It's Official: High Heels Are Meeting Their Slow Demise

last updated 13 August 2019

Are high heels losing steam? If you've swapped vertiginous shoes for comfy flats and sneakers—like Ashley Olsen—you're not the only one. Yahoo! Style reported on a study conducted by market analysis company Mintel, which revealed insights into which shoe styles women are really buying right now.

The study analyzed the shopping habits of UK women in particular, and found that for the first time ever, more UK women are buying sneakers than high heels. Specifically, "37% of UK women who have bought footwear in the last year bought trainers, compared to 33% who bought shoes with a heel." The only shoes more popular than sneakers are flats.

Mintel's senior fashion analyst, Tamara Sender, offered more insight in a statement: "The UK sportswear market has seen strong growth in the last year, and there has been a trend for consumers to integrate sports clothing into their daily wardrobes, meaning trainers have also become more popular among women, overtaking heels to become the second favourite item of footwear after flat shoes," she explained in the report.

Ready to swap out your high heels? Scroll down to shop some of our favorite sneakers on the market right now!

Adidas

Gazelle Sneakers

The navy suede material makes these shoes look a lot more expensive than they are.

Kenneth Cole

Kam Leather Sneakers

Word to the wise: These are Kendall Jenner's favorite sneakers.

Vans

Canvas Old Skool Sneakers

These classic sneakers are having a moment in the fashion industry right now.

Will you ever trade in heels for flats and sneakers once and for all? Tell us in the comments below!

Opening Image: Style du Monde

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Erin got her start as a Who What Wear intern over 13 years ago—back when the site only published a single story per day. (Who What Wear has since increased that number twentyfold.) She graduated magna cum laude from USC, which is how she ended up moving to Los Angeles from her hometown of San Diego. In college, she also interned at Refinery29, where she was promoted to editorial assistant and then assistant editor. After nearly three years at R29, she came back to WWW in 2016, where she currently holds the title of Associate Director of Fashion News (as well as the unofficial title of resident royal expert—in case you haven't noticed her numerous Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton stories). She spends her days trying to incorporate her idols, Anna Wintour and Roger Federer, into as many stories as possible. Outside of work, she loves tennis, classic rock, traveling, and smothering her dog with affection.