This Winter’s Shoe Trends Embrace Individual Style

Say hello to the winter 2024 and 2025 shoe trends—a healthy mix of sturdy hero silhouettes suited for the colder months and can't-quit It styles that have become catnip for the fashion crowd.

The same "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality of this winter's fashion trends (where designers present tweaked iterations of autumn's best-selling styles) applies to the season's footwear. Fall's buckled biker boots (arguably the most prolific boot trend of 2024) are stomping into the coming season as a rough-and-ready, heavy-tread shoe that can withstand the slush and snow. So goes for the leopard print trend, which trickles down to the ground and manifests in party-ready pumps and knee-high boots that will make for a striking statement styled with a little black dress and textured tights.

In the more minimalist bracket, simple black loafers reiterate their substantial versatility as a wear-with-anything shoe—look to Valentino's plaid suiting, Tod's yummy cashmere knits, and Maria McManus's no-pants leotard as examples of the classic shoe's lack of styling limitations. Similarly, sharp pointed-toe flats want to become your new foolproof everyday shoe, worn with everything from wide-leg, puddle jeans to sweet '60s-era shift dresses.

In sum, the winter shoe trends for 2024 and, come January, 2025 tick all of the season's functional necessities (protection, warmth, weatherproofing—check, check, check) while leaving ample room for flair. Your search for cold-weather footwear begins and ends here.

Boots With Relaxed Attitudes

A soft and slouchy boot is equal parts easy to wear (a wider shaft means your calves won't be confined to rigid, sometimes sweaty leather) and easy to style. They look incredibly sophistiated paired with cute winter dresses (Brandon Maxwell's Resort 2025 edit offers plenty of inspiration for this specific styling) or with cheeky Bermuda shorts and an opaque tight à la Chloé's bohemian beat.

A No-Frills, No-Fuss Loafer

The best loafers will always be a footwear staple—to call the preppy style a shoe trend would be like announcing that the sky is blue as breaking front-page news. But winter 2025 narrows in on one specific loafer silhouette: sleek, anti-chunky, and low-to-the-ground pairs made of soft black leather. As far as winter loafer outfits go, feel welcome to express all parts of your wardrobe, from buttoned-up and preppy to downtown edge.

Ground Point

We've seen ample iterations of ballet flats in recent seasons. Mesh and sheer ones, schoolgirl strappy ones—and now, sleek ones that come to a sharp point. They were a clear designer favorite, with brands like Givenchy, Stella McCartney, Burberry, Max Mara, and Ulla Johnson all favoring a triangular shoe. Plus, a pointed-toe flat is the peek-a-boo shoe, peering out from maxi hems or baggy denim.

Walk on the Wild Side—Literally

Name a designer, any designer, and you'll find some semblance of spots, stripes, or snakeskin shoes in their Resort 2025 collection. Versace's cheetah-print knee-highs coordinated with a matching mod coat, in keeping with the season's ubiquitous Jackie Kennedy fashion inspiration. At the same time, Ferragamo and Tory Burch's snakeskin boots demanded your complete attention as scene-stealers.

Fuzzy Finishes

No, it's certainly not novel that furry and shearling shoes are trending for winter—the season always presents additional ways to keep cozy in addition to outerwear and thermal accessories. But nevertheless, footwear with must-touch textiles is always a fun sighting in the designer collections. Case in point: Chloé's inside-out furry boots and By Malene Birger's fuzzy ballerinas and mules.

Moto Boots

After fervently trending for two consecutive years—first appearing as multi-buckle moto boots on Miu Miu's Fall 2022 runway—biker boots have well-earned their title as a defining shoe of the 2020s. Recognizable for its buckle detailing or harness hardware, the shoe presents a wearable way of integrating subtle edge and gritty into your wardrobe.

Insider tip: Ganni's moto boots continue to gain steam, with demand climbing 296 percent this quarter and ranking as one of the most popular items of the past three months, according to Lyst's, a fashion shopping platform and data aggregate, Q3 2024 Index.

Sweet Strapped Slippers

Another shoe trend with impressive staying power is the not-so-humble Mary Jane. This time around, the front-strapped shoe takes shape in supple leather, soft satin, and other malleable materials that give your feet a well-needed break. Try the Mary Jane slipper trend with a colorful cashmere sock or a printed pair of tights for a twee take.