I'm 58 and Always Wear Heels, But These 4 Flat-Shoe Trends Are Tempting Me Otherwise
When it comes to trying out trends, we can always rely on Renia Jaz (aka @venswifestyle) to show us (and her other 373K Instagram followers) how to style them. And the content creator's "I'm 58 and this is how I style..." TikTok videos gain thousands of views from people looking for guidance on how to wear the likes of the Alaïa Teckel bag or Loewe's leather pin shorts. Of all the videos in this series, the shoe collection instalment is proving most popular with her loyal following.
As a self-proclaimed "ageism fighter" Renia is proof that style has no upper age limit, and the fashion creative showcases this every day with her undeniable love for bold outfits, incredible designs, and more often than not, heels, owning pairs from Chanel, Bottega Veneta, Valentino and more. However, we all know this is proving to be a flat-shoe summer, with more styles gaining prominence than ever before. So, whilst we wait for her next video, we thought we'd reach out to the influencer to see which flat shoes she'd consider swapping her signature heels for this season and recommend to other stylish people, whatever their age.
Loewe's summer 2024 mules are on her wish list, along with a pair of everyone's favourite flat shoes, ballet pumps. Scroll on to see the other pairs Renia has her eye on for summer.
The Best Flat Shoe Trends to Try This Summer
1. Mules
Renia Jaz wearing Chanel quilted loafers.
"Whilst I usually wear loafers during the cooler months, for summer, I'll be switching them to a pair of mules. Clogs have been key for a while, but I'm loving the fresh Mary Jane slip-on shape coming through from the likes of Loewe. They're perfect to wear with shorts and a button-up cardigan."
I'm picturing these with baggy jeans or jorts.
2. T-Bar Sandals
Renia Jaz wearing Chanel chain-detail sandals.
"I cannot imagine summer without flip-flops—every year I need to get a new pair because I wear them so much. But this summer, I’m planning on wearing T-bar versions with linen dresses and short-suits."
For the minimalists.
Just add a white linen dress and a basket bag.
If you prefer chunkier styles, this zesty pair is ready to be styled with a crochet dress.
3. Ballet Pumps
Renia Jaz wearing the cult Alaïa crystal-embellished pumps.
"My number-one flat-shoe trend this summer has to be ballerinas! I love the fact that you can wear them with everything and they are so, so comfy. These crystal Alaïa flats are one of my favourites to liven up a pair of jeans."
"I just got new golden ballerinas from Valentino and they're the cutest shoes I have ever worn," says Renia.
4. Cross-Strap Sandals
Renia Jaz wearing Chanel padded Pool sandals.
"Another pair of sandals that I love and wear a lot are cross-over sandals. This type of chunky sandal is just so comfy and easy to style. Their chunkiness can be balanced by wearing a light and breezy outfit—I usually pair them with linen shorts and a matching shirt."
I appreciate the extra-comfy strap and raised footbed on this sage style.
Well done, The Row.
Harriet Davey is a freelance fashion editor who has been part of Who What Wear's extended team since 2017. She previously worked in print at Look magazine and has since worked across print, digital and social for many other titles, including British Vogue, Stylist, Grazia, Refinery29 and Marie Claire. Also a stylist, Harriet has had the pleasure of producing cover shoots and editorials along with commercial shoots for brands including Boux Avenue, Watches of Switzerland, Benefit Cosmetics and Revolution. To add to this, Harriet also works in live TV styling for ITV’s This Morning.Back to Who What Wear. With hundreds of published stories on site, Harriet knows what the WWW reader wants. Keeping up to date with the latest It buys and runway trends, she can guarantee to keep you one step ahead of the most stylish people.When not writing or styling, Harriet loves to go shopping (yes, more fashion). If she’s not in a local Hackney bar or restaurant, you can find her forever searching for her next holiday destination.