The Hottest Footwear Styles for 2022
Published 25th Feruary, 2022
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Whether you like to dress up or dress down, shoes are an essential part of a fashion lover’s wardrobe. The prevalent moods for 2022 are optimism, power, and celebration, and shoes have come to play with bold shapes and fun details. After two seasons of loungewear luxury, designers are ready for more vibrant styles to bring our feet back to the outside world.
Groovy, Baby
Retro styles are back on the runway with a modern twist. Micro-mini skirts and wide-legged pants are back in fashion, and with them come platform heels. There is no place to be subtle in this trend; Chunky is the name of the game. So, go for big thick heels and tall solid soles.
Versace, Saint Laurent, and Lanvin are just some of the many fashion houses that have featured platform pumps in their collections this year. That said, you do not have to stick with 1970s disco platforms à la Ariana Grande. Platformed ankle boots, Mary Janes, and Oxfords can all fit into this trend.
Sandal Scandal
Sandals remain popular this season, a continuation from last season’s focus on comfort. Except they have gotten chunkier and more creative. You are going to see platform sandals everywhere. In addition, the sandals of this season come with elaborate straps and super-comfortable accents.
Brands are not ready to give up the cozy vibes we loved from lockdown and Prada’s woven flatform sandals show off this year’s puffy style that is all over jackets and shoes. Meanwhile, brands like Stella McCartney are using the heightened soles to make sustainability statements with recycled materials and eco-friendly rubber.
Tiny Dancer
If you love an understated shoe, you will be happy to know that ballet flats are back in. This year’s ballet flats come with slightly more character than before, though. Chanel’s iconic ballet flats are now adorned with ankle straps and a delicate monogram charm. Try different materials such as The Row’s suede or Chanel’s tweed & lambskin.
Pointed-toe ballet flats are also a thing this season if you want to add a more powerful visual statement to these dainty shoes and upgrade them to evening wear. The lingering loungeroom aesthetic can be seen in ballet flats as well with Nina Teddy covering their ballet flats in faux fur.
Desirable Details
2022 is all about expression. From the rubber stopped heels on Balenciaga’s Croc pumps to Loewe’s nail polish heel sandal, designers have been unleashing their inspiration in the form of unusual heels. If those heels sound too wild for you, you can still catch the trend with tamer versions such as Salvatore Ferragamo’s Sansu sculptural heels.
Feminine accents like bows are so right now. This design element is poised to trend all year with prestigious party shoe brands Amina Muaddi and Mach & Mach both releasing sparkly footwear adorned with bows. You can keep your bows small or take as big as the two oversized hand-tied fascinator bows on Jimmy Choo’s Averly pumps.
Peak Athleisure
Last but not least, sneakers are still here. You either love or hate them, but there is no denying that sneakers make an impactful visual statement. Retro styles are still dominating sneaker trends with high-end fashion houses making their version of understated classics and streetwear brands like Adidas releasing ultra-cool avant-garde creations.
Balenciaga sneakers (кроссовки баленсиага) continue to lead the ‘ugly sneaker’ revolution. Social media influencer Hailey Bieber was recently spotted in a pair of Balenciaga Runner sneakers matched with a Balenciaga cap. And just this month, her husband Justin Bieber modeled Balenciaga's new Defender sneakers. Slated to be released in March, the tire-like silhouette of the Defender is guaranteed to be a sensation, so get in quick.
Crossovers
You must have noticed by now that crossovers are a huge theme this season. The common themes of comfort and quirkiness are blurring the lines between high fashion and shuffling around in your slippers. Bottega Veneta has created buckled leather and rubber sandals and Balenciaga’s mold rubber sandals can go from corner store to cocktail reception.
Combining the best of both worlds, platform sneakers are trending with both Prada and Converse coming up with elevated (literally) versions of the classic lace-up. Interesting heels have expanded to abstract soles with Nike’s Air Zoom Superrep 2 flaunting architectural styles in the platform.
The comfort-forward trend also crosses over to sneakers with padded and woven fabrics bringing snuggly, sleeping bag vibes. The Adidas Yeezy Cloud White looks like you are wearing a cloud and Rag & Bone’s entire Sherpa sneaker line made from plush fleece evokes the ultimate cozy feels.
With footwear being such an expression of our collective hopes and desires, is it any wonder why we cannot stop collecting shoes? Shoes in 2022 are all about being playful while being comfortable. From ballet flats to towering platforms, designers have found ways to add an extra flair to give their footwear a sense of here and now.