We have fallen COMPLETELY in love with the spring/summer 2016 shoe trends! Most of the shoes come with a very appealing minimalistic approach, which is something we adore as we all need variety and practicality at the same time in our everyday endeavors. Others have been given birth to accompany our special occasions! And, let’s not forget the fab pieces that bring sweet nostalgia or era’s gone but not forgotten! But, enough with the talking. Time to show you exactly what we mean!
Here are are top 15 footwear trends for this spring and summer!
1. Laced up Sneakers
They are casual but who says they can’t be dressed up, too? We have seen then in different styles, from bootie and slingback (see Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger) to slides (CK) and everything you can imagine in between! Adorable!
2. Flats
Along with the laced up sneakers, this year’s trends bring an inviting combination of femininity and comport with flats. And, we mean, REALLY flat flats, such as the pieces that appeared at Zac Posen’s catwalks (wit see-through material) and Bottega Veneta’s runways (fab slingback flats). However, we couldn’t leave out Prada’s impressive version and the ballet-like shoes with the big balls on top!
3. Flatforms
Flatforms follow the same principles as the platforms we have all wore at some time. The difference is that they have a lower heel. It’s not super flat, but not as high as a platform while some of them also come with a rather heavy edge (i.e. Versace). And, if you like chains and studs, Alexander Wang will satisfy your needs! Something tells us that they are going to be summer favorites for many women out there!
4. Leather
Although not as huge as 2015, leather is still here, and we’ve seen it on everything from Jason Wu’s fringed slingback heels to Derek Lam’s flats. As for Valentino’s feathery version, words are just not enough! However, if you are more into the more classic approaches, Dior’s footwear will tick your boxes for sure.
5. Fringed Up
They became big last year and continue to hold on strong. Fringes and tassels are many designers’ favorites this year, and we can see them appear on shoes this season, too. We felt over heels with Marissa Webb’s orange suede heels with the gorgeous laced up pattern. We’ve also seen them embellish slingback sandals (see Jason Wu) and also sport funkier approaches (see Christian Siriano and No 21) to please all tastes!
6. Mules
On the frontline for one more year, mules now come with heavy heels, which could make them a bit uncomfortable to wear. That said, what’s not to love at the amazingly fabulous slip-on designs, Gucci’s golden heels and impressive snakes climbing up the heels, Lela Rose’s pointy approach with the golden toes and lucite heels, and the fantastic suede versions as seen at Mansur Gavriel’s runway?
7. Slides
Besides mules, there is a bunch of slide-in footwear that breaks the monotony with lots of color and beach looks! Except for Fendi’s black and white slides with platform heels, we’ve also picked out Balenciaga’s all-white slippers with the lacy details, and Proenza Schouler’s black and red pieces with the block heels. Finally, Givenchy gave a different and fascinating note with silver lace-up booties that are actually slides!
8. Ankle Boots
Yes, don’t be surprised! There is a lot of boot style footwear this season. You will see sneaker-style booties (Ralph Lauren), glittery booties (Marc Jacobs) and an intriguing version of the lace-up booties most of us loved in the past, as seen at Givenchy’s collection, with front flaps and slides! If we had to pick our favorite footwear, we’d definitely point our fingers to Chanel’s lace-up ankle boots. The silver snakeskin, blocked heels, and the open-toe design captured our hearts! The same goes for Celine’s gorgeous red boots!
9. Glitter and Some More Glitter!
Although too much glitter may have a negative effect on a fine piece, designers such as Oscar de la Rent and Marc Jacobs have managed to turn that concept around. We’ve seen pointed toe heels in gold with an added sparkle, glittering clogs with lovely ornamentation, sculptural heels with some extra sparkle, and suede pairs with beautiful bows and all the glitter in the world that we can’t ignore!
10. Espadrilles
They were a huge trend back in the 90s, and we are very pleased to see them experiencing a strong comeback! It is the shoe that we have characterized as the epitome of comfort with a touch of femininity This season, they sport delicate ankle straps, sequin embellishments, and silk uppers but also come in chunkier versions, too.
