The spring/summer 2023 runways held plenty of new ideas. Designers introduced a slew of cool new trends that offered both a look into the future and a nod to the past. With so many trends seemingly happening at once, it can feel impossible to differentiate between what’s more niche and what’s more mainstream. Oftentimes, I prefer to make trend purchases that will last beyond the immediate season, which is why I’ve been thinking a lot about the 2023 trends that will last all year long, not just for this spring. And I’m starting with my favorite topic of all: shoes.
After combing over the runways, my social media feeds, and the market, I’ve landed on the six shoe trends that I’m positive will have a long-term effect on 2023 and beyond. With the engineering boots inspired by the Miu Miu runway and the classic pumps that are currently having a renaissance, consider this list to be your North Star for all things stylish 2023 footwear.
Miu Miu held a strong grip on fashion’s psyche in the past year, and 2023 is already shaping up to be no different. Fashion people are translating the moto boots from the brand’s fall/winter runway into their IRL looks, and it wasn’t before long that similarly buckled and harnessed engineer boots started to proliferate. The hardware may make a cool statement, but the genius of these pull-on boots is how effortless they feel. Try them with a delicate dress for an intriguing contrast.
While you may have reserved your shiniest, sparkliest pieces for nights out or New Year’s Eve, it’s time to embrace your inner disco ball for all hours of the day. If metallics seem intimidating to you, fret not. The easiest (and most timely) way to embrace all that shines is by balancing out a neutral outfit with silver or gold shoes. Try out a pair of metallic boots with your everyday jeans for a bright pop.
If there’s any single pair of shoes that I predict will come to define 2023 style, it has to be Mary Janes. Between Miu Miu’s ballerina pumps and Prada’s Western rethink, the sweetly polished shoes are reentering the closets of fashion people en masse, and just based on the sheer number of styles there are to choose from, I’m wagering that there’s a Mary-Jane style for everyone.
If 2022 was filled with throwback sneakers inspired by the kicks of the ’70s and ’80s, then 2023 will be filled specifically with basketball styles from the era. New Balance tends to be a bellwether for sneaker trends, and its latest collaboration with Aimé Leon Dore, the 650, comes in the form of a high-top silhouette that’s already earned the favor of style stars like Laura Harrier. If this pair and similar styles from Reebok and Nike Jordan are any indication, high-top court sneaks are already shaping up to be the It style of the year.
Like a lot of other previously “dated” fashion items, pointed-toe pumps are undergoing a renaissance. Bottega Veneta, The Attico, and Loewe are all reimagining classic pumps in cool sculptural designs that lend a futuristic feel to an otherwise staid closet staple, and I’m fully obsessed.
Second-skin boots are another perfect example of a past shoe trend that’s getting a fresh makeover this year. I, for one, haven’t owned a pair of sock boots for the better half of a decade, but with the onslaught of these taller and tighter boots, I just might have to reconsider. The celebs and influencers already backing this include Elsa Hosk and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who are lending a fresh feel to the boots by wearing them with long skirts and duster coats.
