Your Definitive Guide to the Shoe Trends About to Take Over In 2022

Where would we be without great shoes, hey? Would Carrie even be Carrie? I guess we survived the last few years in basically just slippers and trainers— but if anything that has only increased our appreciation of a fabulous shoe. And from the looks of the 2022 collections, we’re not alone. For a while fashion embraced the lower-key way of life, even when we were (relatively) back to normal it was comfortable chunky boots or the latest New Balances only. Luckily, it seems that enough time has gone by for us to come out the other side of this footwear malaise— restrictions or no restrictions.

For SS22, footwear has gone way past comfort and into full on shoes for shoes sake territory. We’re talking bows, points, prints, crystals and platforms. What’s that saying— the higher the heel, the closer to heaven? That sounds about right for 2022. From Versace’s Barbie-like platform mary-jane’s setting off a huge trend which is continuing into the new year, to the latest ‘most coveted’ fashion girl shoe— Saint Laurent’s Vesper slingbacks. 

Hannah Almassi reports in our SS22 trend guide that the new season is all about extremes and this applies to shoes too. Toes are either seriously pointed or squared off, flats are very flat (yes ballet pumps are here to stay) and platforms are very high (on everything from brogues to boots). If comfort is your thing, don’t be too put off though— there’s even an extreme nod to that with Prada’s cloud-like ski boots triggering an all-things-soft-and-squishy obsession. 

If all this excites you as much as it does us, keep scrolling to see and shop the 7 most important shoe trends of 2022…

1. FUN MULES

This popular sandal trend is about to be everywhere this spring— you heard it here first. The more bright, fun and sparkly the better. Unlike the minimal wide strap mules we saw a few seasons ago (mostly thanks to Bottega Veneta), the 2022 versions have a thinner strap around the toes and a lower, often block heel for extra '90s nostalgia. 

2. SQUARE-TOE BOOTS

We've still got a few good months left of winter, so if you're looking to get ahead of the trends and upgrade your boot collection, do it with a square-toe pair. Miista styles are the celeb and influencer favourite but the high street have already cottoned on to this one too– which is great news for your bank account. 

3. BALLET FLATS

The return of ballet flats has been slowly building for some time now with Chanel's classic pair being seen on all the most well-heeled influencers. And it won't be slowing down anytime soon— The Row showed ballet flats on their SS22 catwalk which is always a sign the rest of the fashion crowd is ready to jump on board.

4. BOWS, BOWS, BOWS

The two most covetable party shoe designers of the moment, Amina Muaddi and Mach & Mach have both incorporated bows into their spring collections in a big way, and we're predicting this will start trickling down into the high street drops in 2022.

5. PLATFORM EVERYTHING

As we reported in our all-encompassing SS22 trend guide, platforms will be the fashion-girl sole of choice next year across everything from heels to brogues, boots to mary-janes. 

6. POINTED SLINGBACKS

If you're after a more refined look in 2022, opt for a slingback mule— the pointier the better. With Prada, Saint Laurent and Gucci all releasing iconic versions, there's no doubt this trend will take over (even more so) in 2022. 

7. SOFT & SQUISHY

Whether it's Prada's padded snow boots or Mango's quilted mules, if it's soft, squishy and oh so comfy, then it will work for 2022. 

Opening Image: @threadsstyling

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