From New York to London, Milan, and Paris, through videos, presentation, and newly socially distanced runway shows, designers offered us whimsical escapes into the future inspired by their lockdown daydreams for spring 2021 [1]. Given the wanderlust for the great outdoors, the shoe trends on the runway followed suit — think stilettos that look like floral meadows. The sports sandal trend inspired by Teva and Birkenstock continued, and a new flatform silhouette reigned supreme.
As McMullen founder Sherri McMullen told us, "We are in a time where clothes are for support, for comfort, and to make a statement." Classic and comfortable ballet flats are back, and block heels give us extra oomph and height.
Check out the eight biggest shoes trends coming for spring/summer 2021 or jump ahead to the style that will have you pulling a ballet high-leg during your next Zoom!
- Spring 2021 Shoe Trend: Geared Up For the Outdoors
- Spring 2021 Shoe Trend: Natural Fantasies
- Spring 2021 Shoe Trend: Highlighted Notes
- Spring 2021 Shoe Trend: Ballet Flats
- Spring 2021 Shoe Trend: Flatforms
- Spring 2021 Shoe Trend: Studded and Embellished
- Spring 2021 Shoe Trend: Woven Wonders
- Spring 2021 Shoe Trend: Denim Dreaming
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Spring 2021 Shoe Trend: Geared Up For the Outdoors
The Reefs, Tevas, and Birkenstocks of your childhood get a high-end spin with the sports sandal trend back and stronger than ever. Comfort reigns supreme with these styles on runways from New York to Milan, but with these elevated colorways and materials, you'll be far from granola!
From left: Valentino, Longchamp, Coach
Sandals from the Valentino Spring/Summer 2021 runway.
Sandals from the Longchamp Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Sandals from the Coach Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Sandals from the Anna Sui Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Sandals from the Jason Wu Spring/Summer 2021 runway.
Sandals from the Collina Strada Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Sandals from the Stella McCartney Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Sandals from the Gabriela Hearst Spring/Summer 2021 runway.
Sandals from the Casadei Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Spring 2021 Shoe Trend: Natural Fantasies
Lockdown had many of us rethinking our relationship with the outdoors and craving nature deeply, designers included. Shoes on the Spring/Summer 2021 runways became natural-fantasy launch pads with styles inspired by flora and fauna.
From left: Roger Vivier, Stella Jean, JW Anderson
Sandals from the Roger Vivier Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Sandals from the Stella Jean Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Sandals from the JW Anderson Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Slingbacks from the Valentino Spring/Summer 2021 runway.
Sandals from the Alexandre Vauthier Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Shoes from the Givenchy Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Spring 2021 Shoe Trend: Highlighted Notes
Calling your attention! Spring/Summer 2021 collections are often punctuated with bright pops of colour complementing pared-down looks. Inspired by '80s neons, designers gave us nostalgia for the last big era of carefree excess in a more restrained way for next season.
From left: Stella McCartney, Fendi, Prada
Sandals from the Stella McCartney Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Shoes from the Fendi Spring/Summer 2021 runway.
Slingbacks from the Prada Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Sandals from the Givenchy Spring/Summer 2021 runway.
Heels from the Casadei Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Shoes from the Valentino Spring/Summer 2021 runway.
Spring 2021 Shoe Trend: Ballet Flats
Timeless, supremely chic, and channelling that French-girl cool, ballet flats are back and Spring/Summer 2021 iterations look so close to proper pointe shoes that we're dancing for joy! Remember that Zoom high leg we mentioned?
From left: Marina Moscone, Khaite, Rag & Bone
Shoes from the Dior Spring/Summer 2021 runway.
Shoes from the Rag & Bone Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Shoes from the Khaite Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Shoes from the Marina Moscone Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Shoes from the Simone Rocha Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Spring 2021 Shoe Trend: Flatforms
From New York to Milan, flatforms showed up on runways building on the momentum of the style in seasons past with animal prints, wood, and the spring/summer favourite of raffia and cork. A heel height of the moment, expect to see flatforms everywhere next spring.
From left: Erdem, Ulla Johnson, Tod's
Shoes from the Erdem Spring/Summer 2021 runway.
Shoes from the Ulla Johnson Spring/Summer 2021 runway.
Sandals from the Tod's Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Shoes from the Simone Rocha Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Sandals from the Gabriela Hearst Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Sandals from the Versace Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Sandals from the Casadei Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Spring 2021 Shoe Trend: Studded and Embellished
After a rough few months, Spring/Summer 2021 runways are showing some edge with spikes, studs, and bedazzled embellishments. From New York to London, Paris to Milan, everyone is expressing a different take on the embellished trend: Valentino's signature pyramid gets oversize while Burberry is studding with crystals and Tory Burch is creating woven studs.
Shoes from the Burberry Spring/Summer 2021 runway.
Mules from the Miu Miu Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Shoes from the Givenchy Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Shoes from the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Shoes from the Tory Burch Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Shoes from the Valentino Spring/Summer 2021 runway.
Spring 2021 Shoe Trend: Woven Wonders
Getting back to the basics, we're seeing a lot of woven and handcrafted macramé on runways for Spring/Summer 2021. Design houses are weaving materials like leather, cotton twill and rope in perfect Spring look fantasies for us to look forward to. Brands like Bally are getting back to heritage handicraft while Tory Burch is offering us a perfect summery take on her ballet flat.
From left: Michael Kors, Etro, Bally
Shoes from the Tory Burch Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Sandals from the Alberta Ferretti Spring/Summer 2021 runway.
Sandals from the Michael Kors Spring/Summer 2021 runway.
Shoes from the Etro Spring/Summer 2021 runway.
Shoes from the Casadei Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Spring 2021 Shoe Trend: Denim Dreaming
We've been wearing jeans less in favour of sweatpants while working from home, so for Spring/Summer 2021, designers have us making up for lost times with denim shoes. Intricately detailed, some even having label tabs and rivets, this fun new style will have us craving a head-to-toe Canadian tuxedo look or maybe the simpler times of Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake's 2001 American Music Awards matching denim outfits [2].
From left: IRO, AGL, Isabel Marant
Boots from the IRO Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Boots from the AGL Spring/Summer 2021 collection.
Boots from the Isabel Marant Spring/Summer 2021 runway.
Boots from the Casadei Spring/Summer 2021 collection.