Outdated Shoe Trends You Don't Want To Be Caught Wearing During Spring 2025

A wise woman — Blair Waldorf, to be precise — once declared, "You can't wear such a beautiful shoe if there's even a hint of a sprinkle outside." She had a point. With spring's jubilant arrival comes the quiet retreat of stormproof soles, in favor of footwear that moves airily with the season.

Spring 2025 encourages the freshest trends to step forward, with some past favorites finding themselves on the wrong side of the sartorial archives. After all, fashion is fickle, and the trend cycle fast. What was en vogue last year may now be reeling dangerously close to 'vintage' territory — just not in a good way. To help you stay ahead of the curve, Women tapped Brian Lim, Founder and CEO of iHeartRaves and INTO THE AM, along with retail expert Jeanel Alvarado — Founder and CEO of Retail Boss — to weigh in.

Big shoes to fill? Not anymore. It's time to trim the fat as chunky sneakers have lost their footing. Spring's sneaker game is lightening up, and oversized soles are, as Brian Lim puts it, "shifting toward a more refined, minimalist approach to casual footwear." This trajectory is already visible in this season's most in-demand styles, like the PUMA Speedcat and Adidas Country. Unlike the exaggerated proportions of the Nike M2K Tekno, New Balance 560, or Balenciaga Triple S, streamlined silhouettes offer a more polished, fashion-forward alternative whilst still tipping a hat to comfortable nostalgia.

Model Emily Ratajkowski has championed this look, frequently stepping out in her now-signature red Speedcats. Runway trends further confirmed the trend's staying power, with designers debuting refined takes on sporty footwear. At Gucci, bright white sneakers were paired with tailored suits. Meanwhile, Loewe put forward a high-top evolution of its Ballet Runner for Spring/Summer 25. The house's creative director, Jonathan Anderson, summed up the fashion world's current mood up well for Elle: "there is nothing more exciting than the low profile-ness of something." We'll take that as the sign we need to downsize.

If gladiator sandals have been your Roman Empire in spring seasons past, consider 2025 the year they finally fall. An irrefutable staple of boho-chic wardrobes, the style has undoubtedly had its moment of glory — but the crowd has since spoken. As Brian Lim puts it, "What was once a festival favorite has appeared to be overdone in modern fashion, which favors minimalist silhouettes." This season, the focus is on ease and elegance, which means saying arrivederci to knee-high laces and fussy straps.

So who is claiming the throne? Look no further than the uncomplicated, versatile thong sandal, poised to rule over spring footwear. No longer just a beach-day essential, it's been completely reimagined in rich suede and heeled shapes. Gucci, Alaïa, and Bottega Veneta's offerings have already made waves in luxury spaces, and high street shelves are following suit. So, if your warm-weather wardrobe keeps relying on ancient relics, it might be time to put them to rest for good.

Are you still wearing square-toed sandals? According to this season's trend cycle, it's time to round things off. The chokehold they've had on feet for years now is beginning to taper off. "While being edgy and in style in previous years," Brian Lim notes, "they are being swapped out for softer, oval-shaped designs like rounded-toe slides and almond-toe flatforms." The evolution has already made its way to red carpets, as demonstrated by attendees at the 2025 Oscars. The Vanity Fair afterparty saw Keke Palmer dazzle in a jaunty pair of metallic Jimmy Choo Tabatha 95 sandals.

This provides all the confirmation we need that Spring 2025 fashion favors softness over sharp angles. You might still be clinging to your squared-off soles, but consider this your sign to step into something smoother. Be there, or be square. Literally.

Spring 2025 is bringing sky-high stilettos back down to earth, with footwear taking a more grounded approach this time around. The towering heel has long been a symbol of power dressing, but this season is all about channeling a different kind of strength. As Jeanel Alvarado warns, "think Christian Louboutin's iconic red-soled So Kate pumps with their towering 120mm (4.7-inch) heels."

That's not to say high heels are disappearing altogether, though. The verdict from New York Fashion Week's Spring/Summer 2025 collections saw power distributed to the kitten heel across the board. Bottega Veneta sculpted its signature intrecciato weave into a new take on the style, as Hunter Schafer sported Prada's kitten heel in Milan. True to form, shoe god Manolo Blahnik also remained loyal to the low-heeled silhouette. Whichever shoe you choose this season, just remember: the higher the heel, the harder the fall.

The view from the top isn't what it used to be. Remember "those super-chunky platform sandals that were everywhere a few years ago?" asks Jeanel Alvadaro, "They're starting to feel a bit dated." Whilst platform sandals were once a step up, now, they're a step too far. Much like chunky sneakers and vertiginous heels, they're losing their lift this season. As an alternative, Alvarado directs us toward "slim silhouettes with woven textures or minimalist leather designs."

Call it a return to earth, with some of our favorite fashion houses raising the bar figuratively high, literally low. Alvarado cherrypicks "Bottega Veneta's iconic woven sandals," but Alaïa's crocheted ballet flats are another strong example of a choice that works just as well. Brian Lim also points to "sculptural heeled mules, or simple yet classy leather flats" as options guaranteed to keep you right on trend.