For the past several years, footwear trends have been undoubtably safe…Classic sheepskin Uggs, ladylike Mary Janes and ballet flats, and western cowboy boots have dominated the conversation. But as designers reveal their Fall ’25 collections from Paris to Copenhagen to New York, avant-garde and unexpected styles are shifting the narrative.
At Paris Fashion Week Men’s, Maison Mihara Yasuhiro walked L.L. Bean totes transformed into slouchy, stiletto boots. Sacai teamed up with Ugg to create knee-high, fluffy boots that are anything but classic. (The extremely furry collab was inspired by Maurice Sendak’s children’s book, Where the Wild Things Are.) Then, there were the large, chainmail and leather boots at Rick Owens that called to mind a medieval torture device.
View this post on Instagram
In Copenhagen, designer Alectra Rothschild debuted deconstructed apparel paired with overly slouchy boots, shredded stilettos, and ankle boots decked out in buckles and studs. (This wasn’t Rothschild’s first rodeo in footwear; the designer got her first job in the fashion industry at Mugler and has since done freelance work for Alexander McQueen and a collab with Birkenstock.)
Off the runway, the Danes were equally cutting-edge, though typically known for their practicality-driven choices. Styles like Tabi flats, statement slouchy boots, metallic stilettos, and hybrid ballerina-meets-climbing-shoes ruled the streets.
Images courtesy of Copenhagen Fashion Week.
The Tabi’s rise in popularity is no surprise, as barefoot shoes have been trending among early adapters. Sandy Liang debuted split-toe boots as well as extra wide-toe flats adorned with a single pearl with its FW25 collection at New York Fashion Week. Show notes described the collection as “a childhood fantasy realized.” Coach was having fun, too, with whimsical bag charms and statement stuffed bunny slippers.
Also in New York, Anna Sui debuted footwear with longtime collaborator John Fluevog. The duo’s current collection is marked by embroidered denim and metallic cowboy boots. In a shift toward the unexpected, the FW25 styles span brightly colored sneakers to steampunk-inspired boots and Mary Jane heels adorned with leopard print and neon hues. The collection is called Madcap Heiress, inspired by “women who would come to inherit fortunes beyond belief, only to spend it on jewelry, art, and men by their life’s end.” This is exactly the type of chaotic, just-for-fun storytelling we expect (and hope) to see more of.
