6. Heeled Mules and Slides
The flat mule and slide has been enjoying its revived fashion glory for a while. Its cousins, the high-heeled versions are the on-trend version. Toe boxes are round, pointy, or square. Heels are stacked, block, wedged, or narrow.
7. Dressy Sandals with Socks and Hosiery
This trend has been coming through for a while, and is gaining momentum. It’s a way to wear dressy sandals in colder weather, and is quite the acquired taste.
8. Slouchy Boots
This style of boot is heeled or flat, and very wide on the leg, so much so that it falls down and slouches around the lower leg. The height and slouch of the boots vary. Some are tall and slouch very dramatically because they are made of soft, floppy fabric. Some boots are shorter and their slouch is structured. It’s a fringe trend.
9. Mary Janes
Picture just about any style of closed-toe shoe as a Mary Jane, and it’s on-trend. Heeled, flat, dressy, casual, refined, or chunky, with any shape of toe box. The strap secures the shoe in place on the foot, which prevents it from falling off like some slip-ons can. The strap can be positioned higher or lower on the vamp of the foot.
10. Fancy Flats
Think of DRESSY closed-toe shoes with heels up to about an inch high, and they are on-trend. They can be ballet flats, mules, Mary Janes, slingbacks, or ankle-strap flats. Shiny patent and metallics look particular dressy.
11. Dainty Thong Sandals
Toe-loop sandals can be worn instead of thong-style sandals if that’s more comfortable. Think of narrower straps, and a refined look. They are the opposite of chunky, and either flat or heeled.
12. All Types of Loafers
Chunky loafers have been all the rage for a good few seasons. Their momentum continues. Refined styles like classic penny loafers are having a fashion moment too. So are slipper flats, loafers with tassels and hardware, horse bits, fringe, and high heels.
13. Colourful Sneakers
Solid white and solid black sneakers are classics, whether the styles are athletic, non-athletic, or a hybrid of sorts. Coloured and multi-coloured sneakers are the on-trend and current version. Think pastels, brights, jewel tones, mid-tones, and murky mid-tones across any style of sneaker.
14. Western Boots
Cowboy boots, or boots with a Western integrity, are iconic classics having their fashion moment. They can be tall or short, and any colour or design. The idea is to wear them with anything, year round.
15. Burgundy
Burgundy shoes are trending in the Spring and Summer – which is new! – and not just in the Autumn and Winter. You’ll see Summer footwear silhouettes in very rich and dark deep reds and purple-reds.
16. Closed-Toe Slingbacks
Slingbacks are shoes that have a strap around the back of the heel instead of a strap over the vamp of the foot. The heels of the foot are exposed, and in many cases the vamp of the foot is bare too. The strap that slings back around the heel can be broad or narrow. It can be elasticated, or buckled. They continue to be a fringe trend.
17. Patent, Mesh, Satin, Metallics
Textures like patent and satin are gracing shoes across a range of silhouettes. Satin is a fabric shoe, which might not be to your taste, or reserved for dressy occasions only. Patent and metallic shoes are often leather, and just about any shoe style can be patent or metallic. Cracked patent is a fringe trend. Non-athletic mesh shoes are a fringe trend too. They are see-through, made of synthetic fabric, and can be stretchy.
18. Fisherman Sandals
Fisherman looks are fringe and gaining momentum. They are a high-vamped sandal with a distinctive set of interwoven straps across the toe box, and a strap across the ankle with a buckle. Some styles are dressier than others.
19. Dr. Martens
Dr. Martens boots, shoes, and sandals are iconic unisex classics. They were particularly popular in the ‘70s and ‘90s, and have come back with a vengeance. Like cowboy boots, the idea is to wear them with anything, at any time.
20. High Heel Strappy Sandal
The sandal has dainty narrow straps, sometimes many of them, and a narrow stiletto heel. Sometimes there is an ankle strap, or d’orsay detailing. Sometimes there is a thong feature between the toes. Every so often the heels are stacked, but stiletto is the norm.
21. Round and Block Heels
Shoes with circular heels and block heels are there. Circular heels that appear round from the side are a fringe trend, and can be low or high heel heights. Block heels that slant to the outside are a fringe trend and look dramatic.
22. Tall Boots
Tall boots across a range of dressy and casual styles with either flat or high heels continue to trend and are gaining momentum. They are typically worn with skirts, dresses, and shorts. Occasionally worn over roomier pants and jeans for a knickerbocker-effect.
23. Gladiators
This type of iconic classic, strappy flat sandal is an excellent ventilating option in high heat when you find a comfortable pair. Straps can be narrower or broader, and can come up above the ankle. Some have a higher heel, and are adorned with hardware. Some have toe loops. They can be chunky or refined.
I am set in my ways with footwear because my feet are fussy, and I do not compromise on comfort. I don’t wear heels at all. If the trends work for my feet, style, and sartorial preferences, bonus! If they don’t, I move on. Right now my footwear collection is trendier than expected because the classics that I like to wear are having a fashion moment. From this list of trends, I wear classic loafers, lug-sole boots, gladiators, fancy flats, Mary Janes, colourful sneakers, patent, round and block heels, square toes, pointy toes, metallics, burgundy, and tall boots. I’m always on the lookout for white cowboy boots that go the distance. And I continue to wear my very comfortable collection of refined ankle boots and oxfords whether they are on-trend on not.
How do these trends look to you?
