The Cool Shoe Trends London Girls Actually Wear Every Day

What do London girls really wear? It's an elusive question without a clear answer. Just as Parisian girls don't all go around wearing Breton stripes and berets, there really isn't a definitive London-girl look (although magazines might like us to believe otherwise). If anything, it's the eclecticism and desire to blaze our own aesthetic that define the capital's spirit.

As much as we love Sienna Miller and Alexa Chung, we imagine they aren't exactly representative of the every girl who pounds the pavements and nips to work on the tube. With this in mind, over the last few weeks, we've been exploring the realities of the London girl's wardrobe thanks to the editors on our Who What Wear UK team. First up on the London-girl fashion investigation: shoes. 

From laid-back leather sliders to cool Converse, we've wracked our brains and delved into the wardrobes of our favorite industry insiders to reveal what London girls are really wearing on their manicured toes. Scroll down to get the lowdown and shop our edit of the best styles to match each trend.

ESPADRILLES

Espadrilles aren't exactly a cutting-edge thing, but if there's one thing we know about London-girl style, it's that we love mixing wardrobe classics with the latest hot-off-the-press look. Ribbon-tie styles have proven to be a particular hit with the blogging crowd this season, as shown by Emma Hill, who paired hers with denim cutoffs, a white tee, and a beige blazer.

LEATHER SLIDERS

You can't go wrong with a pair of leather slides when a heat wave strikes. Minimalist, comfortable, and versatile, these have been our staple all summer so far. In our opinion, this trend looks best when rendered in muted, earthy colors such as brown, khaki, and black. Zara's crossover leather sandals were a sellout success this season, appearing on countless Instagram accounts, but thankfully, they were recently restocked, so get them before they go!

CONVERSE

Throwback trainers are big news this season, and there's nothing that says noughties style better than a pair of Converse. More low-key than some of the chunky "dad" styles out there but not quite as recently overdone as Stan Smiths, these are the perfect weekend shoes. We'll have a pair in every color.

POINTED KITTEN HEELS

We were dubious about this one, but now we've developed a full-blown love affair with kitten heels 2.0. There's something that feels very chic about mini heels right now, and every London girl seems to be forgoing sky-high stilettos in favor of these more low-key looks, which, thankfully, due to their pointed toes, offer the same leg-lengthening effect as a pair of classic five-inchers.

SQUARE-TOE SANDALS

It's the Carrie Bradshaw moment we've all been waiting for. Yes, that's right: Square-toe heels are back. As demonstrated by fashion editor Pandora Sykes, the '90s shoes have made a storming return this season, and we're wearing ours with everything from jeans to summer dresses. Head over to Topshop for a great selection of square-toe styles.

BACKLESS LOAFERS

Last, but by no means least, are backless loafers. Popping up back in 2016, Gucci's iconic slip-on style sparked a trend that shows no sign of abating. They now come in a plethora of styles and fabrics; we particularly enjoy the embellished varieties, which are ideal for formal occasions when you don't fancy wearing heels. Lanvin's embroidered mules will look the part with a sharply tailored tuxedo.

TOE-LOOP SANDALS

According to LIKEtoKNOW.it, toe-loop sandals are one of the best-selling shoe styles for Londoners this summer. Making their first appearance on the Thakoon S/S 17 runway, the sandals have since proliferated on the high street, coming in both heeled and flat varieties. We love We Are Twinset's lace-up iterations from Topshop, which look great with their black maxi dresses and raffia bags.

Up next: the four summer sneakers trending in Paris, Milan, London, and NYC.

This post originally appeared on Who What Wear UK.