Step into the new season: the biggest shoe trends of 2022 revealed

New year, new exciting trends. This is usually the case in classic sartorial fashion, but after two somewhat chaotic years of dress codes being reset, the upcoming shoe trends are a lot more of a retro revival and nostalgic throwback than a glimpse into the future. Think school uniforms, playful platforms and Y2K fashion in all forms. The revival of the trends from early ‘00s are set to take over your feed and closet - from logo mania to down right glittery, butterfly-embellished sandals.

As for the more practical side, comfort might still be in fashion, but the days of bland footwear is definitely behind us. Restrictions or not, our appreciation for great shoes has grown nothing but deeper as we welcome a season of extreme, statement shoes that deserve all the hype. Tis is the season to dress from the feet up.

These are the key SS22 shoe trends that we are going to see everywhere in the coming months...

Gen Z driven platforms like TikTok have spearheaded the revival of 00’s fashion and we’re definitely starting to feel the influence. In the shoe world, that means footwear that look like they could come straight from Paris Hiltons early millennial closet. From jelly-like, lime PVC sandals at Versace to CC- logo stamped sandals at Chanel. Bluemarine’s whole collection was a homage to Y2k fashion, from crop tops to glittery, butterfly sandals. Mark our words, the motto for this season is ‘the more kitsch the better’.

Sky high heels have been bubbling under the surface for a while, but this season the attention demanding platforms are quirky and fun with a capital F. Designers like Versace and Sportmax debuted colourful satin flatforms, while Saint Laurent brought back the daring stiletto platform - in patent leather non the less. Platforms come without rules this season, from grunge references resembling Buffalo sneakers (remember those?) to glittery fairy tale pumps.

With a nod to lockdown fashion - comfort was present on many runways. Sporty, chunky sandals combining both function and fashion was the footwear of choice for designers like Hermès, Stella McCartney and Tod’s. Leather or vegan leather made from mushrooms at Stella McCartney, as well as high performance materials like rubber and velcro were dominant features in stompy sandals we cannot wait to slide into.

Sexy is back in fashion, unless you’ve missed the body-con, cut-out tops and micro minis. As for shoes this meant statement, stiletto heels in the form on Saint Laurent’s vampy PVC slingbacks and satin sandals at Tom Ford. For the romantics - Loewe’s unmissable ‘Rose’ heels are a pair worth the investment. Pointy toes, playful details and sultry materials for feel good footwear to embrace both home and away. These are the styles that will go down in heel history.

Mary Jane pumps - mostly black and in patent leather were a reoccurring theme on SS22 runways. Thicker heels and a dainty ankle strap set the tone for the ultimate ‘back to school’ shoe, a optimistic metaphor for a fresh start to look forward too. The best part? This trend comes in a variety of heel heights to cater for everyone, from sleek minimal pumps at Christian Dior, to retro shaped heels at Chanel.

The summer version of the ever so popular rubber boots trend? Neoprene-like rubber socks. A surprising trend designed embraced perviously by designers like The Row and Bottega Veneta, these sock-like shoes are the perfect combination of function and fashion - although they might not be the prettiest kind. Keep an open mind - these futuristic shoes come in many shapes and forms, from pull-on socks to rubber sneakers.