Winter shoe trends

The world of fashion undergoes constant reinvention and revolution – it used to be that the wheel turned every six months but nowadays, what with the advent of the internet and fast fashion, trends can come and go within months. Some endure longer than others but getting what you want before it sells out at the start of the season sometimes means you have to keep yourself ahead of the curve. On that note, here’s a quick guide to what shoe trends to look out for this coming winter so you can get in there first.

- Shearling. It’s everywhere. On coats, flying jackets, bags, hats but especially in footwear. Various brands have taken this beautiful material and created shoes which use it as a lining, keeping the encased foot warm and toasty, and in a rather more stylish guise than the ubiquitous Ugg. You’ll see this everywhere on the high street; if you want the look on a budget try New Look, who do a great range of trendy ladies shoes.

- Over the knee boots. This trend reared its head last year but it looks as though now is the time for the masses to adopt the look. The difficulty with these is that they can make the wearer look somewhat, cheap. So make sure you go for a pair that are decent quality, and be careful in how you style them – these generally look better with boyish looking outfits. So for example, try wearing them with jeans and a great pea coat rather than a skimpy minidress, otherwise you may end up looking like a Sugababe.

- Wedges. Once the province of frumpy looking espadrilles and sensible shoes, the wedge is another revival that’s getting a modern day update. Wedge ankle boots in particular, will be very on trend this winter which is great for those who like heels but just cannot balance on the end of a svelte stiletto.

- Kitten heels. The influence of hit show Mad Men inspired many fashion designers to recreate elements from the 50s time period, with the mid-heel height shoe proving a particular favourite. A very ladylike, demure alternative to the plethora of platform heels that had previously been in fashion, the kitten heel is a great option for the woman who wants the extra height boost without sacrificing comfort.