According to My Research, These Are the Only 6 Winter Shoe Trends That Matter

In my experience, everyone in fashion has their thing, be it handbags, outerwear, basics, or most often, shoes, including but not limited to boots, heels, sandals, clogs, and flats. Mine, like so many, revolves solely around footwear. And because of that, I spend a large chunk of my day looking through runway shows, Instagram feeds, magazines, and of course, the market, in order to garner enough information about the state of the footwear market to report on it accurately and with the level of enthusiasm only a true shoe lover can emote. 

That brings me to my latest dump of research findings, which center around the shoe trends that will dominate the fashion scene throughout the approaching winter. From engineer boots inspired by Miu Miu's F/W 22 offerings to colorful options that are sure to spark joy on even the gloomiest of winter days, the six shoe trends ahead are lying in wait for the season to begin and their reigns over our feet to commence. Get a head start by shopping my favorite pairs from each below. 

There are no first, second, or third-place medals here—this season, we're fans of all three: gold, silver, and bronze, at least when it comes to shoes. From point-toe slingbacks and platforms to knee-high boots and ballet flats, if a pair of shoes are shiny and metallic, it's probably selling out at an alarming rate. 

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As much as I'm a fan of neutral color palettes in the garment department, when it comes to shoes, this season's hyper-saturated styles are tempting, to say the least. From Prada and Miu Miu's chartreuse, orange, and baby-pink styles to Zara and Mango's takes in red and cerulean, it's impossible not to love 2022's vibrant shoe offering. 

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Thanks in large part to the success of Miu Miu's F/W 22 buckle boots, engineer boots are experiencing a wave of intense popularity of late. Not only are the brand's short and tall styles almost entirely sold out, but other brands' offerings—including those made by Frye and Vagabond—are likewise flying off shelves. In other words, run, don't walk, to buy this grungy new boot trend before there are no pairs left to buy. 

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From all my research, one thing has become crystal clear: Every on-trend pair of heels right now are slingbacks, period. From Saint Laurent and Miu Miu to Prada and Chanel to Gucci and Burberry, if your shoe offering doesn't include this timeless shoe style, it's not selling. 

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Sock boots are so outdated they've become relevant again. Previously commonplace in all our dated shoe trend roundups, the stretchy boot style has taken a turn of late, with influential people in fashion, from stylists and models to celebrities and influencers, wearing them back into relevance. 

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I'm sure you've seen and heard all about the rise of Mary-Jane flats, but have you been paying attention to the just-as-chic heeled versions that are making the sartorial rounds? Led by Prada's two-tone styles, Bottega Veneta's sky-high platforms, and Nodaleto's influencer-favorite options, this shoe style is the moment. 

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Next: I'm Not One for Controversial Shoe Trends, But I'm Ready to Buy These 5 in 2023