Summer is here and so are some serious footwear moments we want to share with you! Trends are happening across the spectrum from sneakers to stilettos and this year, they’re easier than ever to get into. Let’s dive right in, shall we?
Great news for you high-heel haters: the biggest trend we are seeing this summer revolves around athletic shoes! Journeys knows where it’s at with this trend and we grabbed the following sneakers there to highlight the biggest looks …
First up, look for the “futuristic sneaker” everywhere this summer. This features a sock-style body, reflective colors, sleek designs, and minimal laces or closures. We got these Pumas at Journeys and would love to pair them with a sleek jogger pant and racerback tank with strappy details.
Next up is the bold color in your retro-inspired sneaker. These New Balance 998s feature a classic body style with suede construction in a sweet berry color. We’d pair these Journey jewels with a fun midi dress in a floral print to really make that purple pop!
Also hot this summer is cool pastels. These baby blue Adidas sneakers are from Journeys too and feature a feminine coral logo on the tongue and would look great with a cropped straight leg light-wash distressed denim pant and a breezy linen button down.
Onto the opposite end of the spectrum are the highest of heels, which are sticking around another season to show off your pedicure! We picked these up at Off Broadway Shoes and are loving the variety we saw there. We are focusing on three of our favorite trends for this season …
Plastic. Yes, plastic! These Bebe stilettos feature shiny clear plastic straps and an ultra high heel. Save these saucy numbers for a night out and pair them with a short dress to make your legs look a mile long.
Ruffles. The feminine flair of a blush colored suede ruffle-toe stiletto will always be romantic to us. Dress these Mark Fishers up with a day dress for your best friend’s wedding or dress them down with a distressed boyfriend jean for a flirty, laid back look at brunch or dinner.
Florals. You can’t go wrong with florals this season. We love the cheery print on these Michael Shannon stilettos, and the dainty ankle strap is positively dreamy. Make these your statement shoe with a little black dress or dress them down like the ruffled heels for a cool juxtaposition of vibes on a night out on the town.
We can’t do vacations and pool parties without flats, so here are our favorite trends in the middle of the shoe spectrum for you …
Birkenstock is enjoying its full-fledged comeback, but we wanted to find a more original style so we opted for these earthy, laid back slides from Dolce Vita at Off Broadway Shoes. The hemp wrapped midsole and the contrast stitching make these the perfect casual slide for all your summer looks – from a sun dress to shorts.
Also giving us lowkey hippie vibes we love are these Michael Shannon sandals featuring the popular toe-ring style and a minimalist black leather band. These boho sandals are made for tourist jaunts and chill picnic scenes with any shorts and tank tops you pair them with!
Step up your flats game this summer with an embellished mule. These Zigi Soho mules feature a plush velvet outer, studded with chunky pearls and crystals. We loved this pair because they could be a great transitional shoe between the seasons and could also work for business or party style outfits!
Add a little summer flair to your closed-toed look with these Restricted d’orsay flats, featuring a distressed linen upper and a super fun fruit print. We’d love to see these cheeky pineapples with an otherwise business-casual outfit or with a tailored pair of high waisted shorts.
Last but certainly not least is one of the biggest shoe trends of the year – kitten heels! We are loving kittens because they add a nice lifted, dressed up look to any outfit, but are functional and have a chic shape.
We took the kitten heel and added a fresh pop of color to these open toed sandals. They feature a cute tie detail around the ankle for added fun. We’d pair these with culottes and a chambray shirt for an airy, preppy look.
Since it’s wedding season we also wanted to include a dressy option and went straight for Vince Camuto kitten heels at Off Broadway Shoes. These slingback suede mini-pumps feature a super sleek and vintage design with a deep vee at the vamp to elongate your leg and add some drama to your look. Pair these with any LBD for weddings or with a tailored cropped pant and high-low button down blouse for a retro vibe.
