After saturating the runways last year, then cropping up on all of our favourite influencers and celebrities throughout the summer and autumn months, there's no denying that red is the colour of the 2024. Whilst the bold shade was everywhere in 2023, now that it's spring, bright red's sultry older sister is taking over, ready to show off as the fashion set's colour of choice. It's highly likely that this can be traced back to Miu Miu's It heels of last season: the buckled slingbacks that have been selling like hotcakes and continued to be favoured by editors, celebs and influencers alike. They were a perfect choice for dialling things up during the party season, but now we're spotting cherry-red heels left, right and centre in day-to-day outfits where they provide some much-needed pep when we're still stuck in winter coats and layers.
As we enter the spring season, deep cherry tones continue to prevail as the fresh shade shoppers and celebrities alike are searching for. Thanks to an appearance at Milan Fashion Week for the Versace show, Anne Hathaway provided the latest A list inspiration for this burgeoning footwear trend, showcasing the power that a pair of red heels can pack by combining a razor-sharp pointed court with an otherwise neutral black-and-white ensemble. The fact is, red shoes provide a sprinkle of seasoning for almost every outfit, whether plain or daring.
As we mentioned, the directional members of the fashion set have been gravitating towards these rich tones to inject a flush of colour into their ensembles for some months now. We've seen burgundy bags, scarlet scarves and crimson coats have their moment, but it's cherry-red heels that keep returning to the fore.
Although Miu Miu can be credited with kickstarting the trend, over at Gucci, the brand's new signature shade of burgundy (Ancora, for those in the know) is cementing the idea. This deep, glossy hue is fast becoming an instantly recognisable marker of the fashion houses's new creative direction under Sabato De Sarno. At the brand's most recent MFW almost every celebrity sitting front row (and everyone else for that matter!) had either a pair of cherry-red shoes on or carried a bag in the same colour.
In particular, I've noticed that British stars seem to have really latched onto the look, with actresses such as Daisy Edgar-Jones also getting in on the action, wearing both a Gucci Jackie bag and slingback courts from the brand in this trending hue to the BAFTAs after party. Surprisingly easy to combine with many other colours, this unexpected pairing of mint green and claret provides inspiration for many of us wanting to try something different this season.
Before all of the other It girls, Catherine, Princess of Wales was ahead of the curve. A few months ago at an engagement in London she chose a more primary-red suede pump to wear with a sweeping red cape coat and matching hat. As is her sartorial traditional, Kate Middleton opted for a bold tonal outfit that she kept looking neat through the use of structured tailoring and cohesive colour. But what's interesting about this varied set of women wearing the shoe trend is that the new spectrum of red shoes for 2024 is appealing to both trendsetters and classicists alike—a sure-fire sign of a decent investment.
Across the autumn/winter 23 runways, the glossy shade peppered collections, appearing across The Row, Balmain, Tory Burch and Valentino—who all put their own spin on the striking shade, balancing it with soft neutral tones and letting it sing with bright, colorful pairings. The trend continues conspicuously across the spring/summer 2024 catwalks too, with Gucci leading the charge in head-to-toe cherry-red ensembles, as seen above.
If you were apprehensive about styling the brighter red shades that dominated during the summer, you might be more at home when experimenting with the rich, warm cherry tone. Dress up your favourite pair of jeans or style with sleek black trousers for a sophisticated evening look you'll come back to time and again. There will, of course, always be a place in our wardrobes for classic black heels, flats and boots, but it's fun to switch things up now and then. Read on to explore the trend and shop my edit of the best cherry red heels available to buy this season.
SHOP MY EDIT OF THE BEST CHERRY RED HEELS:
Kitten remains the favoured heel height trend to shop this season, and these beauties are on sale.
The deep cherry shade adds a touch of glamour to every look.
Pointed-toe slingbacks are timeless and go with everything.
These chic kitten heels are already selling fast!
It's always a good idea to look out for shoe trends via outlet stores like The Outnet.
Add velvet and crystals to denim for a high-low clash.
The buckle-heel trend is showing no signs of slowing down this season.
A textural pair of Guccis you won't want to stop touching.
These elevated court shoes also come in three other colours.
This deep red shade will continue to work well into the summer months.
