For the last few years, I’ve worn the same winter footwear staples continuously: platform Doc Martens, black Coach loafers, several versions of the trendy shearling clog, and a pair of pointed-toe knee-high boots from Reformation. And while each holds merit because of their innate wearability, my standard styles have started to feel like the equivalent of “Go girl, give us nothing.” I’m bored of basics and hungry for something a bit more titillating.
Luckily, winter shoe trends for 2024 and 2025 are anything but basic. First, many of them pull inspiration from the most dramatic periods in fashion history. Plus, nearly every winter shoe comes with a design detail (or two, or three) that makes it stand out from its minimalist contemporaries. Boot designers, for example, are utilizing every square inch of canvas—whether that’s high-shine leather or luxe suede—to maximize impact. The season’s top styles are decked in studs, feature exaggerated folds, or sit on a dramatic platform sole.
Meanwhile, the classic loafer is being reinvented with theatrics in mind. Fans of the professional-forward footwear will soon be shopping leopard print, blue suede, and burgundy leather. Since this is the official season of sparkle and glamour, there are also plenty of high heels to pair with your more festive pieces. Ugly-cute, glove-style pumps will give your holiday party look a dash of ‘90s flavor, while glossy patent leather slingbacks offer a spicy update to your typical black pump.
Ahead, peruse these and more exciting winter shoe trends that will bring a little bit of commotion to your closet.
Patent Leather
Even the most basic shoe on earth—the simple black pump—is getting a flamboyant do-over for winter 2025. Some of the most popular options on the market come dipped in a new, glossy sheen. The most popular are from Miu Miu, but Saint Laurent, Prada, and more have also released their own. The polished appearance isn’t only for high heels—boots, loafers, and flats have all received the glazed treatment. And just like their matte counterparts, these beauties can be styled interseasonally, with nearly anything you pull out of your closet.
Bubble Studs
Brands like Awake Mode and Khaite paved the way for this playful punk trend, making spherical studs their bread and butter. After the look had effectively saturated the luxury market, ready-to-wear brands like Madewell, Simon Miller, and Zara caught on, releasing boots, clogs, ballet flats, and more shoe styles covered in reflective baubles of every size. Of course, I’m still waiting for studded belts to make a comeback, but this isn’t a bad substitute.
Super Slouch
Deliberately unstructured styles were one of the top trends among fall boot designs this year (along with biker, leopard print, and over-the-knee). That momentum will only continue in the coming months, as slouchy styles become the norm. Fashion houses like Proenza Schouler and Isabel Marant proved on their fall/winter 2024 runways that styling these exaggerated folds isn’t quite the enigma once thought. They pair easily with all manner of dress lengths and also go shockingly well with just-as-baggy jeans.
Glove Pumps
A traditional black pump can easily complete an outfit, sure, but they rarely add to it. This is why popular shoemakers, including The Row, Bottega Veneta, Khaite, and Jimmy Choo, are hell-bent on offering updated styles—and they’re doing so by pulling from the archives. Straight out of 1993, glove pumps are the antithesis of modern-day naked dressing. Beloved by stars like Jennifer Lawrence and Beyoncé, they offer more modest coverage, compared to the slinky sling-backs and mesh flats of today. They’re sturdy, not strappy, and notoriously comfortable, with an exaggerated silhouette. The glove pump is where frumpy meets fashion.
Elevated Loafers
Simple leather loafers have long held a supporting role in the fashion industry, instead of being a lead character. You slip them on every day for work, but rarely do they garner a compliment—let alone a squeal of envy. Newly-released styles, however, were made for the spotlight. Playful takes have begun popping up in the fall/winter 2024 and spring/summer 2025 collections of brands like Miu Miu, Bottega Veneta, and more, ousting boring black leather for more whimsical outers, like animal print, colorful suede, and glossy cherry red patent leather. Starting now, workwear has never been more exciting.
Platform Uggs
Ugg boots haven’t had a year this good since the 2000s. No longer relegated to lazy day wardrobes, today’s chunky suede boots are being treated with the respect they deserve (and have earned). In the streets, they’re being worn are wearing them with baggy jeans and padded bomber jackets. On the runway, however, brands like Elena Velez and Y/Project are showing them in tandem with flouncy dresses and leather outerwear. Both are worthy combinations to try.