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8 Shoe Trends We’re Looking Forward To

8 Shoe Trends We’re Looking Forward To

Straight off the runway and made for walking.

8 Shoe Trends We're Looking Forward To

The possibility of finally leaving our homes for the first time in a year means it’s time to get dressed again—and if you open your closet to find that your blazers and heels have been overtaken by sweatpants and house slippers, you’re not alone.

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The good news is that the top spring 2021 shoe trends aren’t that far off from what we’ve been lounging around in. Impracticality has taken a back seat to more sensible, pragmatic styles that’ll make putting together an outfit anything but a chore. Think: easy-to-wear flatforms that’ll elevate all the ribbed bottoms you stocked up on, chunky sandals that complement any outfit already in your closet, and work-from-home shoe, a new category we’re fairly certain was designed to ease us all back into the real world.

Ahead, eight trends that will walk you right into putting shoes on again.

Peter White/Getty Images
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Nineties-inspired flatforms might be one of the season’s most popular footwear trends, with labels like Erdem, Ulla Johnson, Tod’s, and Gabriela Hearst embracing the vertical trend.

Inspiration from Gabriela Hearst

Loewe’s saddle-stitched Gate sandals ground just about any springtime outfit.

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Simon Miller’s Chelsea Hansford has been slowly ushering the style back into the trend cycle over the last few seasons, but this time around, the brand has hit peak flatform.

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A neutral flatform from U.K. brand Neous feels inherently geometric thanks to the black piping.

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Victor Virgile/Getty Images
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Not unlike the platform footwear trend, chunky, two-strap sandals are a nod to decades past, fused with the newfound prioritisation of comfort. Brands like Longchamp, Anna Sui, and Jason Wu all showed their own spins on the two-strap shoe, with the latter pairing his with breezy dresses and resort-ready separates.

Inspiration from Jason Wu

Double buckles give this Phillip Lim sandal a feminine touch.

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The classic Birkenstock is officially back—and the brand’s recent collab with emerging talent at Central Saint Martins resulted in these wear-everywhere slides.

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Saint Laurent
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Saint Laurent crafted the ultimate suede slip-ons.

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Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
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After enjoying a few seasons in the trend spotlight, thong sandals have slowly morphed into a style that belongs in every closet—no matter how closely you follow the cycle.

Inspiration from Jacquemus

Jil Sander puts comfort first with a low platform-like heel and a padded strap.

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This easygoing style will become a go-to staple in no time.

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Stella McCartney’s rubber-and-cotton sandal is as light as air.

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Estrop/Getty Images
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Big toes don’t usually get much of the spotlight, but the toe-loop trend—which emphasises crisscrossing and other strappy details that often separate the big toe from the rest—is the apparent evolution of the thong sandal.

Inspiration from Acne

 

Acne Studios
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Acne’s dual-strap sandals are a strappier version of the traditional thong sandal.

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Who says toe loops are just for heels?

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Reike Nen was an early adopter of the crisscross toe strap.

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Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
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This season, Dior, Marina Moscone, and Khaite brought back the comfortable staple in various forms.

Inspiration from Dior

A tie-up ballet flat is always in style.

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Cecilie Bahnsen and Hereu reimagined the ballet flat with a square toe.

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Ruched, elasticated slip-ons give ballet flats some edge.

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Proenza Schouler
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In the spirit of staying close to home, super-comfortable, slipper-inspired sandals like these seen at Proenza Schouler made their way into the sartorial zeitgeist for spring and beyond.

Inspiration from Proenza Schouler

Givenchy’s Marshmallow sandal is made to be lived in—indoors or out.

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Proenza Schouler
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A clog-slipper hybrid, Proenza Schouler’s lambskin leather slipper is *supposed* to look that oversized.

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Victor Virgile/Getty Images
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Fendi, Prada, and Givenchy all paired their ready-to-wear with bright, can’t-miss-’em shoes in rainbow hues.

Inspiration from Fendi

Key lime green is spot on for spring 2021.

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These Balenciaga slides will be the star of any outfit.

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Estrop/Getty Images
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Woven footwear has its bohemian roots, but the 2021 version, as seen at Dior, Acne, and Bottega Veneta, is twisted and braided, often from a thick, padded leather for a dimensional effect.

Inspiration from Dior

 

Bottega Veneta
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Unlike the braids from summer camps of years past, Bottega’s gold-tone chain-link interweaves with leather for a luxury feel.

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Acne Studios
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The chestnut hue of Acne’s braided sandals gives them a lived-in vibe that gets better over time.



This article originally appeared on Harper's BAZAAR US

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