11. Pointy-Toe Heels
If you love stilettos, then you’ll adore this trend! Pointy-toe heels are sexy and are now given an even more appealing (slingback) look, with laced-up pieces in front (see Givenchy), leaving the rest of the foot up to the ankle covered, in wonderful golds, reds and oranges, with strategically placed cut outs and some extra glitter (see Marc Jacobs) or easy-to-wear booties-style, to please all tastes!
12. Sandals
All laced up to the mid-calf and sensual, this season’s sandals are simply awesome. We loved the suede pieces with the fringes and stiletto heels as fashioned by Marissa Webb, but we can’t leave out Salvatore Ferragamo’s approach and their chunkier pieces that certainly turn heads! Needless to say, sandals with lucite heels and those gorgeous floral embellishments we saw at Tanya Taylor’s collection left us in awe!
13. Lucite Heels
Speaking of sandals sporting lucite heels, we also loved how amazing, yet oh-so-sophisticated, lucite heels looked in golden, pointed-toe mules (see Lela Rose). And, for those that are so into snakeskin footwear, Mary Katrantzou did it again with her adorable silver pieces with the fantastic cross-shaped heels!
Not to forget some other very interesting heel designs this season. The sculptural heel is a trend that was big last year and is still dominant. From crystallized golden molten lava to snakes wrapping around the thicker heels, designers just don’t stop surprising us!
14. Print
One of the biggest print trends for this season is definitely plaid, and it makes no wonder that we’ve seen lots of it adorning the feet. Plaid platforms matched with bright studded finishes (Chanel), sandals with straps tied around the calf, and fab red stilettos (Miu Miu) are some of the inspirations that stole our hearts!
15. Suede
From pointy mules to sandals, suede is a favorite and lovable material that is coming back refreshed from the 70s. From the many pieces we saw sashaying the runways, Marissa Webb’s orange lace-up heels, bubblegum pinks, and fab bowed, black slides at Mansur Gavriel and Oscar de la Renta respectively, earned a place in our hearts!
16.Peep Toes
Many women’s favorites, peep toes have come totally revamped. You can have peep toes even if you are a loyal follower of bootie styles. Designers such as Chanel and Max Azria have come forward with some divine inspirations that give us futuristic ankle boots with amazing snakeskin accents in silver and a clear back that you certainly need to try!
17. Shoes & Socks!
Even imagining wearing shoes with socks in the heart of summer makes us sweat! However, this admittedly unusual trend was something we saw massively on the runways. It’s crazy, but it’s also appealing in some bizarre way! Tassels, fringes, glitter, and ankle strapped pieces draw lots of attention, as well as some rather ugly socks worn with slingback shoes, too!
By the way, want some even more unusual? Among the craziest spring/summer 2016 shoe trends worth mentioning is knee-length boots! Indeed, Vetements, Mary Katrantzou, Philipp Plein, and Vandevorst are some of the designers that let their creativity go wild, and gave us pieces that stand out for sure!
Other Spring/Summer 2016 Shoe Trends:
- Gladiator Sandals – With stiletto heels and open toes, knee-length gladiator sandals are among the hottest trends for this season. You can see them in lots of amazing designs, from more conventional black and orange looks to more extreme that can make a man’s heart pound with desire!
- Heavy Footwear – Chunkier designs have made a big entrance this season, and their heavy look is so hot right now that it’s no wonder that we all want to get a taste of them, although some are not quite the definition of flattering footwear! Maybe, it’s because they give us an extra sense of security when wearing them that has stolen our hearts. No matter the reason, Salvatore Ferragamo’s laced up sandals that go all the way to the mid-calf, Alexander Wang’s studded footwear, as well as Burberry Prorsum’s chained slingbacks, Chanel’s flirt with sandals, plaid, and socks, Fendi’s adorable slides, and Rick Owens geometrically designed sandals are show-stoppers without a doubt.
- Studs, Buckles & Chains
- Lots of Silver
- Ties & Laced up Shoes
- Kitten Heels
- Block Heels
- Cowgirl boots with square or pointed toes.
- Color and Layers, be it block heeled, platform or slingback shoes.
For more Spring/Summer 2016 Shoe Trends, check out this article!