From Heeled Loafers to Square Toes and Lace-Up Courts, Consider This Your Guide to Autumn/Winter’s Defining Shoe Trends

I walked outside this morning wearing a pair of very naked sandals, a thin spaghetti of rubber forming a “T” over my foot. I knew this was it, you see: the end of sandals and the start of more autumnal, more appropriate footwear. I wanted to go out on a high. And, having achieved my goal of walking to and from a coffee shop without my bare skin getting rained on, I’m ready to embrace the shoe-themed delights of Autumn/Winter 2026. There’s plenty to make you forget the ease of slipping on flip-flops, from the new leather finish (that once made a shoe-obsessed main character squeal on TV!) to the hottest shape for your toe. If you’re feeling a little lost or uninspired when transitioning away from summer outfits, these five Autumn/Winter shoe trends will give last autumn’s outfits an injection of new-season energy. Bookmark them now.

Lace-Up Details

Prada knows how to create a cult shoe. For AW26, lace-up court shoes with contrasting laces in purple and bottle green are at the top of every fashion insider’s wishlist. At Marni, Meryl Rogge made us fall in love with the brand all over again, notably with the lace-up kitten heels, which are as statement-making as they are practical. Jimmy Choo introduced the Scarlett pumps a few seasons ago, but has added lace and tweed to this season’s offering.

Square Toes

It might not possess the knife-sharpness of a point, but a square toe still has plenty of edge. At Miu Miu, a square-toed, block-heeled pump heralded the shoe shape of the season. From sandals to loafers and classic court shoes you can wear to work, add a pair to your existing outfits for instant kudos.

Ruched Details

The ruched loafer surely needs no introduction, thanks to the likes of The Row and Saint Laurent. It’s a style that remains on top for AW26—but a more elegant take, seen at Gucci, is particularly worthy of note. Ruching (or scrunching) has found its way onto heeled courts, slingbacks and ballet flats alike, creating a glove-like silhouette.

Patent

Is there anything more delicious in the world of shoes than patent leather? Carrie Bradshaw very nearly lost her mind—at Vogue!—over a pair of patent-leather Manolo Blahnik Mary-Janes, after all. For AW26, glossed-leather mules appeared at Chanel—a sure-fire way to reinterpret the brand's famous toe cap for the next generation. Elsewhere you can find patent ballet pumps, which will quite literally put a shine on whatever you're wearing, court heels and the lesser-spotted T-bar—enjoy!

Heeled Loafers

A heeled loafer might be the most perfect shoe ever created because it gives height but, crucially, doesn't sacrifice on comfort. Hermès even managed to make it a tantalising proposition for AW26, elongating the vamp but lowering the silhouette from mid-foot to heel to flash triangles of skin that suited very sheer tights.