Don't buy any new shoes before you see these runway trends
- Posted by
- Anna Pollitt
- Published

Designers have been showcasing an eclectic mix of shoes at Fashion Week and a handful of trends have stuck.
As the '90s resurgence continues, so does the flatform evolution, while flowers and botanicals are proving surprisingly wearable sources of inspiration for designers.
Future-proof your next shoe investment with a look at the styles set to be kicking around until at least next autumn.
FLATFORMS
Bigger, bulkier and more polished styles are dominating spring/summer '17 runways in a variety of guises, from Preen's oversize bow sandal collaboration with Ugg, to Salvatore Ferragamo's swoonworthy knitted stretch sneaker (not sold? Bet you'll come around).
FABRIC
Salvatore Ferragamo's runway smashers straddle two significant trends: flatform and fabric. The label that invented cork wedges has polished up the in-your-face sole with a narrower toe, earthy tones and a go-faster stripe. The knitted sock style uppers look delicate - not a word usually associated with the style - and modern. A sportier version in bright blue comes with a traditional trainer heel - but these are in no way made for running.
Since Vetements has managed to make £1,000 SS16 sock boots a sell-out and Nike's flyknits are raking in $1 billion a year (with the sports giant in the process of patenting a steam machine to give wearers a bespoke fit) it's no surprise that designers are indulging in fabric influences for their new collections.
Fendi gave us sports sock boots with curved stripy heels in Milan, while at London Fashion Week, rising star Richard Malone stretched orange pop socks over the top of elegant heels and Mother of Pearl covered baby blue boots with a mini denim skirt.
STUDS
From Valentino's iconic rock studs to Louboutin's rolling spikes, back-off shoes are always prime for reinvention and the clunky, chunky trend suggests studs are getting bigger and even more badass.
FLORAL
Jimmy Choo has looked to tropical flowers for next spring, Giuseppe Zanotti embellished delicate sandals with glittering butterflies and used painted flower appliqués in his new collection, while Shrimps teamed up with Converse - like Ugg, another '90s celebrity staple - to bring us delicate pink floral sneakers.
Jimmy Choo
Giuseppe Zanotti
Fausto Puglisi and J.W. Anderson played around with monochrome florals - Puglisi covering a pair of white leather boots in autumnal flowers and a squawking peacock, while Anderson splashed black and white daisies over graphic painterly blocks on smart brogues.
Fausto Puglisi and J.W. Anderson
Sophia Webster and Gianvito Rossi's bold botanicals with a dark backdrop are the stuff of footwear dreams:
Sophia Webster
Gianvito Rossi
RETRO BOOTS
Austin Powers homages appeared with a sporty touch at Versace, an outrageous '70s vibe at Marc Jacobs and in pure swinging '60s form at Arthur Arbesser.
GLADIATORS
Another Fashion Week revival; this season's take has the warrior spirit but offers a more uniform, elegant feel than previous runway outings. Fiddly lace-up have been replaced by discrete zips and toes came covered at Giorgio Armani.
Giorgio Armani
Diesel Black Gold and Christian Siriano
Sophia Webster
BLOCK HEELS
Always a fashion favourite, the new block heels are thick, high, structural slabs in soft, subtle colours. Made for loose trousers and crisp white shirts.
BABOUCHE
Tipped as the "it-shoe" of 2016, the Moroccan-style slipper is still inspiring designers into next year, with Narciso Rodriguez, Missoni and Santoni offering their own interpretations of the pointy-toed design. RIP, ballet pumps.
Narciso Rodriguez
KITSCH DETAILS
Instagrammable whimsy is street style catnip and designers have been finding ever more creative ways to bring humour to summer shoes. Charlotte Olympia's smiling banana stiletto is so simple it's genius - ditto Thom Browne's anchor heels - while Gianvito Rossi's cobweb design has redefined our Halloween outfit goals.
Charlotte Olympia, Marco De Vincenzo and Thom Browne
FLUFF AND FEATHERS
Back in 2015, Gucci unleashed the hairy loafer on the autumn/winter runways, fuelling the so-called "ugly" shoe trend. Christopher Kane's crocs are probably this season's equivalent when it comes to compelling awfulness (more on them later) but the fluffy-footed look has not disappeared entirely, with feathers sprawling out of sandal straps at Prada and gaudy yellow fur trailing off the heels of bejewelled metallic sandals at Libertine.
Prada and Libertine
CROCS
They were touted as having had a "high fashion makeover" with marble print and crystal embellishments, but that plastic shell that first raised eyebrows - to put it mildly - in 2007 was unmistakeable Croc. Christopher Kane took a punt on the ultimate footwear underdog because, by his own admission, he loves their perception as being awkward, ugly and "extra clunky".
Despite widespread scorn of the functional shoe, Croc sold nearly 30 million pairs in 2014 according to Bloomberg, so perhaps tapping into the ugly shoe trend with what is arguably the ugliest of ugly shoes was a savvy financial decision as well as a forward-thinking fashion move.
But can he make you love them? Stranger things have happened - like Kane's other unlikely hit, the desirable pool slider.
