25 Shoes Every Fashion Insider Will Own This Year
Taking a glance at the biggest shoe trends for spring 2019, one thing is instantly clear: the trends are as varied and nuanced as they are cool. Yes, elegant “floss” styles are sweeping the sandal department, but so are throwback ’90s flip-flops and sporty Velcro designs. Heels are taking on cool but unusual shapes like the pyramid silhouettes and the inevitable return of the platform. So what are the must-have shoe trends the style set will be adopting in 2019? Turns out all of these and more.
Ahead, I’m sharing the exact shoes fashion insiders are adding to their 2019 wardrobes. These trends are set to explode on the street style scene over the next few months and are already bubbling up all over Instagram. Go on to see which shoes are sitting in fashion girls’ shopping carts right now, and scroll to the end to see which made my list.
Estelle Chemouny, Style Consultant and Personal Shopper
"I fell in love with those Loewe flats that go with everything. As I live in a big city, I do not like to wear open sandals in summer, so those are the perfect compromise."
"Saint Laurent makes the best boots. I own a few pairs that I wear every day, and those ones are perfect when you want to add a rock touch to a casual look. I would wear them with a white, men's shirt and an oversize blazer for a night out!"
"I love Miu Miu shoes—so cute and feminine. These ones will make the most boring outfit amazing and fashionable!"
Alyssa Rara, Talent and VIP Relations Manager, Revolve
"I love this new Italian shoe label's fresh take on a sexy boot. A chic update to the sock style!"
"So happy the thong sandal is back! I'll wear these with jeans to work every day or on a vacay somewhere sunny."
Angela Fink, Stylist
"A barely there string sandal that can be worn with just about anything."
"A scrunched boot to be worn with dresses, jeans and pants tucked in. The Tamara Mellon Icon ankle is my favorite. I own it and wear it all the time with my Slvrlake denim tucked in, but if you want more scrunch, I suggest the Icon high."
"A statement shoe that can be worn with some Agolde jeans and a basic white tee all the way until the holidays."
Ellie Nesmon, Influencer, Slip Into Style
"Jacquemus is the king of statement sculptural heels. These newest shapes are no exception—absolutely collectible."
"Out with pointed toes, in with round toes in 2019. Pointy toes have been all the rage for some seasons now. Round toes sound like a slightly newer option to me!"
Victoria Berezhna, Journalist
"I'm usually more of a minimalist-leather-sandals kind of girl, but these look extremely comfortable and will be worn my most feminine dresses for a contrast. The Prada logo doesn't hurt, either."
"Finding the perfect flat boot is difficult. It can't be too chunky and needs to be practical enough to wear with anything. I've had these on my wish list for months. They can be worn with skinny jeans and a shearling jacket for an off-duty look or with a flowing maxi skirt."
"The Row's barely there sandals were a must-have last season, but I never got 'round to buying them. I won't make the same mistake again. Any S/S 19 look I can think of includes this pair."
Adrienne Faurote, Editor, Marie Claire
"I feel like a sculptural heel is going to be all over the New York street come April, which these Jacquemus I can definitely get behind."
"I just discovered this brand and absolutely fell in love with these dad sneakers. The price point isn't crazy high, either, which is always a bonus."
"I loved these Chloé boots on the runway, and they're a great shoe to hold me through the last of winter."
Ada Oguntodu, Influencer
"For me, mules never go out of style because they are suitable for any season. I also love the fact that I can dress them up or down. I'm currently crushing on these candy-colored ones from Charles & Keith."
"These, for me, are very adventurous and edgy, and I'm all about that. I love that when I get bored of the regular boot look, I have something that kicks the fun back into wearing boots."
"These are such a fresh take on strappy sandals because the straps are a little thinner and therefore ooze even more sophistication than the regular strappy sandals we already know. I also love that the heels don't come too high, so they can easily take me from day to night."
Michelle Salem, Brand Manager, Opening Ceremony
"The most recent Area show confirmed that crystal embellishments won't be going anywhere anytime soon. I plan on wearing a pair of their kitten heels with everything from jeans to dresses."
"I will be adding a pair of cap-toe pumps to my work wardrobe this year. They're feminine, chic, and will be in style forever!"
Kristen Nichols, Managing Editor, Who What Wear
These just scream vacation—and that's exactly where I plan to wear them.
These keep selling out in my size, but I'm determined to order them once they're back in stock.
This is everything I want in a shoe for spring with its neutral shade and barely there straps.
Next, see the 13 fashion brands I wear on repeat.
Kristen Nichols is the Associate Director, Special Projects at Who What Wear with over a decade of experience in fashion, editorial, and publishing. She oversees luxury and runway content as well as wedding features, and covers fashion within the luxury market, runway reporting, shopping features, trends, and interviews with leading industry experts. She also contributes to podcast recordings, social media, and branded content initiatives. Kristen has worked with brands including Prada, Chanel, Tiffany & Co., and MyTheresa, and rising designers such as Refine and Tove, and her style has been featured in publications including Vogue.com, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Before Who What Wear, Kristen began her career at Rodarte, where she worked on styling, photo shoots, and runway shows, and at Allure, where she moved into print and digital editorial. She graduated from the University of Southern California, where she studied art history and business, and currently lives in New York.