Shoes
Nov 22, 2018

Hands Down, These Are the 10 Biggest Shoe Trends of 2018

by Hannah Almassi

The shoe trends of 2018 are really quite varied: On one runway you'll find delicate, dainty heels covered in pretty embellishments. On the other you'll find stompy cowboy boots. In one camp—where both Balenciaga and Christopher Kane see eye-to-eye—there are souped-up Crocs. But take a hop, skip, and a jump over to another atelier, and it's all about 1980s-inspired, spiked stiletto pumps. There are sensible options and wildly impractical ones; statement styles exist, but so do very wise go-with-everything investment purchases. Basically, if you're a shoe lover (er, duh), then this year is your year: You have every footwear trend, silhouette, color, and finish possible.

That in itself can be a touch overwhelming, so we've gathered the best runway shoe-spiration to bring you a concise edit of what will be most useful and impactful for your own wardrobe. See our top shoe trends for 2018, and shop the pieces you can already snap up now—at different price points.

1. COWBOY BOOTS

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Cowboy boots are dominating 2018: They work nicely for essentially all seasons. Our first dibs go to Chloé's red snake-print versions seen on the spring runway, but we'd happily have any of the following shoppable versions too…

2. FUTURISTIC TRAINERS

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Thick-soled and highly detailed, that's how we'll like our sneakers in 2018. Louis Vuitton's led the pack, but already we've seen that Balenciaga's Triple S styles keep selling out, and now affordable stores are on board too.

3. NOT-SO-CLASSIC PUMPS

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On the opposite side of the spectrum from all of those comfy, bouncy sneaks you have the ultimate in seriously high '80s-style stiletto pumps. It's a shoe trend that many retailers are buying heavily into, and if Victoria Beckham is in on the movement, we could be persuaded… Bonus points if you wear them in an unexpected color.

4. CRAYOLA BRIGHTS

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Many designers have incorporated extra-bright brights into their clothing, but there's also a lot to be said for simply adding a pair of hot-hued shoes (particularly in primary shades of yellow, red, and blue) into your existing wardrobe. Our dream start would be with these Rochas mules.

5. CLEAR PLASTICS

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Chanel leads the charge when it comes to spring's see-through plastic trend (Karl Lagerfeld employed the fabric for every imaginable item, not just footwear), but there are other designer names backing the idea up: Balmain, Moschino, and Calvin Klein to name a few. Shop our favorites in the next few slides.

6. CURVY HEELS

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A Céline-led trend is always a good trend. The curved heel harkens a Victoria-type flare that we're heavy into for 2018.

7. FEATHERS

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It doesn't get fancier than feathers, and this year it's all about a statement plume to take your night-out heels to the next level.

8. SOCKS, SOCKS, AND MORE SOCKS

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Practical and chic, a shoe plus sock are a match made in sartorial heaven. Your toes will stay toasty and blisters will be kept at bay.

9. KITSCH EMBELLISHMENT

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More is more when it comes to the world of kitsch embellishment. Gems, jewels, and crystals make perfect adornments for these OTT shoes.

10. ALL-WHITE

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The industry's penchant for white shoes continues, and this season, there will be plenty of chic, Tipex-white sandals on offer. One particularly desirable pair were introduced by Michael Kors, but until you can grab those, see our other favorites that are available today.