One of the best parts of fall is kicking off those summer sandals and slipping into a whole new season’s worth of shoes. And Fall 2023 does not disappoint.
From ballet flats to loafers to cowboy boots, this fall season has all of the fresh shoe trends a girl could ask for. We rounded up the top trends and most standout styles to incorporate into your Fall 2023 wardrobe.
Ballet Flats:
One of the biggest summer styles this year was the ballet flat and it shows no sign of slowing down. It’s one of those transitional wardrobe pieces that slips out of summer and straight into fall. From timeless classic flats to a bit more creative styles, every designer has a point of view on the ballet flat. Whether your personal style is simple or has a little bit of edge, there is a perfect pair for you. For example, a gorgeous, simple mesh ballet flat from Dear Frances pairs back to everything in your wardrobe this season. For a little bit of shine, JW Anderson and Loeffler Randall have got you covered with their studs and crystal embellishments or you can try Porte & Paire’s metallic flats in silver. Stuart Weitzman blends just the right amount of toughness and sweetness with his black leather ballerine with pearl strap. And Jacquemus gives us cherry red, the color of the season, with his square-toed ballet mules. (Sofia Richie was just spotted wearing a similar pair to NYFW.)
Clockwise from top left: Crystal-Studded Denim Ballet Flats, JW Anderson; Les Ballets Square Toe Mules, Jacquemus; Balla Mesh Ballet Flats, Dear Frances; Metallic Leather Ballet Flats, Porte & Paire; Goldie Pearl-Embellished Ballet Flats, Stuart Weitzman; Leonie Crystal Embellished Ballet Flats, Loeffler Randall
Kitten Heels:
These lower heels are an easy way to step your game up and make any outfit chic. It really plays to the Quiet Luxury trend, with an expensive look and feel at any pricepoint. Pair them with wide leg jeans to up a casual look or with a power suit for important meetings. With a low heel being the trend, you’ll be able to rock these all day no matter how you choose to style them.
Some standouts this season include Alaia’s clear PU pumps with heart shaped patent leather patches and Khaite’s crinkled patent leather slingbacks with gold chains. Zara’s silver kitten heels go with anything and priced at $49.99, they’re an easy sell! Manolo Blahnik’s pointed-toe white pumps are gorgeous and make a statement for fall (we don’t believe in rules about white shoes after Labor Day). Pair these with a head to toe off-white look – white jeans and a sweater is a refreshing take on fall dressing. Anine Bing brings the edge with her steel tipped black leather sling backs. And for a delicate, feminine take, try Studio Amelia’s black mesh pumps.
Clockwise from top left: Cœur PU Slingback Pumps, Alaia; Metallic Kitten Heel Slingbacks, Zara; Marfa Chain Embellished Slingbacks, Khaite; Black Razor 50 Heels, Studio Amelia; Nina Heels with Metal Toe Cap, Anine Bing; Carolyne Satin Slingback Pumps, Manolo Blahnik
Mary Janes:
Mary Janes are the shoe of the season and the buckled strap detail seems to go back to any style including ballet flats, loafers and block heels. Mary Jane lends a cool-girl vibe to any silhouette but especially to the ballet flat and Vibi Venezia makes their style even cooler, crafting it from navy velvet. The Row’s version is made from soft, white leather and looks so comfortable, you can live in them all day long. Zara’s triple buckle detail is a standout as is Le Monde Beryl’s mesh version with patent leather trim. One of the biggest runway trends from the Chloe show was the chunky platform Mary Jane with a t-strap and large buckle detail. And if you want to give your classic black pump a little something extra, try Jimmy Choo’s block heel with pearl detail.
Clockwise from top left: Velvet Mary Jane Flats, Vibi Venezia; Boheme Mary Jane Ballet Flats, The Row; Mesh Mary Jane Flats, Le Monde Beryl; Elisa Mary Jane Pumps, Jimmy Choo; Owena Mary Janes, Chloe; Buckled Ballet Flats, Zara
Loafers:
Loafers are such a fall classic and they are everywhere this season. From sleek, streamlined styles to chunky silhouettes, there are so many iterations to choose from. And they pair perfectly back to straight-leg jeans and your favorite cozy sweaters. The heel height this season varies from flat to platform to higher heels. If you like more of a classic loafer, & Other Stories and Zara make great, affordable options. For more fashion-forward styles that have a little bit of lift, a couple favorites include Prada’s patent leather loafer and Isabel Marant’s glossed-leather loafer with tassels and fringe. And for a higher shoe style, top picks include See by Chloe’s brogue leather platform loafer and Reformation’s loafer with a block heel and square toe.
Clockwise from top left: Equestrian Buckle Loafers, & Other Stories; Patent Leather Loafers, Prada; Frezza Tasseled Glossed-Leather Loafers, Isabel Marant; Noah Heeled Loafer, Reformation; Ariia Brogue Leather Platform Loafers, See by Chloe; Flat Buckled Loafers, Zara
Clogs and Mules:
Just like their Birkenstock friends, clogs have been given the designer treatment and are everywhere this fall. From Ugg to Saint Laurent, designers have dreamed up new ways to look cozy and chic in the easy slip-on style. No. 6 and Isabel Marant make the most classic styles with their studded leather clogs and wooden heels. Saint Laurent gave their flat, slip-on style a Western twist with a silver engraved buckle. And Anine Bing also went Western with her black leather mules that feature applique detailing. Ugg created a socked-clog with a sherpa lining that rival any rubber rain boots you have in your closet. Saint Laurent made their clogs one of the best fall shoes by adding a cozy shearling layer to their leather clog style.
