In fashion, few announcements feel like a collective exhale. But today’s news—Pierpaolo Piccioli taking over as Creative Director at Balenciaga—was met with exactly that. The Italian designer, known for his romanticism, color mastery, and deep respect for couture, will step into the role on July 10, following Demna’s headline-making departure for Gucci. The timing? Impeccable. The reaction? A mixture of cautious curiosity and industry-wide relief. Let’s be honest—this isn’t just a new chapter for Balenciaga. It’s a genre shift. Piccioli, who spent 16 years shaping Valentino into a red carpet and editorial darling (remember that PP Pink moment?), isn’t the type to play into chaos for clicks. He’s not posting meme campaigns or wrapping models in caution tape. He doesn’t need to. His runway shows were often emotional, intimate affairs. They didn’t shout; they sang. And while Balenciaga under Demna has been praised for its subversion and social commentary, it’s hard not to see Piccioli’s appointment as a pivot toward softness, towards couture purity, and—let’s say it—towards healing. But the question hanging in the air is: will the streetwear crowd come along for the ride? Let’s remember: this is Balenciaga, a house that began with Cristóbal's radical silhouettes and architectural tailoring. It’s fashion built on rigour. And under Demna’s direction, that foundation was exploded—literally. Hoodies, sock sneakers, and meme-fied runway shows turned the label into a Gen Z powerhouse. But Piccioli isn’t known for hoodies. He’s known for gowns. Ones that float, billow, and, yes, sometimes carry the weight of poetry. That contrast isn’t necessarily a problem—it’s a strategy. “Balenciaga is what it is today thanks to all the people who have paved the way,” Piccioli said in a statement released Monday morning. “What I am receiving is a brand full of possibilities that is incredibly fascinating… This gives me the chance to shape a new version of the maison, adding another chapter with a new story.” If Demna’s chapter was about deconstruction, Piccioli’s might be about reconstruction. Kering’s Deputy CEO Francesca Bellettini called him “one of the most talented and celebrated designers of today,” and she’s not wrong. He’s a natural storyteller—his collections at Valentino often read like love letters to humanity. In taking the helm at Balenciaga, he inherits not just a brand, but a battleground of ideas. Couture versus commercialism. Intellect versus irony. Romance versus rebellion. So what does this mean for the loyal Balenciaga customer—the one who queued up for Triple S sneakers and bought irony-laced merch with a wink? They may follow Demna to Gucci, just as many of Alessandro Michele’s fans followed him to Valentino. But here’s the thing about great designers: they don’t just inherit audiences—they create new ones. And Piccioli? He knows how to cultivate a following. Zendaya, Suga, Florence Pugh—he’s dressed them all, with emotion and clarity. He understands what it means to speak to culture through couture, not despite it. His debut collection will arrive this October during Paris Fashion Week, just one day after Demna’s final haute couture outing for Balenciaga. Talk about symbolic timing. It’s a handing over of the keys—and perhaps, of tone. Whether Piccioli will keep the exaggerated silhouettes, the streetwear DNA, or the shock factor that’s defined the brand’s recent era remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: he doesn’t need gimmicks. He has grace. And in today’s fashion climate, that might just be the biggest disruption of all.

Diane Kruger in Dolce & Gabbana Lights, camera, couture . The 78th annual Cannes Film Festival is underway, and if you thought this was just about cinema, you clearly haven’t been paying attention. Each May, the French Riviera becomes less about film and more about fabric, with a red carpet that functions as fashion’s most glamorous battleground. For the next two weeks, celebrities, stylists, and luxury maisons will engage in a delicate dance of statement-making and silhouette-spinning, all under the Mediterranean sun. The opening ceremony on May 12th saw Robert De Niro receive an honorary Palme d’Or from Leonardo DiCaprio—a wholesome, if slightly predictable, moment of Hollywood reverence. But the real scene-stealers were below the stage: Julia Garner in metallic sculptural Lanvin, Eva Longoria giving textbook Cannes in a liquid silk column, and Bella Hadid, who appears contractually obligated to show up in something sheer, backless, or both. Jennifer Lawrence wearing Dior Haute Couture This year’s jury, which includes Halle Berry, Juliette Binoche, Jeremy Strong, and Leïla Slimani, will be judging more than just the competition films—they’ll also be supplying some of the festival’s most dissected red carpet moments. You can expect Berry to lean into bombshell glamour, Binoche to give French intellectual in black sequins, and Strong to wear something that somehow reads as both awkward and deeply expensive. Cannes has always