If You're Anti-Stilettos, You'll Relish in These 5 Flats Trends
If your feet are in need of a much-needed break or if you’re completely anti-stilettos in general at the moment, you're going to be especially interested in what’s coming your way. Yep—believe it or not, while there are a plethora of heeled-shoe trends hitting the scene in 2020, there’s actually an equal amount of must-have flat silhouettes making waves as well. This means it will be easier than ever to look chic without sacrificing comfort this year.
To show you exactly what I mean, I rounded up some of the coolest flat trends—everything from sandals to boots to lace-up iterations—that will dominate the fashion crowd this season, complete with runway and street-style inspiration. Naturally, I also shopped out forward silhouettes for each that can be stylish replacements for the uncomfortable heels in your closet.
Flat Mary Janes
Mary Janes are set for a major comeback this spring, as a slew of top designers showcased various iterations on the runway. While many of said styles featured heels, flat interpretations also had a moment like with this pair from Agnès B.
Style Tip: Bring ease and sophistication to a more formal ensemble with a sleek pair of Mary Janes.
Shop the trend:
Almond and Rounded-Toe Flats
Whether opting for a ballet style like this one Simone Rocha showcased on the runway or something with more structure (which could offer more comfort and support), classic rounded-toe flats will hold strong this season.
Style Tip: If you’re opting for a basic black pair of flats, consider amping up the rest of your look with a statement dress, for example.
Shop the trend:
Functional Sandals
I recently covered the rise of the "ugly” two-strap sandal (à la this 3.1 Phillip Lim iteration) as an ironic yet incredibly cool spring sandal choice.
Style Tip: Wear your favorite comfortable sandals right now with pair of socks for a trendy and laid-back vibe.
Shop the trend:
Flat Moto Boots
Lug-sole and moto boots rose up to be an It shoe silhouette last season, and as Alexander McQueen proved, the comfy trend isn’t going away anytime soon.
Style Tip: A pair of chunky boots offers up a "downtown” twist to an elegant and polished ensemble like this blazer fit.
Shop the trend:
Lace-Up Flats
As Miu Miu showcased, polished lace-up flats will be a no-fail polished shoe choice this spring.
Style Tip: The beauty of classic lace-ups is that they basically go with anything and can elevate any ensemble, including this look featuring leggings and a blazer.
Shop the trend:
Next, check out the loafer trend that will be big in 2020.
Bobby Schuessler is a fashion editor with over a decade of editorial experience covering shopping, style, and beauty. He's spent over seven years at Who What Wear, currently leading the market team to deliver highly covetable and convertible content. He creates data-driven shopping guides featuring top retailers like Nordstrom, Shopbop, and Net-a-Porter and is at the forefront of Who What Wear's shopping tentpole strategies, including Amazon Prime Day. He also works on branded content initiatives and appears on camera in video and shopping livestream franchises. He has also worked across a variety of other media brands and fashion retailers like Refinery29, PureWow, Men's Health, and Gilt covering commerce, trend reporting, women's and men's fashion, home, and lifestyle.
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