This winter’s footwear feels less trend-chasing and more about small shifts in how you get dressed (a tough assignment when done in the freezing cold). On the runways, designers played with fit, texture, and comfort in ways that make even the most familiar shoes feel different.
We're talking boots that cling like a layer of clothing, shearling that feels like a warm hug for your feet, hardware that adds a little friction, tride-and-true loafers, and vampy mules with a touch of sensuality. This season's shoes serve as small steps to easing into winter outfits, making the chilly weather a little more fun to navigate.
Second-Skin Boots
It’s like a glove for your feet! The skin-tight boot isn’t quite a sock boot, but her sleek sister. This style hugs the calf for a slim, sexy silhouette, with nods to ’70s style on the Miu Miu runway. This trend quickly spread across shows from Jil Sander to Dries Van Noten and Chloé, proving that a little fitted flair can go a long way.
Guess Stiletto Boots
Steve Madden Holly Black Wide Calf
Studded Details
Add a punky pep to your step with these star-studded shoes. Hardware details are the quickest way to inject personality into any outfit. It goes beyond the embellishment, studs are reclaiming their roots in subversive style, echoing Vivienne Westwood’s sensuality and bringing an edge to winter dressing, especially when paired against leather.
adidas Studded Samba Sneaker
Zara Studs Detail Loafers
Wales Bonner Studded Boot
Boots With the Fur
Flo Rida’s words have aged surprisingly well. These shearling-lined boots are the softest pillows your feet will touch all winter—the kind you actually look forward to slipping into when temperatures drop below zero. Specifically, UGG shoes are the winter staple that have stood the test of time, always staying relevant by aligning with fashion brands, this year with collaborations with designers from Sacai to Ambush, who brought the casual shoe to the runway.
Coach Christina Bootie
Minnetonka Faux Shearling Lined Bootie
Sharp Mules
Don't shy away from heels just because of the uneven winter terrain; in fact, you'll need to stock up for all those holiday parties. Pumps on the runways took codes from clothing— backless at the heel, with a V-neck towards the toes. Extra points if you opt for luxe materials like satin or shiny patent to lean into the sex appeal of the style.
Steve Madden Lita Tiger Pump
Trusted Loafer
A tried-and-true, seasonless shoe is the loafer. This year’s iterations are sleeker, softer, and a touch more refined—think ruched edges and buttery leather. The loafer is a no-brainer: unfussy, dependable, and timeless.
Gant Loafer
Zara Soft Ruched Loafers
Ralph Lauren Wynnie Leather Loafer
Jessica (aka Jess) is a Senior Fashion Editor at Cosmopolitan, working across both fashion market and styling for print stories, as well as digital fashion and commerce coverage. Prior to joining Cosmo, she worked in fashion at Vanity Fair. Jess lives in New York City and loves spotlighting emerging designers you might not have heard of yet—while also being an unabashedly devoted Love Island fan (dating back to Season 1 of Love Island UK, that’s how serious). See more of her work here, and follow her on Instagram if you love her.