been a place where fashion has to mean something. It's not the Met Gala, where irony is allowed. It’s not the Oscars, where brand deals scream louder than silhouettes. Cannes is its own category: formality with a dash of defiance. Yes, the official dress code still insists on tuxedos, evening gowns, and elegant shoes—“no sneakers” reads the guidance with the rigidity of a Catholic school handbook—but Cannes wouldn’t be Cannes without the occasional ankle boot or rebellious red lip. Alessandra Ambrosio wearing Zuhair Murad Couture This year, the festival’s competition slate is packed with headline-grabbing projects: Amélie Bonnin’s Partir un Jour opened the festival with feather-light French charm, while the world premiere of Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning reminded everyone that yes, Tom Cruise still does his own stunts, and yes, he still wears sunglasses at night. Later in the week, Wes Anderson’s latest pastel fever dream, The Phoenician Scheme , will debut—complete with a breakout performance by Mia Threapleton (daughter of Kate Winslet, if you must know), alongside Michael Cera and Benicio Del Toro. Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest , starring Denzel Washington as a troubled music mogul, is expected to be a highlight. And The History of Sound , with Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor, is already generating hushed awards chatter—and louder fashion buzz. But let’s be honest: this is Cannes. The narrative arc we’re really following involves which designer Bella will wear next, whether anyone will go full Old Hollywood with opera gloves, and who will attempt to smuggle sneakers past security. The Croisette isn’t just a promenade; it’s a runway. And the Grand Théâtre Lumière isn’t just a screening venue—it’s the set of fashion’s most high-stakes red carpet theatre. So say bonjour to drama, décolletage, and diamonds. This is Cannes. Angelina Jolie wearing Brunello Cucinelli (L), Heidi Klum in Elie Saab (R) Angelina Jolie wearing Tom Ford (L), Wan QianHui in Wang Feng Couture (R) Charli XCX in Saint Laurent (L), Halle Berry wearing Gaurav Gupta Couture (R) Lucien Laviscount wearing Dolce & Gabbana (L), Bella Hadid in Saint Laurent (R) Eva Longoria in Tamara Ralph (L), Irina Shayk wearing Elie Saab Haute Couture (R) A$AP Rocky in Saint Laurent (L), Natalie Portman wearing Dior Haute Couture (R) Karolína Kurková (L), Julianne Moore wearing Bottega Veneta (R) Isabelle Huppert in Balenciaga (L), Halle Berry in Gucci (R) Alex Consani wearing Schiaparelli Haute Couture (L), Alton Mason (R)

Goodbye Sneakers. Hello Grown-Up Summer Shoes. Let’s be honest: it was only a matter of time. The cultural saturation of sneakers—once a symbol of rebellious cool, now the uniform of tech bros and teenagers alike—has reached its natural peak. And in their place? A wardrobe of elegant, unbothered, post-sneaker era shoes that signal one thing: you’ve grown up, and you know how to dress for summer without looking like you just rolled out of a Soho House gym. This year, men’s summer footwear is embracing a new mood. It’s not about hype, it’s about heritage. Less “limited drop,” more “limited edition hand-stitched leather.” And while yes, you may still reach for your Veja trainers for a grocery run, when it comes to actually dressing for the season—vacations, weddings, dinners, or pretending to work from a rooftop terrace—these are the shoes that matter. From Peak Sneaker to Quiet Luxury: A Style Shift Cast your mind back to the years between 2015 and 2020. The golden age of sneaker culture. Yeezy drops crashed websites. Balenciaga’s Triple S turned orthopaedic into aspirational. People queued overnight for Off-White x Nike collabs, then immediately listed them on StockX with a £500 markup. Sneakers were less about comfort and more about flexing. They weren’t just shoes—they were cultural artefacts, status symbols, and often, an entire personality. But like all hype cycles, this one came with an expiration date. Fast forward to 2025, and the tides have turned. The loudness, the logos, the performative exclusivity—it's all started to feel… a bit much. The same man who once checked sneaker resale prices during meetings is now quietly investing in loafers from Northampton and arguing about suede nap direction. Because somewhere between post-pandemic introspection and the rise of "stealth wealth," sneaker culture lost its grip on fashion's pulse. In its place? The slow, steady resurgence of classic footwear rooted in quality, not clout. Quiet luxury—once a niche reserved for those in-the-know—has now become the defining aesthetic of the post-sneaker world. And nothing says "quiet luxury" like a well-made loafer, a softly-aged suede Derby, or a hand-stitched espadrille that doesn’t need a logo to prove its worth. Luxe Espadrilles The Riviera’s most relaxed export is no longer reserved for yacht club members and old cigarette ads. Espadrilles are having a moment, and this time they’re luxe, not lazy. In 2025, they’re made from