What the fashion team is wearing to Fashion Week
Lisa Smosarski, editor-in-chief - PFW
Shirt: Maje at Nine in the Mirror
Trousers: Isabella Oliver
Shoes: Louboutin
Bag: MulberryAlexandra Fullerton, fashion director - PFW
Jumper: & Other Stories
Trousers: Teatum Jones
Shoes: Miu Miu
Bag: JW AndersonAlexandra Fullerton, fashion director - PFW
Dress: & Other Stories
Jacket: Schott
Boots: Jimmy Choo
Bag: JW Anderson
Lucy Reber, fashion editor - MFW
Dress: The Edit
Trainers: Adidas Gazelle at Schuh
Lucy Reber, fashion editor - MFW
Shoes: Adidas Gazelle at Schuh
Alexandra Fullerton, fashion director - MFW
Dress: Peter Pilotto at Matches
Bag: Mulberry
Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Sunglasses: CelineAlexandra Fullerton, fashion director - MFW
Bag: Mulberry
Alexandra Fullerton, fashion director - MFW
Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Alexandra Fullerton, fashion director - MFW
Top: Maxmara at Net-a-porter
Skirt: Stella McCartney at Browns
Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Bag: Alexander Wang
Detail: Alexandra Fullerton, fashion director - MFW
Bag: Alexander Wang
Detail: Alexandra Fullerton, fashion director - MFW
Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Lucy Reber, fashion editor - MFW
Top: The Edit
Jeans: Gap
Shoes: OfficeDetail: Lucy Reber, fashion editor - MFW
Shoes: Office
Kitty McGee, executive fashion director - MFW
Dress: Louis Vuitton
Trainers: Adidas Stan Smith at Schuh
Lisa Smosarski, editor-in-chief - MFW
Top: Cos
Coat: Topshop
Skirt: Whistles
Bag: Fendi
Shoes: Rupert SandersonDetail: Lisa Smosarski, editor-in-chief - MFW
Bag: Fendi
Detail: Lisa Smosarski, editor-in-chief - MFW
Shoes: Rupert Sanderson
Alexandra Fullerton, fashion director - MFW
Shirt: Stella McCartney at Browns
Skirt: Isabel Marant at The Outnet
Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Bag: Alexander Wang at Very ExclusiveDetail: Alexandra Fullerton, fashion director - MFW
Shirt: Stella McCartney at Browns
Detail: Alexandra Fullerton, fashion director - MFW
Bag: Alexander Wang at Very Exclusive
Detail: Alexandra Fullerton, fashion director - MFW
Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Lucy Reber, fashion editor - LFW
Dress: Warehouse
Shoes: Adidas at SchuhDetail: Lucy Reber, fashion editor - LFW
Shoes: Adidas at Schuh
Kitty McGee, executive fashion director - LFW
Top: Topshop
T shirt: Armani Exchange
Skirt: 3.1 Phillip Lim
Trainers: Adidas at Schuh
Alexandra Fullerton, fashion director - LFW
Top: Miu Miu at The Outnet
Jeans: Saint Laurent
Bag: JW Anderson
Shoes: Gianvito RossiDetail: Alexandra Fullerton, fashion director - LFW
Shoes: Gianvito Rossi
Detail: Alexandra Fullerton, fashion director - LFW
Bag: JW Anderson
Alexandra Fullerton, fashion director - LFW
Jumper: Barbour
Skirt: Whistles
Bag: Mulberry
Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Detail: Alexandra Fullerton, fashion director - LFW
Bag: Mulberry
Detail: Alexandra Fullerton, fashion director - LFW
Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Lucy Reber, fashion editor - LFW
T-shirt: Cos
Skirt: Proenza Schouler at The Outnet
Shoes:Adidas at Schuh
Detail: Lucy Reber, fashion editor - LFW
Shoes: Adidas at Schuh
Alexandra Fullerton, fashion director - LFW
Jumper: Marks & Spencer
Skirt: Valentino
Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Bag: JW AndersonLucy Reber, fashion editor - LFW
Top: Isa Arfen at The Outnet
Roll neck: Great Plains
Jeans: Current Elliott
Trainers: Nike
Kitty McGee, executive fashion director - NYFW
T-shirt: Levi's
Jeans: Gap
Shades: Fendi
Shoes: AcneDetail: Kitty McGee, executive fashion director - NYFW
Jeans: Gap
Shoes: Acne
Susan Riley, deputy editor - NYFW
Top: Topshop
Skirt: Christopher Kane
Bag: Victoria Beckham
Shoes: Sophia WebsterDetail: Susan Riley, deputy editor - NYFW
Shoes: Rupert Sanderson
Detail: Susan Riley, deputy editor - NYFW
Bag: Victoria Beckham
Kitty McGee, executive fashion director - NYFW
Top: Raey at matchesfashion.com
Jeans: Gap
Shoes: Louis VuittonDetail: Kitty McGee, executive fashion director - NYFW
Shoes: Louis Vuitton
Susan Riley, deputy editor - NYFW
Top: JW Anderson
Skirt: Joseph
Bag: Strathberry
Shoes: Mother of PearlDetail: Susan Riley, deputy editor - NYFW
Bag: Strathberry
Detail: Susan Riley, deputy editor - NYFW
Shoes: Mother of Pearl
Kitty McGee, executive fashion director - NYFW
Dress: Tibi
Bag: Theory
Shoes: BirkenstockDetail: Kitty McGee, executive fashion director - NYFW
Bag: Theory
Susan Riley, deputy editor - NYFW
Dress: Zara
Bag: Mulberry
Trainers: Adidas Stan Smith at SchuhDetail: Susan Riley, deputy editor - NYFW
Bag: Mulberry
Detail: Susan Riley, deputy editor - NYFW
Trainers: Adidas Stan Smith at Schuh