Clockwise from top left: Jimmy Buckled Clogs, Saint Laurent; Le Maillon Shearling-Trimmed Clogs, Saint Laurent; Tania Mules, Anine Bing; Old School Studded Clogs, No. 6; Tasman x Sherpa Rubber Slides, Ugg; Titya Studded Leather Clogs, Isabel Marant
Western Boots:
Call it the Taylor Swift effect, but Cowboy Boots and Western Styles are everywhere this season. You can see them being worn on the streets of major cities styled back to midi skirts and dresses of every length. Some are subtle and some over-the-top, but this season every designer has a viewpoint on western detailing. Khaite’s black leather ankle boots are a fan favorite with a pointed toe and sexy, curved heel. We love Chloe’s take on the Western meets Chelsea boots with their Ivory, knit-trimmed Nellie boot. Isabel Marant created a classic version out of supple tan suede that are bound to have a cult following like all of her other boots. For taller boots, go for Golden Goose’s brown leather riding style or Staud’s sexy ivory suede knee-high boots. And to stand out, Reformation created a studded detail boot from black suede with a kitten heel.
Clockwise from top left: Dallas Leather Ankle Wester Boots, Khaite; Nellie Knit-Trimmed Western Boots, Chloe; Duerto Suede Western Boots, Isabel Marant; Charlie Leather Western Boots, Golden Goose; Western Wally Cowboy Boots, Staud; Orly Western Boots, Reformation
Uptown Flats:
Pointed toe flats have been seen on everyone recently from Hailey Bieber to Katie Holmes to Kate Middleton. Decidedly chic, these flats up the style factor and are just what was needed to round off our fall footwear collections. Saint Laurent’s blade chain-embellished patent-leather flats were Hailey Bieber’s go-to this summer which she paired with jeans for that effortless style she’s known for. Other little black flats on our radar this season are Anine Bing’s Zoe flats with large D-ring buckles and Reformation’s Lizanne flats with large leather bows. Zara has some amazing, affordable options like their animal print slingbacks and beige leather flats with gold chains. And while more subtle styles are trending, Mach & Mach always delivers on their stand-out designs like their double bow, crystal-embellished, glittered-leather slingbacks.
Clockwise from top left: Blade Chain-Embellished Flats, Saint Laurent; Animal Print Slingbacks, Zara; Zoe Flats, Anine Bing; Double Bow Slingbacks, Mach & Mach; Leather Flats with Chain, Zara; Lizanne Flat, Reformation
Block Heels and Platforms:
It’s official, stiletto heels have been replaced with block heels and platforms this season. And if you don’t shy away from these silhouettes, they can become the focal point of any fall look.
There are timeless, elegant block heels like the Dear Frances tan suede pump with rounded toe and By Far’s black patent leather design. Reformation created an amped up version with a platform in highly reflective silver metallic leather. We love Nodaleto’s indigo denim platform Mary Janes with an exaggerated heel which are both retro and modern at the same time. Gucci’s leather slingbacks feature their signature horsebit detail. And See by Chloe (Chloe’s sister brand) created a sandal version that has a great ’70’s vibe. Try styling these with socks!
Clockwise from top left: Marisol Platform Heel, Reformation; Harlow Pump, Dear Frances; Denim Platform Mary Jane Pumps, Nodaleto; Baby Horsebit-Detailed Pumps, Gucci; Lyna Crisscross Platform Sandals, See by Chloe; Judy Patent Mary Jane Pumps, By Far
Statement Boots:
If you want to stand out this fall, you need a statement boot. And there are no shortage of options from the woven leather Bottega Veneta ankle boots to the wide-shaft, fold-over silhouette from Jonathan Simkhai. A black leather ankle boot is a perennial staple in any shoe collection but you can really kick it up a notch with the lug sole utility boots from Prada or the black leather chunky boots with lightweight rubber soles from Chloe designer Gabriella Hearst. If you like a higher boot, the gold knee-high boots from Khaite make an instant statement as do the knee-high snakeskin effect boots from Paris Texas. All of these boots are easy to pair with casual outfits (as simple as jeans and a tee) or look amazing styled with dresses and midi skirts.
Clockwise from top left: Mini Lido Intrecciato Ankle Boots, Bottega Veneta; Pouch-Detailed Leather Lace-Up Boots, Prada; Owena Leather Ankle Boots, See by Chloe; Freyja Belted Leather Boots, Simkhai; Marfa Metallic Leather Knee-High Boots, Khaite; Anja Snake Effect Leather Boots; Paris Texas
Sneakers:
Thank goodness sneakers are fashionable, am I right? It’s the best thing to happen to women’s feet in a very long time! While there are so many options to choose from, Adidas, Nike, New Balance, and Veja have been leading the way for quite a few seasons now. Adidas sambas were all the rage for the past year, but their Spezial Light sneakers with different shades of white mesh is just the update we needed. A re-launched brand, new again on the scene, is Autry who’s creating archival tennis shoes from the 80’s with different pops of color like these Kelly Green “Medalist Low” sneakers. Another retro style is Nike’s Air Jordan Retro Leather High Top Sneakers, which pays homage to one of the best basketball players of all time. Veja is a much-loved sustainable sneaker brand and their newest iteration with gold accents can be styled with just about everything this fall. Golden Goose’s high-tops are lightly distressed so they look and feel like one of your well-loved, worn-in pairs. New Balance sneakers might be the most comfortable shoes you’ll ever own and they also happen to be a favorite of the street-style set. This neutral pair of beige suede and mesh carries all the color and texture you need for fall.
Clockwise from top left: Spezial Light Sneakers, Adidas; Medalist Leather Trainers, Autry; V-10 Metallic Low-Top, Veja; Sky-Star High Top Sneakers, Golden Goose; Air Jordan 1 Retro High Top Sneakers, Nike; M2002 Suede and Mesh Trainers, New Balance
