Spotted In Paris: 3 Flat-Shoe Trends That Look Rich and Classic
Not a kitten heel—here are the trends you'll find in a French woman's fall shoe rotation.
Parisians are defining my fall wardrobe one category at a time. First, it was color trends, with royal purple and burgundy leading the charge, and now it's flat shoe trends. I always pay close attention to the shoe choices chic French women make. What type of heel height they pair with trousers or, say, a pair of shorts. I've noticed, more often than not, they choose a flat sole: a ballet flat, loafer, thing-soled boot, you name it.
With that in mind, I wrote down the three flat-shoe trends French women are wearing this fall. Scroll on to see which ones made the list and how to style them.
3 French Woman-Approved Shoe Trends for Fall 2026
High-Vamp Flats
Also called a glove flat, this modern take on a ballet flat features a high vamp silhouette and sleek profile. French women keep it within arm's reach every fall for its versatility and wearability. It looks great with jeans and trousers.
Riding Boots
Designed to mimic the look of traditional riding boots, these tall, knee-high boots offer a clean look with pencil skirts and shorts in the fall.
Ruched Loafers
No fall shoe rack is complete without a loafer, and in a French woman's shoe closet you'll note a specific style: the ruched loafer. It features a gathered toe box with soft pleats around the curve of the shoe. It's a refined style people love, with the casual elegance of a Parisian fashionista.
Shop More Flat Shoes for Fall 2026
Josephine Hadjiloucas is a New York–based writer. She first interned at Who What Wear UK in 2024 and later joined Who What Wear U.S. as an assistant shopping editor after graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2025. When she isn’t covering the latest Gen Z trends or updating her under-$100 Nordstrom wish list, you can find her browsing the racks of NYC’s best vintage stores or rewatching Moonstruck for the 50th time. “Snap out of it!”