You Can't Wear Flats Every Day—6 Fall Heel Trends to Wear Instead

I'll admit that this phase of everyone trading in their heels for ballet flats, loafers, and retro, viral sneakers has been fun, especially for my feet, which are far too used to being squished, squeezed, and smushed into heels and then forced to walk on concrete for miles on end. While my feet and I have appreciated the break from elevated footwear, we've come to the mutual decision after studying fall's curation of heels that the time for all flats all the time is over. 

From timeless styles like slingbacks and kitten-heel pumps to more experimental alternatives like fur-trimmed sandals and studded mules, the industry's top shoe designers simply provided one too many covetable choices for anyone to simply ignore in the name of comfort. For proof, scroll through the six heel trends below, all of which I'd gladly sacrifice a touch of flats-induced bliss for (emphasis on the word touch since even a heel lover like me won't put up with that much pain for fashion). My guess? After one swipe, your flats will be on a one-way trip to the storage unit. 

All About Slingbacks

Look around—most of the heels you're seeing on Instagram, celebrities, runways, and more feature one dainty detail: a strap that loops around the back of the foot, nestling it into place. The best is yet to come, with fall's slingback options being among the chicest I've seen in years. From Saint Laurent's sky-high, gold-buckled style to Gucci's kitten-heeled take paired with bold stockings, today's top designers are making one thing clear. In 2023, it's all about slingbacks. 

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Pretty Little Pumps

If Prada's fall collection taught us anything, it's the eternal chicness of dressing like a lady, all the way down to the shoes on your feet, which should always feature a pointed toe, a kitten heel, and, if you're lucky, a pretty bouquet of Italian-crafted white flowers. Actually, it seems that some of the chicest heels of the season aren't the super-tall ones or the ones in the brightest colors. Pretty pumps, rather, appear to be ruling the game. 

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Smooth Like Satin

People fear satin like they do suede, but with the right upkeep, there's really no reason to fear the lavish, decadent fabric in the form of footwear. That's a good thing given how tempting this fall's satiny shoe options are shaping up to be, with elegant options by Ferragamo, Miu Miu, and Gucci, more.

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Furry Footbeds

Believe it or not, furry sandals are having a serious moment. Yes, they might look weird at first, but once you slip your feet into a pair and look in the mirror, you'll know just how game-changing fuzzy shoes can be. Just look to Sportmax, Khaite, Gucci, and more of 2023's hottest brands for proof that you should give the sandal version of your favorite Ugg boots a go this season. 

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Buckled Up

More buckles, please! Now that Miu Miu's quad-buckled slingbacks have gone completely viral on Instagram, any questions about the buckled-up shoe trend's longevity have been dispelled. Rather, I'm expecting a long and happy life for this exciting new footwear trend. 

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Seeing Studs

If you fell as hard as I did for Alaïa's and Tory Burch's studded ballet flats but are equally as ready to hang up your anti-heels for something a tad more elevated, look no further than A.W.A.K.E. Mode's and Lanvin's embellished heels for fall. Featuring all of the cool, edgy style of the aforementioned flats with a hell of a lot more lift, studded heels like the ones showcased in both brands' fall shows are just what you've been searching for. 

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