woven linen, suede, or buttery canvas with stitched soles that nod to craftsmanship rather than convenience. Ideal for moving from poolside Campari to a beachside dinner where someone inevitably brings up postmodern architecture. Pair them with drawstring trousers, a short-sleeve Cuban collar shirt, and enough nonchalance to convince people you live in Palma. Snoafers Enter the Snoafer: the fashion industry’s latest attempt to have it both ways—and, annoyingly, it sort of works. Equal parts performance sneaker and penny loafer, this is what happens when someone at New Balance decides to experiment after one too many martinis at Chiltern Firehouse. The result? A mesh-paneled, sole-podded Frankenstein shoe that shouldn’t make sense but somehow does. It’s what you wear when you want the ergonomic smugness of a runner but need to pass as someone who reads the Financial Times on holiday. They’re divisive, yes. But in a season where formality is being quietly redrawn, Snoafers let you cheat the dress code without anyone realising. New Balance 1906L Shoes - £120.00 - Click here (UK) Suede Driving Shoes Driving shoes are a fantasy—one that involves a convertible in Tuscany, a silk scarf you didn’t iron, and someone named Giancarlo. Luckily, the shoes themselves are very real, and very wearable. The suede driving shoe—particularly from heritage brands like Tod’s—is an ideal middle ground between loafer and slipper, with just enough European flair to justify that Aperol at lunch. They’re lightweight, tactile, and perfect with white denim or tailored shorts. Do they work if you don’t drive? Absolutely. Do they still look great with a Negroni in hand? Even better. Barbour Courage Driving Shoes - £99.95 - Click here (UK) Tod's Gommino Bubble suede driving shoes - £445.00 - Click here (UK) Leather Deck Shoes The preppy renaissance continues, and the leather deck shoe is officially back from the country club. Originally designed for sailors, they’re now the uniform of Aimé Leon Dore fans and anyone who has strong feelings about vintage Rolexes. Wear them with chinos, a knit polo, and a heavy dose of East Coast nostalgia. Bonus points if you know who Paul Sperry is. Scarosso smooth-leather boat shoes - £274.00 - Click here (UK) Polo Ralph Lauren - Anders suede boat shoes - £195.00 - Click here (UK) Suede Derbies For the man who still believes in dressing like an adult (a rare breed), suede Derbies are essential. These are not your winter oxfords—they’re warm-weather workhorses that somehow manage to look both sharp and effort-free. British brands like Grenson, Church’s, and Crockett & Jones are making beautiful versions with Goodyear welting and top-grade suede, meaning they’ll age like your favorite leather briefcase. Pair them with relaxed tailoring or lightweight suits. Think: linen, but with purpose. Church's Shannon leather Derby shoes - £980.00 - Click here (UK) Dr. Martens Felix contrast-stitching derby shoes - £129.00 - Click here (UK) Leather Sandals Let’s clear something up: flip-flops are not sandals. Flip-flops are for the shower at Equinox. Leather sandals, on the other hand, are a grown man’s answer to staying cool while still appearing remotely put together. The key here is structure—wide straps, sturdy soles, and nothing that squeaks. They look best when paired with tailored shorts, a camp collar shirt, and a sense of knowing better. Birkenstock Milano leather sandals - £268.00 - Click here (UK) Giuseppe Zanotti strappy leather sandals - £322.00 - Click here (UK) Penny Loafers Penny loafers are your wardrobe’s best-kept secret. They somehow manage to be formal enough for a wedding, casual enough for a rooftop drink, and breathable enough to survive the Central line in July. G.H. Bass still makes the most classic version (if you care about pedigree), while Ralph Lauren and Brooks Brothers have reimagined them in glossy leathers for the Ivy League graduate who now works in branding. Invest in a pair from a Northamptonshire shoemaker if you want them to last longer than your current skincare routine. Tod's Leather penny loafers - £640.00 - Click here (UK) Dolce&Gabbana Altavilla suede penny loafers - £675. 00 - Click here (UK) White Sneakers Yes, white sneakers are still hanging on. But in 2025, they’re no longer the main character—they’re the understudy. If you must wear them, keep them minimal (think Common Projects or Axel Arigato), box-fresh, and free of unnecessary logos. And know that every time you do, a suede Derby quietly rolls its eyes. HUGO logo-print panelled sneakers - £175.00 - Click here (UK) Common Projects leather low-top sneakers - £305.00 - Click here (UK) The Final Word Summer and winter shoes aren’t just seasonally different—they speak entirely different languages. And this year, summer is speaking fluent Italian, with a slight British accent and a heavy emphasis on loafers. So retire the sneakers (at least temporarily), embrace the grown-up shoe, and let your footwear finally say what your wardrobe has been hinting at all along: you’ve evolved.

