From Prada to Mango, This Old-School Shoe Trend Is Making a Surprising Comeback
If it feels like everything that was once "outdated" is now firmly back in style, well, you're not alone. Whether it was moto jackets or denim skirts, the fashion industry has been keeping us on our toes this year and making us think, So what's next? In the land of items I would have previously banished from my closet, pointed-toe pumps are the last thing I could have anticipated staging a comeback. Yet here we are in fall 2022, and the classic (albeit sometimes stuffy) heels are everywhere I look—and I want in.
The signs are all there. On the runways, designers are staging a renaissance of pointed-toe pumps and slingbacks with iterations that couldn't be any cooler. At Khaite, slingbacks were finished in party-ready metallics, and at Loewe, heels made to look like balloons subverted the traditional shape of pumps. Meanwhile, celebs such as Rihanna and Hailey Bieber are preferring them over flat shoes, which tells me that they've officially been stripped of their "outdated" connotation.
For further evidence, see the celebrity outfits and runway looks that prove classic pumps are on their way back. Then shop my picks of the best pointed-toe pumps.
Bottega Veneta F/W 22
If the Olsen sisters are co-signing it via their luxury label The Row, it's worth paying attention to.
This dramatic shape is probably the coolest iteration of pumps I've ever seen.
On Hailey Bieber: Sportmax dress; Balenciaga sunglasses; Jimmy Choo Erin Slingback Pumps
The just-dropped slingbacks fashion insiders are already obsessing over.
Khaite F/W 22
On Rihanna: Alexander Wang jacket; Dior by John Galliano dress; Jimmy Choo x Mugler Leather Pumps ($822)
Coperni F/W 22
Take a cue from the runway and dress these up with knee-high socks.
On Bella Hadid: BY FAR Viva Pantent Pumps ($432)
Fall's It boots also come in a classic pump iteration, and luckily enough, there's still plenty of stock (for now).
Prada S/S 23
For its S/S 23 collection, Prada sent every single look down its runway with these Mary Jane pumps, a surefire sign that they are It-item material.
On Kate Middleton: Alexander McQueen sweater; Emmy London Josie Pumps ($435)
Saint Laurent F/W 22
The animal-print texture lends an expensive-looking feel to these.
On Elsa Hosk: Worn vintage jacket; Helsa Jersey Cropped Turtleneck Tank ($88) and Maxi Skirt ($228); vintage Prada pumps
Loewe F/W 22
Next, 5 Controversial Celebrity Shoe Trends That Have Us Divided
Anna is an NYC-based senior fashion editor who has been a member of the Who What Wear team for over seven years, having begun her career in L.A. at brands like Michael Kors and A.L.C. As an editor, she has earned a reputation for her coverage of breaking trends, emerging brands, luxury shopping curations, fashion features, and more. Anna has penned a number Who What Wear cover interviews, including Megan Fox, Julia Garner, and Lilly Collins. She also leads the site’s emerging travel vertical that highlights all things travel and lifestyle through a fashion-person lens.