A Definitive List of the Shoes Taking Over This Autumn

Ah shoes. It's been so wonderful wearing them again, hasn't it? All right, so we may be being a touch dramatic, but there's no denying that, for what seemed like the longest time, shoes (and bags for that matter) had taken a back seat, and instead, we developed some new shopping habits. In lieu of treating ourselves to a new pair of heels to wear with our elegant wedding guest dresses, we snapped up loungewear, knits and candles in numbers never before seen.

Still, that was 2020, and right now, as we pick up our lives where we left off, our outfits now call for something other than slippers. (Don't worry—they're not totally obsolete.)

So, which shoe trends are we kicking autumn off with? We're sure you'll be pleased to hear that comfort is still very much a priority as far as footwear is concerned—as is durability. Without further ado, scroll below to see the shoe trends the season has to offer.

CHUNKY LOAFERS

Style Notes: If you only invest in one trending shoe this season, it's imperative that you make it chunky loafers. "The shoe counterpart to the chunky boot trend is the chunky loafer. Brands such as Prada, Balenciaga and Simone Rocha are key for this trend," reveals Heather Gramston, head of womenswear at Browns. 

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CHIC SLIPPERS

Style Notes: Rejoice! You can still justify wearing your slippers as shoes in the cooler months thanks in no small part to designers who have devoted their time to creating stylish options for us to choose from. "With us spending more time entertaining or relaxing at home, after summer, the house slipper is going to be incredibly popular with our customer. Plush styles are modelled on the traditional slipper however are very versatile, as they can be worn outside of the house, too," assures Cassie Smart, head of womenswear buying at Matches. 

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TECHNICAL TRAINERS

Style Notes: It would be remiss not to include a pair of trainers in our edit, and for autumn, the trend has morphed into high-performing kicks. "We have seen an increased interest in athletic performance footwear as our everyday uniform has evolved and our customer is combining technical activewear with more fashion-focused pieces," continues Smart. "New Balance has been a highlight, and we see this continuing for autumn as well as introducing new specialist brands including Salomon, Asics and On.”

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BALLET FLATS

Style Notes: There's so much to love about Simone Rocha's latest collection, but one of our favourite pieces is undoubtedly the gold ballet pumps that decorated the models' feet. Featuring rhinestones and wraparound details, they're this year's answer to party and wedding guest shoes. 

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CLUNKY MARY JANES

Style Notes: Forgoing heels for over a year was a welcome plot twist for some, but others missed having an excuse to wear them. To help ease us back into wearing heels (if you haven't already taken the leap), the biggest trend of note for autumn is the clunky Mary Jane. With straps that keep your foot in place and blocky heels for added stability, Nodaleto's cult Bulla Babies have been dominating our feeds for weeks. Coincidence? We think not. 

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CLOGS

Style Notes: As our assistant editor Nell Block revealed earlier this summer, clogs are back on the footwear agenda, having made an appearance in Hermès's glossy 2021 collection. Wear them with jeans, a white shirt and chunky socks to carry them seamlessly through to autumn.

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TALL CHELSEA BOOTS

Style Notes: Boots are on our mind right now, so for our last slot, we've chosen to profile the need-to-know style. Continuing on from last year, chunky, track-sole boots are still leading the sartorial charge, though we have noticed the addition of an elastic panel akin to that of Chelsea boots and a taller shaft. Make yours knee-high to stay atop of the trends. 

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This post was originally published at an earlier time and has since been updated.

Next Up, Autumn 2021 Trends: The Most Important Fashion Looks You Need to Know