Let me start by saying I'm really reluctant to talk about trends and items in your wardrobe being considered "in" or "out." I think there's mileage in almost anything, depending on how you wear it, whether you look after it and (most importantly) that it's still something you love to wear and feel fantastic in. I have items that I've owned for well over a decade that used to be at the height of a trend during the time. I invested in them, and even if they're not trending now, I couldn't care less because I still enjoy wearing them.
However, every now and then, you suddenly realise that something you absolutely adored putting on every day has lost its allure. Sometimes certain styles can feel outdated, no matter how much outfit magic you try to sprinkle over them, and for me, there are three shoe styles I just don't want to go anywhere near at the moment. That doesn't mean I won't hold onto them or revisit them in the near future—I'm just not as convinced they're right for now.
Shoes are the way I keep up with the trends. A lot of my clothes have stayed the same over the years (and I'm rather averse to a faddy outfit trend), but I always find the power of footwear too strong to ignore. This summer has seen me move into a very comfortable zone, with Teva's becoming my daily go-tos. When I'm not in nerdy sandals, I'll be found wearing something fair daintier, strappier and probably quite impractical. But what are the outdated shoe trends I'm putting on pause for now? They all appear to date back to around 2009, so they could be due a comeback. Keep scrolling to find out.
The Outdated Shoe Trend: Knee-High Gladiators
What I'm Wearing Instead: Minimal Flat Sandals
Ahh, the boho glory days of 2009! I remember it well. Knee-high gladiators sandals took up plenty of celebrity column inches, and every A-list contingent (from Brit girls Sienna Miller and Kate Moss to L.A. ladies like the Kardashians and Lindsay Lohan) were ardent fans.
They come around every now and then, but for my busy schedule these days, they're just too time-consuming. Not to mention that these kind of OTT sandals just feel a bit off when the aesthetic many of us are investing in right now is more pared-back and minimalistic. Plainer, low-cut iterations still stand up today.
Buy the simplest sandals and they'll last you a long time. That's why I'm into the current interest for the plainest chunky, comfy flat sandals right now. Buy into an elaborate trend like knee-high gladiators and you'll be more likely to find your shoes date.
Shop my minimal flat sandals edit:
The Outdated Shoe Trend: Wooden Platforms
What I'm Wearing Instead: Strappy Sandals
I don't know about you, but I've always found wooden-soled shoes really difficult to walk in. I've tried clogs whenever they've boomeranged back into fashion favour, and every time, it's been a disaster for my feet. Platform versions are wobbly to walk in, a bit mean when it comes to blisters and generally a tad outdated when single-sole sandals have been so popular for so long. Instead, if I want to wear heels in the summer, I'll either opt for a pair of strappy stilettos or a thicker-strapped pair of block heels.
Shop my strappy sandals edit:
Related: I Love Designer Shoes, But My Wallet Doesn't—20 High-Street Pairs That Wow Me
The Outdated Shoe Trend: Peep-Toe Shoe Boots
What I'm Wearing Instead: Closed-Toe Mules
Shoe boots kind of baffled me the first time around. It was 2009 when they first started being mass-market levels of popular, following the roaring designer success of Givenchy's creations on the runway. Like lower-cut boots with straps, buckles, platforms, super-high heels and peep-toes, they were the busy shoes that couldn't quite fit into any given season. It was during a time when "fierce" was the buzzword du jour, and these shoes definitely lived up to it. They were kind of work-appropriate and often worn with smart clothes, so it makes sense that I think about what I use from my closet for those kinds of outfits now. My conclusion? Closed-toe mules, and significantly lower-heeled ones. This kind of simple slip-on style is still elegant and classic, but also a great deal easier to spend all day in.
Shop my mules edit:
Up next, the big shoe trends of autumn 2019.
