Ask any fashion editor, and they’ll reiterate the importance of choosing your shoes wisely. Get it right, and a pair of shoes can make your outfits look chicer and more put-together. You don’t, however, need to opt for high heels to achieve this sartorial sweet spot. Nowadays, there are many elevated shoe options to choose from, from flats to trainers, which can help you carve out the sartorial identity you envisage for yourself. Reading between the lines: Shoes are important. So much so I was interested to find out which shoe trends our editors were most excited about for this season, balanced out with the styles they’re not so enthused about.
It’s worth noting that style is entirely subjective—what works for one person won’t always work for another—so if one of our editors is skipping a shoe trend you happen to love, please don’t take it to heart. As if to prove my point, there’s one shoe trend in particular that has two of our editors deadlocked; there’s no right or wrong, just personal preference.
So, without further ado, scroll on to see the six shoe trends our editors think feel a little, well, dated for 2023, plus the six they’ll be wearing instead, and see who you agree with.