This Just In: Fashion People Are Wearing This Elevated Textural Shoe Trend in 2026
With skirts, baggy jeans, and trousers—meet the 2026 shoe trend It girls from NYC to Paris are loving.
From NYC to Paris, the style set can't get enough of this unexpected shoe trend. Whether you call it calf hair or pony hair, there's no debate: This faux-fur aesthetic is one of the hottest trends out the gate for 2026. If you're already wearing this textured shoe, consider yourself a trendsetter. For those curious about how to style the calf-hair shoe trend, keep scrolling for outfit inspiration from the fashion people who defined it. Spoiler: Slip skirts, baggy jeans, and elegant winter coats make the list.
The calf-hair shoe trend is right in step with the current fascination with walking on the wild side. Fashion has skewed primal lately, with a preference for all things animal—faux-fur trimmings, avant-garde prints that resemble a fawn or the view from a safari (think Zebra), and embossed leathers for a tactile appeal. If you're interested or simply looking to broaden your shoe collection, do consider the calf-hair shoe trend.
Spotted in NYC—one of our editors in residence Coco Schiffer wears a cow-print pump from Dolce Vita. She pairs the calf-hair shoe with a black slip skirt, an oversize leather jacket, and sheer tights—the cow print pops against the all-black look. Not to mention, it's a shoo-in with the style set thanks to the print's rise in popularity over the past few months. If you're a leopard fan or prefer a zebra stripe, you're just in luck: The calf-hair shoe trend lends itself quite well to animal prints.
Why is the fashion set looking to upgrade their shoe rack to this furry finish? For one, it's a chic alternative to the predictable winter shoe trends like suede and patent leather. Elegant and unexpected, this faux-fur shoe trend will instantly elevate any winter outfit. We've spotted calf hair across several shoe styles, from kitten heels and Mary Janes to knee-high boots and loafers. Keep scrolling to shop a list of the standout styles from the calf-hair shoe trend.
Second to its unexpected nature, the calf-hair trend adds an intriguing tactile element. As any fashion person will tell you, texture is essential to styling. When used correctly, it can make an outfit visually interesting and make it feel effortless.
Open yourself to the elegant possibility of a pony-hair ballet flat or tiger-print bootie. Both would look cute with a pair of barrel-leg trousers and a cinched-waist cardigan.
Answer the call of the wild and shop 17 of the best shoes the calf-hair trend has to offer below.
Shop the Calf-Hair Shoe Trend 2026
Shop More of the Calf-Hair Shoe Trend 2026
I'd style these with a pair of wide-leg trousers and a collarless blazer.
Want to level up the calf-hair trend, try these tall cow-print boots.

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!”