6 Shoe Trends That’ll be Huge This Summer, Including Onitsuka Tigers

Here’s something to add to your spring shopping list. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Onitsuka Tiger sneakers are having a *moment,* and I anticipate it’ll last for a while. Retro, sporty sneakers were amongst the top shoe trends for spring, and the Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 are leading the way, especially in splashy colorways like the bright yellow seen in the photograph above. They’re a big hit and major fashion trend in London, too, particularly the metallic styles that add a vibrant pop.

How to Style Them:

Londoners are keeping it cool and classy by combining the vintage-looking trainers with polished trousers, and I have to admit, the unlikely pairing looks really stylish. If you opt for bright-colored versions of the Onitsuka Tigers, make sure to treat them like you would handbag. When styling, the most important thing to do is have fun, so go ahead and pair them with a boho frock or prairie midi skirt for an interesting juxtaposition. I’ve also seen many women leaning into the whole sporty aesthetic and wearing their Onitsuka Tiger trainers with Adidas track pants.

Elevated sandals and flip flops were a popular spring style, and I guarantee they’ll remain a favorite summer shoe trend come summer. Cool Danish women were sporting all types of thongs at Copenhagen Fashion Week earlier this year, from Toteme heeled styles that embraced a minimal aesthetic to classic pairs of Havianas for the flip flop-obsessed. I’m also expecting to see practical styles for excursions take front and center, particularly rope sandals that take after the Ontisuka Tigers with fun and vibrant splashes of color.

How to Style Them:

While you can always take your thongs to the beach or wear them with denim cutoffs, fashion people are really taking it one step further and styling them with a bit of an elevated eye. If you opt for a heeled leather flip flop, try wearing it like you would a closed-toe heel. For instance, you can wear it with straight-leg jeans, a silk blouse and leather trench for a relaxed date or even with sundress. More technical or traditional styles will look unexpectedly great with a pair of trouser shorts or any type of casual Friday office attire.

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, boat shoes are making a comeback. While PureWow’s Wellness Director Sarah Stiefvater isn't shy about her disdain for the preppy staple, she can’t ignore their resurgence. She notes, “Nautical-inspired slip-ons from brands like Sperry, Sebago and, in its most current iteration (as touted by British Vogue), fashion houses like Miu Miu,” are trending for summer. Think of them as your summer loafer with a nautical twist. And it’s not lost on me that the boat shoes are coming about at the same time as the fisherman aesthetic.

How to Style Them:

As Stiefvater pointed out, the material used to make boat shoes doesn’t bode well in high temperatures. However, thankfully, people are styling them in new ways these days: with socks! Yes, Gen-Z still thinks no-show socks are ‘uncool,’ which is why they’re breaking out crew socks in everything from neutral tones to bold colors and prints to wear their boat shoes. (Psst: This will prevent your boat shoes from getting smelly.) They're also dressing them up (and down) with satin midi skirts and barn jackets, but a much simpler way to style them is to wear your boat shoes as you would a pair of loafers. 

On days when you want to swap out your Onitsuka Tiger sneakers for something a bit fancier and more formal, consider a pair of peep-toe heels. Another blast from the past, peep toes made a strong comeback at recent runway shows during Paris Fashion Week. From bold, classic styles at Miu Miu to bohemian-inspired clogs at Chloé, toe cleavage is back and sexier than ever.

How to Style Them:

This season, take a cue from Miu Miu and pair your peep-toe heels with thin, leg warmer-inspired socks for a fresh, modern twist on classic pumps. For a more polished look, Tory Burch shows that these shoes can also exude sophistication when styled with elegant staples, like a midi skirt or dress—perfect for special occasions.

As seen on Pinterest feeds, The Row’s runway and stylish celebs like Katie Holmes, fisherman sandals are here to stay. A more functional and less preppy alternative to boat shoes, fisherman sandals still capture that nautical vibe without making you look like you just stepped out of a Sperry catalog (if that’s not your thing). “Fisherman sandals are the ultimate summer shoe,” says Abby Hepworth, fashion editor at PureWow. “The open silhouette makes them more breathable than flats or sneakers, but the closed front means I don’t have to worry about my unpolished toes.”

How to Style Them:

Their strappy design may look intricate, but fisherman sandals are surprisingly versatile and easy to style. Whether you’re wearing them with linen pants, a cotton maxi skirt or a chiffon sundress, these adaptive shoes can complement just about any casual summer outfit. I’ve even seen influencers dress theirs up with colorful dress socks, giving these beachy sandals a chic city-ready twist.

Woven flats are another style that’ll be a big summer shoe trend this season. Comfortable and oh-so cool, expect to see lots of renditions of this shoe, from luxe leather Mary-Jane or ballet flats to nostalgic jelly slides inspired by The Row. Whichever variation you opt for this summer, you’ll come to find out that woven flats are a fantastic way to elevate your look while prioritizing comfort.

How to Style Them:

Thanks to their many iterations, woven flats can be styled just like any other ballet flat in your wardrobe—think: silk pants, a linen frock, Bermuda shorts, you name it. If you buy the jelly versions, try to edit them like The Row and opt for a minimalist approach to keep them looking more elevated and less juvenile. Leather flats, on the other hand, offer more flexibility to be dressed down with basics like denim shorts or jeans, thanks to their naturally sophisticated material.

While we’re still coming off a big gladiator kick, thanks to the Gladiator IImovie, we’re leaving the strappy, lace-up styles for the big screen this summer. And I can’t be the only one who thinks that, despite their airy design, they’re a bit impractical to wear in warm weather. When I’ve sported them in the past, I’ve ended up with swollen skin bulging around the straps one too many times. Instead, try other summer shoe trends like woven flats or fisherman sandals if you’re looking for a more elaborate design than a basic flip-flop.