Shoes are the first clue that a season has shifted. One week you’re trudging through snow in the most practical pair you own; the next, you’re digging into the back of your closet for styles that feel lighter, airier, and just a little more playful. A new heel height here, a subtle silhouette tweak there—the small changes that signal spring has arrived.
We’ve already broken down the fashion trends and bag trends to know for 2026—now let’s talk shoes. For spring and summer, that means dialing up the sensuality: transparent PVC that reveals just enough, barely-there T-strap heels, and dramatic V-neck pumps with a hint of toe cleavage. These are shoes that bring a little fun and a lot of flirt as temperatures rise.
For more on what to wear this spring, check out our complete spring 2026 fashion trends report, plus our breakdowns of the season's best clothing, jewelry, and bags.
V-Neck Vamps
Much like a plunging neckline on a sweater, the V-shape is making its way down to your feet. The effect is dramatic—Balenciaga, in particular, pushed it to the extreme with high heels and sharply cut V-cuts that visually lengthen the foot. Like a cheeky peep-toe, the V-neck vamp offers just enough reveal, letting you show a hint of toe cleavage.
T-Strap Heels
The T-strap is back—and this time it’s both practical and playful. With the foot securely in place, these heels feel grounded enough to actually walk in, yet are still sexy. It’s no surprise dancers have favored this shape for decades: The silhouette moves with you, looks sharp, and feels like a classic.
Vintage Shapes
Designers are pulling from ’50s silhouettes—think almond-shaped toes and materials like satin and patent—but offsetting that by pairing them with more contemporary clothes. The tension between old and new is the whole point. This style goes hand-in-hand with the Playing House trend we break down in our 2026 fashion trends guide.
Bold Flip-Flops
The beach is calling! Flat flip-flops are taking on more prominent shapes. Sometimes it’s about a thin, barely-there flip-flop coming out of jeans—but this season, it’s more about a colorful, hefty, maybe even platformed flip-flop that commands attention rather than disappears.
Second-Skin Sneakers
The pendulum has been swinging toward slimmer sneakers for a while now. Gone are the chunky dad-shoe days. Now, we’re ready for something sleeker and more streamlined. The versions hitting the runways feel almost like ballet flats in sneaker form. This season, instead of reaching for your Repettos, consider a pair that hugs the foot.
Lead Image: On Roo: Dress Junya Watanabe, shoes Roger Vivier. On Delphine: Dress Fendi, socks Falke, shoes Alexandre Birman.
Styled by Brandon Tan. Hair by Rei Kawauchi for Oribe. Makeup by Sena Murahashi for Make Up For Ever. Manicure by Ada Yeung for Chanel Beauty. Models: Roo at Supreme Management, Lexi at Supreme Management, Xiaorui at the Industry Model Mgmt, and Delphine at Muse Management. Set design by Caz Slattery. Produced by Mini Title.
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.
