It's not summer until the open-toe shoes come out. Sure, we're reaching double-digit temps and starting to put away our heavy coats, but to me, summer doesn't officially arrive until I can feel the breeze (or the whoosh of the tube, let's be honest) on my toes.
As we start shopping for all the pretty dresses hitting stores this spring (Have you heard? The curtain dress is about to be everywhere), and start dusting off our raffia bags, the next thing we need to finish off our summer looks is of course, shoes.
When it comes to the spring/summer 2025 shoe trends, there are plenty to choose from. Much as been written about on the Boho clogs that luxury French brand Chloé has made cool again under the creative direction of Chemena Kamali, and you all already know that retro-style trainers are the modern vintage shoes we all need, but as a die-hard flat girlie, I'm partial to more feminine styles with a twist that can immediately dress up a look.
Thankfully, coloured mesh flats (following the mesh flat mania of last year) are very much trending for summer, as are Greek sandals adorned with pretty stones, perfect for both city and sandy holidays.
Want to know what other summer shoe trends have my vote this season? See the 7 styles I'll be shopping below.
1. Jelly Flats
Jelly flats have been bubbling up as a trend in the last few seasons but it's hit fever pitch this summer with every brand, high and low, coming up with their own versions of the ‘90s “ugly” shoe. On their own, they could give some people the ick, but when styled ironically, perhaps with a structured blazer or dainty floral dress, they could add that big of fashion friction that has come to be admired as good style. Most brands have also added fun colours or even diamanté to the mix, giving the humble jelly shoe their own Cinderella moment.
With Severance Style coming back (or corpcore, or office siren, however you like to call the move back to the office uniform), perhaps it's not terribly surprising that peep-toes—those stereotypical stilettos worn by working girls in the ‘90s—would eventually rear its head. Ask me a year ago and I'd give these shoes a hard pass, but designers have made a convincing case for the the peep-toe 2.0, offering them in slick textures like satin or elongating the toe to make them look more avant-garde than vintage.
Severance never looked so sexy.
3. Stone Sandals
Resin bangles have already proven to be the must-have accessory this summer, but don't overlook how the enthusiasm for Boho embellishments like rocks, stones and flowers is also coming for your footwear. Your everyday goddess sandals are getting decked out in gems and stones, like jewellery for the feet, which just means that your simple, eyelet dress has just found their perfect match. We've seen the toe-ring sandals take off in the last few years (and don't worry, they're still very much around) but it's nice to see other textures given the spotlight this summer.
Fisherman sandals not your cup of tea? Me neither. For those of us who would like to dabble in the cutout shoe trend, basket shoes are our friends. That means crochet flats and woven loafers that are just interesting enough to make an onlooker do a double-take but just classic enough to go with just about anything, especially if you stick to muted colours like cream or brown. Oh, and they also help prevent the dreaded problems that come with sweaty feet as temperatures climb.
5. Thong Sandals
The one shoe style that will never go away is the thong sandal. But before you reach for your Havaianas (no shade, we love them), this season's trending thongs are a little more lux than your run-of-the-mill flip flops. Think heeled patent sandals or suede styles with thick soles. The point is, the minimalist shoe is anything but an afterthought as far as summer 2025 is concerned.
Still have the Alaia mesh flats on your mind? The pretty flat trend has returned, this time in sweet, candy-coloured hues like lilac, citrusy ones like lemon yellow and fiery ones like tomato red. Everyone's favourite flats last year, we're grateful that they've not fallen out of favour because the mesh flat does wonders for a look—adding a touch of ethereal femininity to a jeans-and-tee combo or rounding out a flirty date-night outfit.
7. Scrunchy Loafers
The scrunchy dad loafer already counts supermodel Kendall Jenner as a fan and for good reason. A little more flattering than the razor thin loafers of last year (especially for those of us with wide feet) and still sleeker than the chunky loafer of 2023, these loafers are the perfect throw-on shoe that will help you feel more dressed up than trainers. Wear with a fun skirt or sporty shorts and socks a la Kendall from summer straight into autumn.
These are the only loafers we'll be wearing for the foreseeable.
