Square-Toe Shoes Are Back—but We Promise They’re Better Than They Sound

If you get easily spooked by surprising news, you might want to sit down before reading the next sentence.

OK, ready? Square-toe shoes are back—and they actually look cute this time around. 

It’s shocking, I know. But I’m here to guide you through this moment. See, when Daniel Lee took over the helm as Bottega Veneta’s creative director, he introduced a slew of must-have bags and various other leather goods. Included in that veritable cornucopia of fine Italian-made designs were delicate strappy sandals with an exaggerated square toe. And soon that sandal was everywhere, or at least on the feet of every fashion influencer from New York to Tokyo (and Milan, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Paris, too). 

This shoe trend has since infiltrated the market, opening up the toe box on boots, loafers and flats for at least a season to come.

But what makes this square toe better than the ones we last suffered through in the ’90s? Well, this 2019 version is a lot less severe. In fact, it’s merely one or two straight lines away from a pointed toe. That means it’s less of a rectangular ending to your foot and more of a tapered, rounded square finish, a shape that feels both more organic and more subtle.

Still wary about giving your toes some extra wiggle room? Consider these 11 squared styles that you can easily acclimate into your footwear wardrobe.