From Classic to Controversial, These 8 Shoe Trends Are Coming in Hot for 2025

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All year, we’ve been giving you the download on everything from the hottest designer buys to know to the prettiest shoes to feast your eyes on and everything in between. Summer 2025 has so much in store for us, so I can say with certainty that the season was worth the wait, at least when it comes to our wardrobes. One of the most exciting categories you’ll want to focus on? Shoes.

After combing through the runways, I’ve landed on eight shoe trends that are having the biggest impact this season. With the surprising new slippers inspired by The Row’s runway and the elegant flats that are currently having a renaissance, consider this list your North Star for all things stylish footwear. Continue on to get your fill of the major summer 2025 shoe trends to know.

Just a Peep

Whether you’re ready to revisit the past or are excited by the modern iterations on the trend, there’s no question that peep-toe shoes are on track for a noteworthy return. The spring/summer 2025 collections were resolute in their support of the look, with designers across the style spectrum from Prada to Tory Burch to ACNE Studios showcasing their unique takes. At Khaite, round-toe glove pumps were sliced right down the center to reveal a mere hint of skin. Similarly, at Tory Burch, the pumps featured conservative cutouts right at the big toes.

Khaite Cedar Glossed-Leather Pumps

Saint Laurent La Scandale 110 Patent Leather Sandals

Tory Burch Pointed Toe Pump

ZARA Open Toe Sandals

Reformation Paula Heeled Sandal

Cool-Girl Clogs

Call it the Chloé effect, but suddenly, elevated clogs are back on the menu right now, especially those with studded details and cool hardware that give them a cool-girl twist.

CHLOÉ Jeanette Studded Platform Clogs

BIRKENSTOCK Boston Suede Clogs

FP Collection Autumn Studded Platform Clogs

Tory Burch Mellow Leather Buckle Slide Mules

A.Emery Louis Suede Clogs

Nouveau Thongs

While thong sandals are nothing new, 2025 is bringing a modern twist on the ’90s staple shoes. Carven featured a pair of hybrid sandal pumps with a more straight across strap shape while Chloé’s take involved an ankle strap and barely there kitten heels. Both felt altogether fresh and are ushering in a new era of minimalist sandals.

Madewell The Mila Organic Hardware Thong Slide Sandal

Prada Leather Thong Sandals

Marcella Kelis Sandals

Arezzo Sunny Block Heel Flip Flop

Paris Georgia Black Valentina Wedge Heeled Sandals

Rounding Off

Pointed- and square-toe shapes have dominated for far too long, and now it’s time for round toes to step back into the spotlight.

ZARA Heeled Pump With Strap

H&M Leather Pumps

Reformation Parker Pump

MANGO Kitten Heel Pump

Jeffrey Campbell Trustee Pumps

Totally Transparent

Brandon Maxwell almost exclusively featured a single shoe style on his spring/summer runway: transparent sandals. They came in the form of slides with low-to-the-ground block heels that acted as a casual contrast to the more elegant clothing in the collection. Tibi likewise showed transparent ankle boots in that effortlessly cool way only Tibi can master. Both had us thinking: It’s only been less than a decade since PVC shoes were at the height of the trend cycle. Could 2025 be the year we embrace transparency again?

Amina Muaddi Ane Glass PVC and Patent Leather Slingback Flats

ALAÏA Pvc and Patent-Leather Pumps

Ancient Greek Sandals Iro PVC Ballet Flats

MANGO Transparent Vinyl Wedge Sandals – Women | Mango Usa

Such a Throwback

In the sneaker world, what’s new is old again. It’s all about retro silhouettes that revive the styles of decades past, whether that be the ’80s-inspired runners at Miu Miu or the high-top ’70s-inspired court shoes at Loewe, so if you’ve been eyeing a new everyday pair to style with everything from jeans to dress, consider this your definite green light.

Chloé Kick Quilted-Leather Sneakers

adidas Samba Og Shoes

Jeffrey Campbell Aleta Sneaker

rag & bone Retro Runner Slim Sneaker

ZARA Rope Skate Sneakers

Personality Pieces

Personal style is flourishing this year. Be it through the addition of a pillbox hat, antique brooch, or pair of statement-making shoes, our accessories have never said so much about who we are. For footwear, that means more embellishments, hardware accents, and fun-loving fringe are infiltrating the shoe department.

Gianvito Rossi Shanti Thong 05 Flats

SAINT LAURENT Feather-Trimmed Satin Slippers

MAGDA BUTRYM Leather-Trimmed Crocheted Mesh Pumps

Chloé Janis Buckle-Strap Patent Leather Pumps

The Attico Grid Embellished Suede Slingback Flats

Lovely Laces

Certain niche aesthetics burn bright and then fade out quickly, but balletcore seems to having true staying power. Delicate lace-up flats with ballerina-inspired ribbon ties are getting a designer stamp of approval, and it indicates that the trend—and the ballet-flat style as a whole—is here to stay.