You're reading Worn Weird, Who What Wear UK’s latest monthly column, where I, acting deputy editor Rebecca Rhys-Evans, will spotlight the fantastical world of shoes. From split toes to soleless styles (yes, really), I'm covering the most "cult" and controversial pairs money can buy. Think PVC, furry exteriors, thick wooden clogs and anything else weird and wonderful sparking hot debate online. They might be a little silly, they may repel men (if not, what’s the point?), but that’s fashion, darling!
First up, I’m debating "princess" shoes; essentially, footwear you’d expect to be worn by Princess Diana and Disney’s Cinderella alike. From Chloé's jelly shoes to buckled and bow-adorned almond-toe pumps that Marie Antoinette herself would have drooled over, follow me…
Though I consider myself a woman of the world, there are times I like to think of myself as a bit of a princess. But nowadays, being a princess is so much more than a state of mind; it’s a style of dressing. Fashion people have long had an obsession with black, and in recent years, what has been deemed stylish within the zeitgeist has been led by the likes of Charli XCX and (model and musician) Gabbriette. To be "cool" has meant wearing dark, moody shades, having an irreverent attitude and carrying an almost grunge aesthetic.
Conversely, Taylor Swift, as popular as she is, has never been followed for her sense of style. But something is changing—or rather, has changed. The "pop princess" prototype is well and truly back, and as such, so is the fantastical world of "princess" style. Olivia Rodrigo is wearing tiaras, Zara Larsson and Addison Rae adorn themselves in saccharine and neon-pink palettes… girly pop is on the menu, and yes—the cool girls are diving in.
What Are "Princess" Shoes?
We’ve been aware of the princess effect for a while, but it’s becoming more prevalent in shoe trends as we get closer to summer. Giving credit where credit is due, shoe brand Melissa has long reigned as the ugly-pretty plastic footwear label, delivering Y2K-style wedges, mules and heeled flip-flops in unexpected colours and PVC materials season after season. When the label collaborated with Y/Project (designed by Glenn Martins) on a Rococo-inspired, 3D-printed collection in 2021, it gave us one of the earlier examples of the princess shoe trend.
Then, at the Chloé spring/summer 2026 show, creative director Chemena Kamali sent models down the catwalk in jelly mules. Close your eyes and imagine Cinderella’s glass slipper, with its rounded toe, light-blue tint and folded bow sitting on top. This is exactly what we got from Chloé. Not a slipper made of glass, of course, or even leather, but soft, transparent TPU. And then there are the Junie sandals, which, despite their "petridish" silhouette and emerald-green-and-fuchsia satin soles (very princess-coded, no?), are completely see-through on top, with a clear PVC thong strap.
PVC dominates this trend material-wise, and is what gives it that nostalgic early-2000s feel. Valentino Garavani’s open-toe Révélé pumps appear completely naked above the toes, and like the Junie sandals, if you squint and tilt your head in the right way, look as though they are made for tiny little doll's feet to slot into. But the princess-shoe trend isn't just about the Y2K-inspired "life in plastic" footwear of Barbie and Polly Pocket. It goes much, much further back. We’ve talked about the return of Rococo fashion in ready-to-wear, with soft florals and coquette-coded corsets, and it’s the same with shoes.
Manolo Blahnik has long led the charge here, with its satin spool heels, frothy bow tops and delightfully gaudy colour palettes. The brand famously designed the shoes for Sofia Coppola’s 2006 film Marie Antoinette, which were recently displayed in the V&A’s exhibition based on the fashion of the 18th-century French queen. No doubt boosted by a collection to celebrate the exhibition last year, the signature Manolo silhouette, although forever timeless, has really garnered momentum lately.
Classic princess-shoe details, be they of pairs worn by 18th-century or 1980s royals, are everywhere right now. Think almond toes, high-vamp silhouettes à la Princess Diana, moiré silk, sculptural heels and bows, bows, bows galore! As well as newer styles by luxury brands such as Lanvin and Roger Vivier (which have long championed this aesthetic), ‘90s Prada and Miu Miu pairs are also in demand on the resale market.
Then there's the cohort of more independent labels filling my Instagram Saved folder with vintage-inspired styles fit for royalty. Merrfer's XXL bow shoes are prime princess, and Anna Sui's collaboration with John Fluevog presents silk mules with lace floral rosettes, which feel hyper-feminine. Cult Berlin-based headwear brand Between Beauty, adored for its whimsical regency-style hats, also creates the occasional silk shoe adornment. Made with vintage pairs in mind, they'll add a sprinkling of princess personality to your existing footwear collection.
So, be it luxury, vintage or just a bit of fun, if you, too, consider yourself a princess, make sure the shoe fits.
Shop the Princess-Shoe Trend
