If You're Buying a New Pair of Shoes, Choose a Pair in One of These 5 Trending Colors

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Various shoes in red, white, and pink
(Image credit: Loewe/Launchmetrics Spotlight; @nlmarilyn; Onitsuka Tiger/Launchmetrics Spotlight)
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New season, new shoes! Spring is officially here, and I always find the beginning of a new season makes for the perfect time to invest in chic, trend-forward footwear. We've already touched on some of the biggest shoe trends that will dominate this spring, and as an extension of that, today, I want to hone in on some of the most popular shoe colors that you'll want to be seen in this season. These are the colors that took center stage on the SS26 runways, and that we're already seeing the chicest fashion people wearing right now. Whether it's in the form of glove pumps, sneakers, ballet flats, or loafers, these five shoe colors below will have you looking altogether on-trend this season. I've included a nice high-low mix, with gorgeous designer options alongside more affordable picks if you'd rather dip your toe into the color trend on a budget.

Keep scrolling to shop the shoe colors to be seen in this spring.

Cloud Dancer

If I were to suggest only one shoe color to invest in this season, it would unquestionably be serene and pillowy soft white. After all, Pantone named its 2026 color of the year Cloud Dancer. White shoes were omnipresent on the S/S 26 runways, spotted in a whole host of silhouettes from slim derby sneakers at Celine to high-vamp pups at Stella McCartney and slingbacks at Saint Laurent. We've seen white shoes all over the fashion set this season, and we'll no doubt continue to see them dominate as we head into summer.

Woman in blue shirt, jeans, and white shoes

(Image credit: @nlmarilyn)

Woman in a shirt, skirt, and white shoes

(Image credit: Celine/Launchmetrics Spotlight)

Woman in blazer, white jeans, and white shoes

(Image credit: @jastookes)

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Tomato Red

Vibrant primary colors had a huge presence in the spring/summer 2026 collections, and among them was bright and bold red. The color is incredibly versatile (it looks just as good with blue jeans as it does with summery whites, or neutral gray and beige) and is perfect for amping up your basics. We saw plenty of red heels in the spring collections, but the fashion set has most notably been wearing the tomato color in the form of cool sneakers and ballet pumps.

Woman in red sneakers and socks

(Image credit: Dries Van Noten/Launchmetrics Spotlight)

Woman in red cardigan and red shoes

(Image credit: @vivianyrl)

Woman in red shoes on the Prada runway

(Image credit: Prada/Launchmetrics Spotlight)

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Pale Pink

Perhaps we have the balletcore aesthetic to thank for this one, but pale pink hues are trending hard for spring 2026. Opt for delicate satin or suede fabrics in the form of ballet sneakers or ballet flats for a look that feels feminine, fresh, romantic, and of-the-moment.

Women in pale pink ballet sneakers

(Image credit: @luciacuesta_)

Chanel pink shoes on the SS26 runway

(Image credit: Chanel/Getty Images)

Woman in jeans and pink shoes

(Image credit: @vicmontanari)

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Light Blue

If designers' spring/summer 2026 collections conveyed one thing, it's that blue, from saturated cobalt blue to subtle icy blue, is the It color of the year. While we saw shoes that run the gamut of blue shades, it's the pretty pale powdery blue hues that particularly caught our attention on sandals, pumps, sneakers, and more. This more muted shade allows for versatility and easy styling, pairing well with both neutrals and bold colors alike.

Woman in pale blue heeled sandals

(Image credit: Ulla Johnson/Launchmetrics Spotlight)

Woman in powder blue ballet sneakers

(Image credit: @rubylyn_)

Woman in pale blue sandals

(Image credit: Missoni/Launchmetrics Spotlight)

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Beige

While beige may not sound super exciting, in the spring 2026 collections, the neutral hue felt directional; not a color that simply blended in. Designer Matthieu Blazy at Chanel made a strong case for chic two-tone beige glove pumps—a style we're seeing fashion people already buying in droves since its release. Look for luxe beige fabrics that will elevate your look.

Woman in skirt and beige pumps on the Chanel SS26 runway

(Image credit: Chanel/Launchmetrics Spotlight)

Woman in light wash jeans and beige pumps

(Image credit: @hannamw)

Woman in brown pants and beige shoes

(Image credit: @hoskelsa)

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Judith Jones
Judith Jones
Associate Shopping Director

Judith Jones is the associate shopping director at Who What Wear and has worked in fashion for over a decade. She specializes in shopping content and trend stories with high-affiliate impact. She shares the coolest, most desirable fashion market finds and brands for every budget. Previous to working in fashion, Judith worked as a TV host on the PBS travel show Globe Trekker (airing on Netflix and Amazon Prime) sharing her passion for travel and culture.