6 New Shoe Styles That Are Low-Key, Anti-Trend and Extremely Chic

With the exception of Mschf's big red boots or toe shoes, I've never met a shoe trend I didn't like. At least, I've never met a shoe trend I didn't find some sort of merit in, even if I wouldn't wear it myself. For lack of a more accurate phrase to reference, one woman's trash is another woman's treasure, which is the beauty of fashion—you get to choose what it is you like and what you don't.

So, where do shoes fit into the equation? Although we're editors, the Who What Wear team ultimately have opinions on 2024's shoe trends—the ones they love, the ones the don't, and the ones they feel have had their time in the sun. The weather will shift to the colder side soon and, with it, comes the opportunity to diversify our footwear offerings beyond boots, I thought I'd ask my colleagues which shoes they love for the season ahead, but also the shoes they're not all that excited about anymore. What interested me most was that all the shoes they selected felt more anti-trend than the styles they were moving on from, which is indicative of the wider gravitation we're seeing towards more timeless pieces right now. Keep scrolling to read their thoughts on the (not pressing but interesting nonetheless) matter.

The Shoes Our Editors Are Into This Season (and the Ones They're Not)

Pausing: Ballet Flats

Wearing: Flat Mules

@anoukyve

(Image credit: @anoukyve)

"I'll be the first to admit that I love a ballet flat—they're just so cute and easy to throw on. But as the season changes I'm moving away from them and into flat mules more. They're just as comfortable but give my outfits a more updated and stylish look, making it easy to feel polished without much effort," says Humaa Hussain, junior branded content editor.

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Pausing: Wedge Trainers

Wearing: Retro Sporty Trainers

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(Image credit: @hannahlewisstylist)

"One shoe trend I've never really been able to get on board with is wedge trainers. If you need a lift for orthopaedic reasons, that I fully appreciate. But a wedge trainer for aesthetic sakes only? You'll have a very hard time converting me. A trainer that is relevant in my world? The retro, sporty-style sneakers we're seeing so much of right now," says Hannah Almassi, editor-in-chief.

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Pausing: Abstract Heels

Wearing: T-Bar Fronts

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(Image credit: @liridakrasniqi)

"I loved Loewe's rose-bud heels from afar but I prefer my shoes to be a bit more ambiguous and less tethered to a specific moment in time. Lately, I've been noticing more and more T-bar-style shoes on the market, even though they've been a firm fixture in the shoe collections of French and Scandi women for years. For 2024, this is the shoe detail I'm buying into," says Maxine Eggenberger, deputy editor

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Pausing: Logos

Wearing: Chain Details

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(Image credit: @nlmarilyn)

"This season we're seeing a big shift away from logos—according to Tagwalk, there were 17% less on them on the spring/summer runways for 2024 than there were in 2023. I see this in shoes, too. Where I might have been tempted by Chanel-emblazoned loafers in the past, now, I'm looking for subtler embellishments, such as horsebit and chain details," says Remy Farrell, fashion editor.

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Pausing: Tan Leather 

Wearing: Brown Suede

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(Image credit: @abimarvel)

"Brown is a major colour trend this season so, naturally, it's taking over accessories too. I recently treated myself to a pair of chocolate-brown suede boots. It was only when I added them to my shoe rack that I saw how must more elegant they looked against my tan footwear. Tan shoes will never go out of style, especially in the summer, but I realised that there's more to 'staple' footwear than black and tan," says Florrie Alexander, acting affiliate editor.

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Pausing: Chunky-Sole Loafers

Wearing: Minimal Loafers

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(Image credit: @deborabrosa)

"I love loafers for their outfit-elevating superpowers. I already own a couple of pairs, which I'm looking forward to wearing in the spring but they're on the chunky side. Now. I'm considering rounding off my collection with a more delicate pair. Penny loafers or those with minimal, buttery leather finish fit the bill," says Poppy Nash, managing editor.

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Maxine Eggenberger
Deputy Editor

Maxine Eggenberger is Who What Wear UK’s deputy editor and has over thirteen years of experience in fashion journalism. She been creating engaging and elevated style content specifically for Who What Wear UK since 2018, covering runway reports, emerging trends, long-form features, self-styled shopping stories and columns, including her edit of the best new-in buys. She ensures the highest editorial standards are met across the site, leads the editorial team in their SEO strategy and keyword planning, works closely with the beauty team on content initiatives, represents the brand at industry events, and regularly contributes to social media, including her own Who What Wear UK TikTok franchise, French Style Fridays. Previously, Maxine appeared on ITV's This Morning in her own fashion segment and has interviewed countless celebrities—everyone from Victoria Beckham to Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o.

Prior to Who What Wear UK, Maxine’s career began when, after completing her first-ever internship at Look magazine, she was offered a position on the brand's fashion desk. She accepted, leaving university a year early in the process. Her passion and natural talent for writing and styling meant she swiftly rose through the ranks to become the title's fashion news and commercial content editor, with a stint as InStyle.co.uk’s fashion and beauty writer along the way. She later served as Look’s acting Editor in Chief, overseeing both print and digital, before embarking on a successful freelance career, working with Grazia, The Pool, and Marie Claire amongst others.

Maxine is based remotely from her countryside home near Edinburgh where she spends her downtime renovating her house, walking her dogs, hosting friends and trying to master the art of making Old Fashioned cocktails.