The 6 Biggest Fall 2023 Shoe Trends

Collectively, everyone woke up one morning in early June and chose violence. Or, specifically, the bright yellow Onitsuka tiger sneaker. The hive mind has been particularly powerful as of late when it comes to what people wear on their feet—and it can sometimes be hard to not take the general public’s adoption of a niche trend as a personal attack. Last summer (and the one before that) it was the Adidas Samba. Now it's the Onitsuka. But for fall, thankfully, it actually appears that there isn’t just one shoe that will reign above the rest. While the biggest shoe trends of fall 2023 skew comfortable, they don’t come in the simple packaging of an It sneaker.

If you’ve always thought the wedge heel was misunderstood, you’ll be pleased to know the silhouette is making a comeback. At Ferragamo, wedges were sculptural, built like arched statues made of patent leather. As for footwear that remains closer to the ground, at least one model at JW Anderson padded down the runway in socks (and no pants). A similar look was seen at Burberry and Stella McCartney, with models trading in trousers for long slouchy boots. And Loewe’s follow-up to the viral rose heel slingback appears to be the leather pant boot, which feature all the details of a classic five-pocket trouser design but for your soles. Overall, there weren’t many sneakers in sight.

Read on for the six biggest shoe trends of fall 2023.

Related article: The 6 Best Shoe Trends To Shop Now

Fall 2023 Shoe Trends: Updated Wedges

Wedges have been getting flack for years—maybe because they tend to remind people of the cork ones that gained popularity in the mid-’00s, thanks to Jersey Shore. The wedges that graced the fall 2023 runways, though, didn’t look like anything you’d see at a beer-soaked frat house circa 2008.

Ferragamo’s Vidya wedge pump has the sex appeal of a classic sky-high pump with the dual-buckle design of a trendy Mary Jane. Maryam Nassir Zadeh’s sleek peep-toe wedges look cool now but will seem even cooler by October, when downtown girls will inevitably find ways to style them with stockings. Basically, all of the wedges we’re seeing right now are far more covetable than they are controversial, and they’re all helping rebrand the style as an overlooked accessory powerhouse.

SAKS FIFTH AVENUENEIMAN MARCUS

Fall 2023 Shoe Trends: Shoes That Look Like Socks—and Also, Literal Socks

To be a member of Gen Z is to own many pairs of leg warmers. The unexpected accessory has become a calling card amongst those interested in documenting their outfits on TikTok, and you’ll see plenty of them while walking in New York’s SoHo.

Designers have taken note, some literally—Sandy Liang styled them with her signature, sold-out square-toe ballet flats—and some more impressionistically, like Matthieu Blazy, who made a pair of flat leather boots for Bottega Veneta’s fall 2023 show that just looked like knit socks. JW Anderson took it one step further, sending some models down the runway in actual socks. Clearly, the cozy look is in.

Photo: Everlane

Photo: Sandy Liang

Fall 2023 Shoe Trends: Elevated Bunny Slippers

Maybe a pair of fuzzy slippers is your preferred footwear for lounging around—and now you can wear them out of the house. At last season’s Fashion Week, shearling was just as likely to be seen on a pair of shoes as it was on a pair of shoulders. The furry material has long been used in footwear, but the new iterations feel more unexpected. Shearling could be seen spilling out from under high-heeled flip-flops and horsebit pumps, cushioning feet in a luxurious cloud of fluff, or covering clogs and boots completely, adding texture to looks with more two-dimensional dresses.

Photo: Courtesy of Marni

Photo: Courtesy of Net-A-Porter

Fall 2023 Shoe Trends: Tall Slouchy Boots in Lieu of Pants

The best way to wear pants these days is by just not wearing them at all. At least, not in the traditional sense. Loewe dares you to consider its knee-high leather pant boot an alternative to jeans—the gathering of lambskin leather folds mimics the oversize denim slouch of a great pair of vintage Levi’s.

Similarly, models at Y/Project swapped out pants for long slouchy boots that look like jeans from afar, and at Stella McCartney there were long rugby tops paired with even longer over-the-knee boots. If you’re looking to extend your micro miniskirt’s life into the colder month, these boots provide coverage without compromising personal style.

Photo: Courtesy of Loewe

Photo: Courtesy of MyTheresa

Photo: Courtesy of MyTheresa

Photo: Courtesy of Reformation

Fall 2023 Shoe Trends: A Pop of Fiery Red

Audrey Hepburn’s floor-length red silk evening gown in Funny Face. Julia Roberts’s off-the-shoulder crimson dress in Pretty Woman. Marilyn Monroe’s sparkly, sequined ruby ensemble in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. For years, red dresses have stolen the spotlight. And while the color is as hot as ever, now everyone wants to wear it on their feet.

A red shoe doesn’t have to be sweet like Dorothy’s slippers; it can easily be just as tantalising as a thigh-high slit. At Tory Burch, models wore head-to-toe red with fishnet stockings and red buttoned-up dresses finished off with red heels. At Prada, the red pump was a cool cherry on top of an otherwise neutral look. A red shoe is essentially a sexy look finisher that’ll never fail you, just like your favourite tube of bold red lipstick.

Fall 2023 Shoe Trends: Walking on Whimsy

“Quiet luxury” has the girlies acting a little too serious. Sure, timeless wardrobe essentials have been percolating on the runway, but there are still plenty of brands having lots of fun, especially where shoes are involved.

No one’s having a bigger laugh than Jonathan Anderson, whose comic balloon heels made of actual latex balloons are finally available to shop in stores. At Chanel, Virginie Viard introduced the quirky fishnet boot with patent and bow details, and it has quickly become as collectable as the funky glitter boot from 2017. And Mrs. Prada’s origami ballet flats, with tips that appear like a folded paper bouquet, were certainly made with a wink or two. We’re not saying you shouldn’t dress in subtle layers of luxe fabric this fall—just consider adding a touch of humour with a shoe that gives the look some zest.

SAKS FIFTH AVENUENORDSTROM

Photo: Chanel

This article originally appeared in Harper's BAZAAR US.