Look beyond your Uggs, fluffy Birkenstocks and beloved Crocs – it’s time to familiarise yourself with the key spring/summer 2022 shoe trends.
One avant-garde shoe in particular was the talk of the town during the spring/summer 2022 show season. Fashion editors adored Jonathan Anderson’s Loewe stilettos, which featured cracked eggs, nail varnishes, upside-down roses, soap bars and birthday candles as heels.
Sparkling embellishment was all the rage at Blumarine. Creative director Nicola Brognano went big on the Y2K mood as models, who were body glittered up to the max, wore shoes with butterfly motifs fluttering at the toes. At Alexander McQueen and Tom Ford the glitz and glamour continued, while Miu Miu, Giambattista Valli, Fendi, Courrèges and Alaïa offered up myriad party shoes for all dancing needs.
Fashionable gladiators were a theme at Louis Vuitton, Valentino, Paco Rabanne and Dior, but no amount of criss-crossing lace-ups could compete with the platforms that prevailed on the runways. Daniel Roseberry presented striped, stacked soles at Schiaparelli; Chanel added extra volume to its monogrammed double C heels; Donatella Versace did towering mules; and at Bottega Veneta, bright green curvaceous combat boots came seriously pumped up.
There were lots of new boots shapes to choose from. Daring thigh-highs seen at Givenchy and Balenciaga have already taken Kim Kardashian’s fancy, while Jil Sander, Marine Serre and Peter Do championed the classic point-toe boot that’s always a great investment.
Here, the standout shoe trends seen at the spring/summer 2022 shows.
HIGH SHINE
Tom Ford, Blumarine, Miu Miu, Fendi, Courrèges and Simone Rocha showed high-shine metallics that will add sparkle to the most sensible of shoe racks. Prepare to dress your feet like disco balls this summer.
GLADIATOR RING
Gladiators are back thanks to Louis Vuitton, Dior and Valentino. The lace-up footwear that will prepare you for the greatest fashion combat comes courtesy of Rick Owens and his Berghain-worthy pair.
GREAT HEIGHTS
From flatforms to David Bowie-esque platforms, the shows were all about high-rise shoes. Stomp into spring with extra height thanks to Schiaparelli, Chanel and Versace. Disclaimer: Saint Laurent’s super-sized platforms aren’t for the faint-hearted. It takes practice – and serious confidence – to pull off Anthony Vaccarello’s sky-scrapers.
ON POINT
Amidst all the buzzy trends came a tried-and-tested classic: the point-toe boot. Blumarine’s denim pairs are made for Y2K enthusiasts, Balenciaga’s boots come decorated with studs and buckles, while a colourful pair from Marine Serre will have you feeling instantly jolly.
ANKLE DRESSING
Jewels have made their way right down to our toes – literally. Party shoes look best with chain anklets à la Versace or strings of pearls, as per Simone Rocha. Wraparound laces were also seen at Nensi Dojaka and Molly Goddard, while Chet Lo’s signature spiky fabrication snaked up models’ legs for dramatic effect.
THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAIL
Sometimes, simple is best. Sometimes, it’s not. And who could resist Loewe’s campy heels that came as kitsch cracked eggs, nail varnishes and birthday candles. At Prada, frilly flowers bloomed on evening shoes and stole editors’ hearts.
ALL THE WAY UP
It’s unlikely you’ve seen longer zips than those at Courrèges, Givenchy and Fendi, where thigh-high boots were shown with miniskirts and dresses. Pant boots have also become commonplace at Balenciaga, where Demna presented sleek black trouser-boots that campaign star Kim Kardashian has already taken a shine to.
IT’S ALL IN THE SOLE
Stacked soles are big news. JW Anderson made a case for supersized footbeds with his piped pastel pairs, and it was a similar story at Dries Van Noten, where printed dresses were teamed with futuristic footwear.
This article was originally published on Vogue UK.
