If I See You Wearing One of These 6 Specific Shoe Colors, I Know You're a Fashion Person

One of the signature hallmarks of fall is the sudden onslaught of new fashion trends—from knitwear to outerwear to footwear, every foundational item is given a seasonal update. Given the many different ways, or rather trends, one can adopt during this time of year, it's no wonder one might feel the need to focus on finding one thing that can shift their wardrobe into the new season. But if you're left asking, "Where exactly does one start?" you're not alone. After much research, we found that the answer is simpler than any of us would have imagined: shoes. The most stylish people always build the foundation of their cold-weather wardrobes from the ground up (quite literally). Footwear has remained the favored route for stepping into the next season among fashion people, because it lets them dip their toes into new trends without trying too hard. On top of that, there's another harsh reality that makes buying shoes a far more strategic long-term investment: tight shopping budgets.

After all, you'll need to put something on your feet every day; the same cannot necessarily be said for statement coats or the season's hottest bags (sorry to break it to you). But if you find the idea of investing in shoes to be, well, a bit boring, then there's another way you can make this "functional" buy feel far more fun—ahem, embrace color. Frankly, there's no better way to make your footwear trend-forward than merging the season's biggest color and silhouette trends into one singular purchase. It's slowly become the fashion crowd's secret to making any outfit formula seem far more fall-coded. However, if you're curious which exact shades are trending this season, you've come to the right place. Ahead, we're sharing 7 shoe color trends for fall 2025 that have already gained cult status among the style set. If you were unsure of how to make the basics in the back of your closet or your footwear feel exciting again, trust that adopting any of these color trends will surely do the trick.

Crisp Whites

Contrary to style "rules," the one color that has cemented its status with the fashion crowd in recent seasons is crisp shades of white. Forget rules of seasonality, friends! Both runway collections and recent social posts have proven that white can be a year-round color—at least when you opt for seasonal staples in this shade. While we might not all have the courage to wear head-to-toe white during the wintertime, shoes are a "safer" way to embrace this "risky" trend. Whether you choose to opt for a pair of knee-high boots, loafers, or retro sneakers in this shade, you'll find that wearing them isn't as transgressive as you might have thought initially. We'd go so far as to say you might even come to think of them as the blank canvas (or rulebook) for all your fall outfits.

Chocolate Brown

If the idea of wearing white shoes in the dead of fall or winter makes you cringe, trust that there's a color trend out there that will cater to your palate—enter, chocolate brown into the chat. Although it's not necessarily a "new" shade, it's become a steadfast part of the diet of fashion designers and influencers alike in the last few seasons (for a good reason). By embracing shades that resemble an espresso martini, we can sample other neutrals without entirely shifting our sartorial choices or, for that matter, our closets. It's no wonder, then, that fashion people can be spotted from a mile away wearing various forms of chocolate-brown footwear, as it's become the fastest way to indicate you've got taste.

Bougie Burgundy

Over the last few seasons, we've seen bolder shades become so popular that they could be considered a "neutral" in their own right; such is the case with burgundy. First spotted on the S/S 24 and F/W 25 runways, we saw varying degrees of dark red across the collections of Gucci, Khaite, and Ferragamo. These rich shades quickly ravaged the fashion world, becoming the color of choice to elevate "simple" staples, silhouettes, and, of course, shoes. Even as other color trends have recently surfaced, burgundy has remained relevant for two reasons: versatility and wearability. Not only can you now find almost every type of shoe in this shade, but it can be styled effortlessly with everything in your closet. Burgundy has proven that it deserves to be considered a neutral, or at the very least a bougie alternative to other colors in your arsenal.

Icy Blue

Burgundy red isn't the only shoe color trend to heat up in recent runway collections, as we saw another shade become one of the hottest (or in this case coldest) of the season: baby blue. Like frost covering the grass on a chilly morning, this color blanketed the S/S 25 and F/W 25 collections of many brands—including, most notably, Acne Studios, Miu Miu, Louis Vuitton, Sandy Liang, Chloé, and Tory Burch. With so many examples of this pastel-hued shade, it was only a matter of time before it popped up in the real world, too. Over the past few months, we've seen the style set warm to icy shades of blue, particularly in the form of footwear. From supple suede sneakers to pony hair pumps, we've spotted every type of shoe imaginable in this shade on the style set, proving that this color trend won't be thawing out anytime soon.

Slate Gray

While icy blue has become even more popular than ever, it's not necessarily everyone's cup of tea (looking at you, minimalists). If you're picky about your closet's color palette but still want to adopt a new trend, look no further than slate gray. Arguably just as cool as pastel blue, we've seen variations of light gray surface in the collections of Tibi, Calvin Klein, and Bottega Veneta. What makes this shade distinct from other neutrals is that it can make the most "basic" staples feel sleeker, shoes included. It's no wonder then that this shade has become beloved among minimalists and maximalists alike, as you can style this shoe color trend with anything for any occasion. Whether you pair them with a burgundy dress you bought for a holiday party or go for a head-to-toe tonal look for casual weekend plans, you'll find that wearing slate gray shoes can be as comforting as drinking a cup of tea.

Buttercream

From chocolate brown to martini green, we've been served endless delectable shades over the last few seasons. What's the more recent evolution of this trend? Buttercream. Spotted across the F/W 25 collections of Fendi, Toteme, and Givenchy, this color trend could be considered "reheated nachos"—it's an amalgamation of the oat milk and butter yellow shades that dominated previous seasons. But even if it draws inspiration from the past, that hasn't stopped it from presently becoming the secret ingredient the style set uses to make any outfit look far more decadent. Of course, dressing like a stick of butter isn't for everyone; thankfully, that's where buttercream-hued footwear comes in handy. You can cook up so many different ways to incorporate this shoe color into your everyday outfit formulas—e.g., try pairing it with a three-piece tan suit, a camel-hued coat and sweater dress, or even a white t-shirt and matching jeans. No matter what you choose to wear this shade with this season, trust that it will serve you well.

Glossed Black

Last but certainly not least, there's one color trend that indefinitely has cult status with the fashion crowd... cough, cough, black. Although not groundbreaking, we've seen this timeless shade given a more "trendy" spin with the jet-black treatment (i.e., a shiny patent-leather finish). We first saw shades of black given a bolder spin in the F/W 25 collections of Khaite, Stella McCartney, Bally, and Proenza Schouler. From oversized leather jackets to thigh-high boots, nothing was immune to being given a glossy black finish on the fall runways. Frankly, we're not mad about it, nor is the fashion set, as we've seen this color trend crop up all over social media. Whether choosing to style their windbreaker and slip skirts with patent mules or their leather bomber jacket and trousers with shiny ankle boots, they've proven that sometimes the best shoe color trends are the ones we can wear on repeat.