Written by Sara Macauley PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES
Shoe lovers, rejoice! Hot off the catwalks of New York, London and Milan is a selection of eclectic, varied and hot-to-trot shoe styles to spice up your spring wardrobe. Whether you love a sensible shoe or you’re a fan of wildly impractical footwear, this season’s styles offer something for everyone.
We’ve done the legwork for you and compiled the runway’s best trends into one definitive list. So if you’re wondering what to wear south of your ankles this season, we’ve got you suitably booted.
All White A refreshing burst of white appeared on the runways for S/S18, and we’re into it. Bright white heels click-clacked along the catwalk at Thom Browne, as did lace-up dress shoes in brilliant white. There’s something about the cleanness of a plain white shoe that makes any outfit look more classy. Just be careful to avoid the puddles!
Cowboy Boots A far cry from the Wild West era cowboy boots, this S/S18 staple has been given a makeover and is now the go-to item to carry you through chilly mornings, and into brighter summer days. Less dress-up box and more haute couture, the boots of this season have been reworked into plush cream leather, futuristic silver, and for those who dare to go bold – red snakeskin. Yeehaw!
Futuristic Trainers Before this season, if someone had suggested trainers with a sole thicker than an orthopaedic shoe would be on our wishlist, we probably would’ve laughed out loud. But the spring/summer runways have done the unthinkable, and we’re now coveting thicker than thick soles. Balenciaga’s Triple S Trainers have sold like crazy, and high street retailers like Topshop are hot on their heels with budgetfriendly versions – which are a whopping £557 cheaper than the originals! We’ll be hopping, skipping and jumping on our way to get some.
Embellishment Instead of investing in a new wardrobe this spring, make a smart choice and opt for a pair of standout embellished shoes. Whether crystals, ribbons, feathered or adorned with pearls, buying into this decorative footwear trend means any outfit you wear gets the star treatment. We particularly love the Loeffler Randall colourful jewel-embellished mules, which cover two trends in one go.
Crayola Brights At the other end of the shoe spectrum you’ll see shoes in rainbow-bright colours. Crayola hues including yellow, pink, primary red and blue adorned the feet of models as they sashayed down the catwalks. Translate this trend into a wearable springtime look by donning a pair of neon trainers with an otherwise pared-back outfit. For a fresh evening look, shun the wallflower look and match a pretty floral suit with a fluorescent stiletto.