The Summer 2025 shoe trends are—how do I put this gently?—a riot. Not in the “laugh-out-loud” sense, but in the “chaotic catwalk stampede” kind of way. We’ve got jelly shoes mingling with clog sandals, buckles competing for dominance, and sneakers that look like they went on a juice cleanse. Somewhere in the fray, peep toes have returned from exile, and ballet shoes have rebranded themselves as “sneakerinas.” It’s all very high-fashion and extremely unserious at the same time. Which is, of course, the point.
I spent an embarrassing amount of time scouring look books, runway recaps, and the shoe departments of Selfridges and Browns (for research, obviously) to bring you this comprehensive breakdown of what your feet will be wearing in two months. Did your go-to summer sandal make the cut? Or will you be seduced by a slingback with sculptural metal? Let’s find out.
Buckle Up
If there’s one thing designers are making sure of this season, it’s that your shoes are secure. Bucklemania is very much still with us—big, shiny, aggressively over-the-top hardware is clamping down on everything from Ganni’s cowboy-ish clogs to Ferragamo’s polished loafers. Even Balenciaga’s strappy sandals have gotten the hardware memo. Consider this the official transition from “quiet luxury” to “loud fastening.”
GANNI Buckle Ballerina Pumps - £325.00 - Click here (UK)
Ferragamo F buckle loafer - £685.00 - Click here (UK)
Clog Sandals: Your Summer Boho BFF
Clogs—yes, the shoes we once associated with an aunt who owns several caftans—are being rebranded as It-girl essentials. Chloé, Hermès, and Ulla Johnson all gave them a high-fashion facelift, but let’s be honest: the best ones still look like something you’d wear to a Scandinavian midsummer festival. That’s the charm. Style them with linen dresses and unbrushed hair for that “I just bought crystals on Etsy” energy.
KURT GEIGER LONDON Mayfair buckle-embellished woven heeled clogs - £179.00 - Click here (UK)
BIRKENSTOCK Boston Logo-Embossed Suede Clogs - £140.00 - Click here (UK)
Sneakerinas: The Controversial Hybrid
Somewhere between a Repetto and a Nike, the sneakerina was born. Equal parts ballet slipper and athletic trainer, this new silhouette is having its moment thanks to Louis Vuitton, Simone Rocha, and Bella Hadid (who is apparently contractually obligated to wear at least one divisive shoe trend per season). Are they practical? Not particularly. Are they weirdly chic with tailored trousers and jorts? Absolutely.
LV Sneakerina - £735.00 - Click here (UK)
SIMONE ROCHA Tracker Mesh Ballerina Trainers - £695.00 - Click here (UK)
T-Bar Throwbacks
T-bar shoes are officially back, and they’ve never looked more polished. Designers from Khaite to Versace have embraced the retro silhouette, often with a demure heel and just enough 1930s glam to make you feel like you're headed to a jazz club rather than the office. Pair with a tea dress, a martini, and something to gossip about.
KHAITE "Mia Leather Pumps 2" - £870.00 - Click here (UK)
VERSACE Logo-Hardware Strappy Heeled Patent Leather Sandals - £880.00 - Click here (UK)
Ultra-Slim Sneakers
Meet the shoe that whispers, not shouts. Dries Van Noten kicked off the trend (naturally), but now everyone from Loewe to Miu Miu is offering their version of the skinny sneaker. They’re not built for running. Or walking very far. But they are ideal for Instagram Stories, and isn’t that half the job of a summer shoe anyway?
ADIDAS - Tokyo Leather Low-Top Trainers - £85.00 - click here (UK)
PUMA Speedcat OG Suede Low-Top Trainers - £100.00 - click here (UK)
The New Loafer
The loafer has had a personality transplant. Out with the stiff soles and prep-school energy; in with buttery-soft construction and slipper-like ease. Hailey Bieber’s been spotted in multiple pairs, which should be your cue to invest. Look to Prada and Bottega Veneta for chic, backless styles that feel more “fashion editor en route to Erewhon” than “finance bro at Liverpool Street.”
PRADA Logo-plaque brushed leather loafers - £870.00 - Click here (UK)
BOTTEGA VENETA Astaire Sabot chain-embellished leather loafers - £800.00 - Click here (UK)
Peep Toes Return
Somewhere between Y2K nostalgia and ‘50s pin-up revival lives the peep toe. It’s made its inevitable comeback, this time with slingback straps and kitten heels that beg for a pedicure. Bonus points if you match your polish to your bag. Extra bonus if that bag is Loewe.
KURT GEIGER LONDON Regent crystal-embellished peep-toe leather heeled courts - £179.00 - Click here (UK)
CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN New Very Prive 120 patent-leather courts - £780.00 - Click here (UK)
Jelly Shoes (Yes, Again)
If you’ve been waiting since 1999 to wear jelly shoes again, congratulations: your time has come. But forget what you know—Chloé’s adult versions are streamlined, minimal, and practically sophisticated. Think less “sandcastle contest” and more “beachside Aperol spritz.”
CHLOE Jelly Rubber Sandals - £450.00 - Click here (UK)
TORY BURCH Mellow Mary Jane Jelly Shoes - £195.00 - Click here (UK)
Flip-Flops, Reimagined
Summer and flip-flops are the couple that just won’t quit. But this season, they’ve upgraded. Dior sent out a hybrid flip-flop-boot, while Ferragamo is offering fringe-trimmed thongs with architectural heels. These aren’t the rubber throwaways from your last girls’ trip to Ibiza. These are...designer flip-flops. Which means they’re both uncomfortable and expensive.
ANCIENT GREEK SANDALS Charys Flatform Leather Sandals - £290.00 - Click here (UK)
LE MONDE BERYL Micro Wedge Thong-Strap Leather Sandals - £485.00 - Click here (UK)
FITFLOP Lulu Glitter rhinestone-embellished rubber sandals - £80.00 - Click here (UK)
HAVAIANAS Sunny II slingback rubber sandals - £32.00 - Click here (UK)
Strappy Flats
One extra lace, infinite style points. Whether you go with dainty ribbons at Chloé or sporty laces at Dries Van Noten, this season’s strappy flats are a nod to balletcore with just enough edge to work in real life. Just be prepared to re-tie them every hour. Beauty, after all, is pain.
Ferragamo ankle-ribbon ballet flats - £738.00 - Click here (UK)
Alevì Patty ballet flats - £250.00 - Click here (UK)
