Another New York Fashion Week has wrapped in the Big Apple. Dare we declare that we have finally moved away from the comfort-over-everything pandemic era and onto dopamine dressing? Glitz and glam abounded with sequined styles, metallics, and saturated hues. The same went for footwear, where designers finally passed on the sneaker in favor of stilettos, patent leather, and lace-up looks. Here are the top 10 trends to look out for next fall:
1. Knee-High Sock Boots
Sock booties had their moment in the late 2010s, but the latest iteration of this trend sees a knee-high shaft and substancial stiletto. At Bronx and Baco, the ombre boots were also emblazoned with crystal sequins.
2. Ghillie Ties Are Back
Like sock booties, ghillie ties were hot in the late 2010s. Lace-up styles were back in action on the FW24 runways, in the form of sky-high stilettos paired with deconstructed dresses.
3. Flower Power Collabs
Is the flower appliqué the new bow? It is, according to fashion week’s designer shoe collabs. AKNVAS tapped Stuart Weitzman to design footwear for its FW24 collection, including styles adorned with denim flowers. Christian Cowan unveiled a footwear collaboration with TOMS of slides and flats with flower embellishments.
4. The Power Pump
If Copenhagen was all about comfort, New York Fashion Week was all about the statement heel. The runways saw ’80s slingbacks, patent pumps, high vamps (like these patent leather crimson heels at Retrofete), and metallics galore.
5. Jet Puffed
Rick Owens broke the internet for his puffy boots debuted in Paris. Designer Bishme Cromartie, known for streetwear-meets-avant-garde style, brought the aesthetic to a more wearable level with puffy heeled ankle boots.
6. Double Denim
Early aughts style has been going strong, but nothing brought us back to Britney and Justin á la 2001 like this year’s New York Fashion Week. AKNVAS debuted denim styles paired with denim boots and flats, and Bad Pink walked denim dresses with denim arm and leg warmers.
7. Sneakers…in Moderation
This New York Fashion Week was definitely the reign of the heel, but sneakers are not getting totally kicked out of fashion. The aggressive outsoles of yesteryear are being traded for heritage classics like the Gola Elan with gum soles.
8. High Minded
The ankle bootie is officially passing the torch (back) to knee-high boots, preferably slim silhouettes with a substancial heel. Pair with a knee-length, A-line dress to show the perfect slight gap.
9. Black and White and…
School girl has gone cool girl, with chunky loafers paired with white socks (see Snow Xue Gao and André Assous). Bishme Cromartie took the look to the next level with black-and-white loafer/bootie hybrids.
10. …Metallic All Over
The red carpet looks of this year’s award season saw tons of metallic heels. Turns out, the celebs were right. Metallics, particularly in pointy-toe heels and booties, were seen all over the runways.
