There’s no better way to start a new season than by slipping into some new shoes. With plenty of new styles to step into for spring and summer, it can often be difficult to find the perfect pair for you. Here are a few of our recommendations of the hottest trends in footwear for the new year.
Sandals
While they might be the obvious choice in the warm weather, sandals are officially a hot style as slides and flip-flops were all over the runways at this year’s Men’s Fashion Week. Prominent designers have offered their own spins on the ubiquitous summer shoe from high-concept names like Alexandre Plokhov to the more casual looks of Michael Bastian. And the designers have offered a range of styles that cover gladiators, slides, and flips-flops, proving that showing a little toe is the thing to do this summer.
Statement Soles
Loud, garishly coloured shoes are passé. If you’re looking to make a statement with your footwear, the best thing to do is to say it with your soles. Statement soles are one of the bigger trends for SS16, according to Footwear News. Whether through the use of non-traditional materials like gum rubber, cork, and wood, having a bold print, or adding a splash of colour with your sole, it’s best to be subtle with your style when it comes to shoes.
Woven Shoes
And speaking of non-traditional shoes, one of the hottest trends we’ve noticed for spring and summer is the use of materials and constructions not typically seen with sneakers, even including fur. But among these, the most prominent has been the woven shoe. Lyst is displaying a wide variety of the unique style from black patent weaves with gum soles to woven white leather, which allows for one to kill two trends with one stone. Not only do the woven uppers make for a striking sneaker but they’re also functional through their improved breathability, making them ideal for the warmer months.
White Shoes
Typically, the old rule for white is that it’s best worn between Memorial Day and Labour Day, but we think you’re in the clear once you’re past Easter. Minimalism is the name of the game for men’s footwear and few things quite make a statement like a clean, white pair of shoes. White shoes are set to be one of the biggest trends of the year, as noted by Dmarge. That goes for whether you’re rocking the look with a pair of Stan Smiths or you’re at it again with the white Vans.
Dress Boots
A good pair of boots will last forever and never seems to go out of style, and that’s doubly so for a proper pair of dress boots. Chelsea boots were all the rage for 2015 and will continue to be on trend for this year as well. The boots provide for effortless fashion and can pair well with formal or casual ensembles to pull virtually any outfit together. By combining the popular boot with a leather upper, you can be truly fashion forward as the material is also set to be big for 2016.