These are the shoe trends to know in 2024
From Mary-Janes to the return of smart lace-ups, here’s how to make bold strides in 2024.
If you’ve been considering how to put your best foot forward in 2024, you could do well to consider a fancy pair of flats.
According to Net-a-Porter market director Libby Page, flat shoes will rule in 2024.
“Flat shoes are making a significant statement in 2024, ensuring that practicality and elegance can coexist,” she says, noting the luxury retailer has experienced a 20 per cent growth in sales of flat shoes compared to the same period last year.
Another key trend in footwear, the return of the sweetly subversive Mary-Jane shoe, has been a key driver of the growth.
Page says Alaia’s cult sheer and crystal-studded versions, and Le Monde Beryl – a brand new to Net-a-Porter – which reinterprets the classic Venetian gondolier’s slipper, have had particularly good sell-through. Affordable takes can be found in German brand Aeyde and local label Alias Mae.
The brands also fit with a key trend that Net-a-Porter has identified for 2024: the “extraordinary everyday”.
“The extraordinary everyday is the biggest mood for the spring-summer ’24 season, where essential items in our daily wardrobes are elevated to new levels of exceptional design and style,” says Page.
“Customers are seeking footwear that is both chic and comfortable, such as the kitten heels that were showcased on various runways. Take inspiration from designs like Gucci’s slingback pumps and Manolo Blahnik’s mules.”
When it comes to weekend dressing, Page outlines another key trend, “chic sportif”, which is about bringing a little preppiness and jaunty sportiness to more casual options and retro trainers.
“The prevalence of casual attire in recent years is evident in the preppy and sporty sensibility showcased. We have seen a surge in retro trainers, which aligns with this mood,” says Page.
As for men, the breadth of options available could readily be seen on the runways at Milan and Paris Men’s Fashion Week this month, where everything from colour-blocked fisherman sandal slides and smart and shiny lace-up brogues at Prada (worn with suiting), lilac plimsolls at Loewe and chunky boat shoes at Fendi were spied on the runways.
Olie Arnold, style director at Mr Porter, says some of the key trends of 2023 will carry into 2024.
This includes classic summer shoes such as loafers; uber-quiet luxury brand Loro Piana’s suede loafer is one of the retailer’s bestsellers.
Arnold also sees hard shoes such as lace-ups and brogues remaining popular as men look for opportunities to dress up again. Key brands for Mr Porter include luxury powerhouses such as Tom Ford, Loro Piana and Brunello Cucinelli for hard shoes, loafers, and boots, and brands such as ON for what Arnold says are the “best running shoes on the market”.
Gabriel Abi-Saab, co-founder and creative director of Australian menswear shoe brand Etymology, says men increasingly will be looking for shoes they can wear to the office and on the weekend. The answer, he thinks, is a good pair of loafers.
“People are finding that they need shoes that are versatile enough to wear to work as well as on their casual nights out, that can be dressed up or down. So, traditionally, men would wear a black pair of lace-ups, like Oxfords, to work, and that’s quite formal. But if you go for something more casual, like a loafer, especially in a nice suede or leather with a bit of texture and depth, you can pair that with a suit if you need to go and see clients, or something simple as an open-collared shirt and jeans,” he says.
“A good pair of loafers gives you a nice balance of aesthetics and craftsmanship. Men can still make a statement without overthinking what to wear.”
The difference, he says, is how men wear them.
“What will evolve throughout 2024 is how these classic footwear pieces are styled. For example, we will see loafers worn with socks and rolled-up jeans and cropped chinos. Ultimately, men are investing in staple styles, making them work harder by wearing with more looks than ever before,” says Arnold.
Sustainability is another key factor, he says, noting that he expects to see more brands using recycled materials and organic fabrics, and offering innovative, sustainable solutions.
As for what’s shaping shoe trends, Arnold says the influence of sports stars can’t be overstated.
“Over recent years, celebrity culture has risen to a new level of shaping trends across a range of menswear items from footwear to jewellery. Sports stars, notably NBA players, have had significant influence in the footwear market. That said, street style from fashion-forward individuals still remains one of the biggest global influences,” he says.
