7 Elevated Shoe Trends That Work With Every Type of Spring Outfit

In my household, there are two telltale signs that spring is here. The most obvious is when I'm reaching for my heavier wool trousers less and less; instead I’ve broken the streak with a pair of jeans and even the odd flowy skirt when it’s been warm enough to do so. The other is when I’ve had my first pedicure of the season—that’s when you know the socks are coming off and my boots are poised to be packed away. With my toes newly primed and painted, my outfits (and my feet) are officially ready for spring. And right now, I’m most looking forward to start wearing all of the spring shoe trends that are cropping up.
Done with wearing my aforementioned boots, I’m ready to embrace spring shoes in all their glory, and this year there are plenty of pretty and chic styles to choose from. While there are shoes types that will always make a comeback at this time of year, I've honed my efforts into uncovering the biggest spring shoe trends of 2025 in particular.
From fresh fabrications that go beyond leather and suede to new silhouettes and colours, spanning everything from high heels to trainers, below are what I believe to be the 7 most important spring shoe trends I've seen. Scroll on to see them.
7 SPRING SHOE TRENDS I'M SPOTTING EVERYWHERE RIGHT NOW
1. SHINY SATIN
Style Notes: With the lessened need for hardy shoes, spring is the season where we begin to see more delicate fabrications come to the fore. While you won't want to wear these in a downpour, there's no denying that the recent influx of satin shoes on the market is one of the prettiest shoe trends of the year.
From Prada's cult satin mules to trading in your leather ballet flats for something shiny, there are lots of ways to channel the trend. Below are a few of my favourites.
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The slingback detail offers support to ensure a comfy fit.
2. CLOSED-TOE SLINGBACKS
Style Notes: I may have my pedi at the ready but spring still has the occasional chill days where having your toes exposed is ill-advised. So, what's a fashion person to do? Enter the closed-toe mule.
The shoe equivalent to business in the front and party in the back, a closed-toe mule provides your feet protection from the elements to the front, but harbours all of the appeal of a sandal to the back. I wear mine on evenings out when I want to look polished but also not risk frostbite.
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These chic shoes pair as well with an elegant pencil skirt as they do a with baggy jeans.
3. RAINBOW TRAINERS
Style Notes: I'll cut to the chase—everyone's trainer mad this spring! While I still see a lot of Adidas Sambas in white and black, the style I'm seeing most of now is brightly coloured trainers.
Adidas has spearheaded the colourful trainer trend this season but lots of other brands are getting in on the action, too. Whether you choose vibrant green or red, or opt for something pastel, bright is the way to go. Look for suede styles that add a softer, more expensive-looking finish.
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Brighten up your everyday jeans or wide-leg trousers.
4. MARY JANES
Style Notes: Beloved by both French and Brit women alike, mary janes are enjoying levels of popularity this spring that have never before been seen. Instantly elegant, whether worn with jeans or dresses, this is a shoe you can rely on when you want to look polished.
Just as versatile as any other flat shoes, the different with mary janes is that even more statement colours and prints still look elegant where they might not otherwise on other shoe styles. On cooler days, try styling yours with a fresh pair of white cotton socks.
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5. MESH FABRICATIONS
Style Notes: It started with Alaïa. The French fashion house's mesh ballerina pumps gained major traction at the tail end of last summer, just before everyone switched back into boot mode. Now, on the cusp of pleasant weather, fashion people are dusting off their Alaïas once more, whilst other brands have begun serving up their own mesh footwear.
Whether you choose a chunkier fishnet or a smaller mesh weave, mark my words: this is a textile that's only going to grow in significance as we head into summer.
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6. OPTIC WHITE
Style Notes: I used to think white shoes looked cheap. However, thanks to a host of more refined shoe silhouettes and styles, white shoes are now one of the most popular footwear trends of the season.
From classy mid-heel courts to simple flats and everything in between, the chicest ways I've seen white shoes styled this spring involve fluid, wide-leg trousers or pooling skirts.
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7. THONG SANDALS
Style Notes: This might be a trend that you want to hold off on wearing immediately but, make no mistake, on the warmest spring days I guarantee everyone will be out in their thong sandals.
Monikh Dale has already been wearing her The Row pair around the house, while Brittany Bathgate wore hers out and about in London to give her suiting a relaxed finish. I'll be putting my pedicure to good use very soon, this I know.
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Maxine Eggenberger is Who What Wear UK’s Deputy Editor and has over fourteen years of experience in fashion journalism. She been creating engaging and authoritative content for Who What Wear UK since 2018, covering runway reports, emerging trends, long-form features, talent interviews self-styled shopping stories and columns, including her edit of the best new-in buys. She ensures the highest editorial standards are met across the site, leads the editorial team in their search and keyword planning, works closely with the fashion and beauty team on strategy and continues to pen many of her own articles. Prior to Who What Wear UK, Maxine's contributed to publications including Grazia, InStyle Marie Claire, Elle and Look, amongst others.
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