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)

Not long ago, a sneaker could make you cool. A Nike collab with an obscure Japanese graffiti artist could elevate a TikTok nobody into a street-style somebody. The right Jordans (in a rare colourway, naturally) gave you an aura of knowingness: you were in the club, you knew the codes, you were part of culture. But like all trends that burn too bright, sneaker culture is now on life support, bloated by hype, resellers, and a saturation of bad taste disguised as exclusivity. Sneakers — once a subcultural shorthand for rebellion, sport, or identity — have become the default footwear of everyone. Your boss wears them to the office. Your cousin wears them to his wedding. Your dentist wears them, which really says it all. When everything is sneaker culture, sneaker culture is nothing. This isn’t to say sneakers are going anywhere. They’re functional. People will always need to walk. But the culture around them — the queues, the raffles, the resale bots, the obsessive collector energy — is fading. What we’re witnessing isn’t a style evolution. It’s the fashion equivalent of a candle sputtering out after a party that went on too long. The death knell sounded not with a bang, but with a Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1, designed by the late Virgil Abloh. A beautiful shoe, yes. A historic collaboration, absolutely. But also: a high-fashion eulogy. When you put a sneaker in a Sotheby’s auction house and sell it for the price of a small car, you’re not celebrating a movement — you’re embalming it. And even Abloh, who helped catapult sneaker culture into the luxury space, saw this moment coming. In 2020, he predicted that the new decade would be less about hype and logos and more about “thrifting, finding your personal style,” and valuing “archival pieces and your knowledge on the fashion you consume.” If sneaker culture had a prophet, it was also its philosopher-critic. That shift is already visible in data. According to Lyst’s 2024 “Year in Fashion” report, searches for “quiet luxury” surged 138%, while brands associated with more logo-heavy, hype-driven aesthetics — think Off-White, Balenciaga, Yeezy — saw declining demand. Meanwhile, brands like The Row, Khaite, and Loro Piana gained traction, thanks to their understated, ultra-refined silhouettes. The most-wanted shoe of the year? Not a sneaker, but a pair of sleek, minimalist Mary Janes by Alaïa. Drop fatigue is also real. Sneaker launches used to be an event. Now they’re an algorithmic grind. You don’t score shoes because you’re stylish — you score them because you’ve learned how to hack SNKRS or you paid someone in Discord to do it for you. When the aesthetic of a subculture becomes indistinguishable from financial speculation, it stops being cool. Luxury fashion has already pivoted. In case you missed the memo (maybe you were busy defending your Travis Scott x Jordan 1s), the new codes are quiet, flat, and often hard-soled. Even A$AP Rocky, once sneakerhead-in-chief, has been spotted in square-toed Bottega Veneta shoes. The new status symbol is not a shoe you had to fight the internet for — it’s one no one recognises at all. That’s the real shift: taste has replaced hype. People are tired of queuing for a product they’ve been told they need. They want to feel like they discovered something. They want minimalism, quiet craftsmanship, even (gasp) elegance. You know what feels elegant? A hand-stitched Italian loafer. You know what doesn’t? A size 11 sneaker covered in plastic zip ties and irony. So no, sneaker culture isn’t dead. Not quite. But it’s limping. And in the world of luxury fashion, that’s the first sign of rigor mortis.

It’s the Super Bowl of fashion, it’s the fashion Olympics, it’s the night newly rising stars solidify their place on the world stage—or fall into oblivion. The stakes are high, and the heels are higher. Who is falling, and who is flying this season? This year’s Met Gala theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” , is a revelatory exploration of Black dandyism—a style movement that redefined elegance, sophistication, and self-expression against the backdrop of historical and societal challenges. Dandyism, often associated with European aristocracy, was reclaimed and revolutionized by Black men in the 18th and 19th centuries, transforming it into an act of resistance, autonomy, and cultural pride. The accompanying dress code, “Tailored for You,” invites attendees to embrace their personal style through tailored silhouettes, reimagining the world of menswear. From Kim Kardashian’s audacious spin on the theme to Sabrina Carpenter’s chic take on classic tailoring, the red carpet was awash with statements both bold and beautifully restrained. Teyana Taylor pushed the envelope with an avant-garde silhouette, while Lewis Hamilton delivered a masterclass in refined homage to Black sartorial heritage. Then came Diana Ross, dazzling in a self-designed creation that nodded to her iconic Mahogany era — a reminder that no one commands a room quite like Miss Ross. Throughout the night, celebrities paid tribute to Black fashion pioneers, weaving history and contemporary flair into looks that sparked conversation worldwide. As the evening wore on, it became crystal clear who nailed the brief — and who left us scratching our heads. Ahead, we break down the most buzzed-about looks of the night, from the showstopping triumphs to the ensembles that faltered under the spotlight. The Best The Boring List The Worst Dressed