Fall/Winter 2026 footwear trends? Honey, you’re a shoe in.
Our team has gone deep into the catwalk coverage to pick out the trending footwear that’ll be strutting all over high streets in no time. You won’t find any sponsorships, advertisers, or biases here — nothing but the facts and the footwear. We’re talking weird and wonderfully distinctive details, glove-like fits, and classic comebacks. Let's step to it, shall we?
1. Glove-like flats
We saw the soft, molded ‘glove-like’ shoe trend emerge during SS26, and it looks like it’s here to stay. This trend crosses into several shoe types, showing just how versatile and all-encompassing it is.
Let’s start with ballet flats, which were prominent at the start of the year and are still going strong. Supple, sock-like ballet flats were shown by designers like Hermès, Céline, and Officine Générale. We spotted details like elasticated backs, rouching and gathering, square toes, and Mary Jane straps. Colors are mostly neutral, although we did spot two-tone colors (usually nude and black), butter yellow, bottle green, and powder blue.
‘Sock boots’ are also set to be hot for FW26. Examples of this in action include Ann Demeulemeester’s white silk boxing boots and Louis Vuitton’s tri-colored soft boots with fringed trim and tassel details. If this trend tells us anything, it’s that folks are looking for footwear that blends style with comfort.
2. Slipper mules
Mules and loafers were big in SS26 and they’re still riding high. The Fall/Winter 2026 footwear trend favors flat or kitten-heeled styles in buttery leathers and neutral colors, as showcased by designers like The Row, Calvin Klein, and Miu Miu. We’ve also seen the slipper trend kick up a notch with Conner Ives, 3.1 Phillip Lim, and Ralph Lauren, who showed statement slippers in leopard print, zebra print, and embroidered satin.
There’s also a sister trend sitting alongside this one: the spike-toed mule. It’s a cross between a backless mule and a shoe boot, typically made of a very structured material like croc or stiffer leather, with strong sculptural soles and a pointed toe. We spotted them in some pretty jazzy colorways, like lime, two-toned red and cream, snake print, steely blue, and butter yellow (yep, it’s still a thing).
3. Statement embellishments
We told you this would be the year of hyper-individualistic self-expression through fashion — a maximalist, more-is-more approach. And we did not stutter. FW26 footwear is carrying the torch for all things bedazzled and kooky, including feathers, beads, pearls, flowers, and experimental textures.
Miu Miu added floral embellishments to sandals, and Prada encrusted kitten heels with opulent beaded jewel drops and also used Victorian-style lacing on feathered (yes, totally feathered!) boots. Fendi released a sultry pair of patent black strappy sandals covered in fur, Giovanni Giannoni covered white Mary-Jane mules in vicious spikes, and Iris Van Herpen’s pearl-encrusted sculptural heels were total showstoppers.
This trend isn’t limited to quirky finishes; it also includes patterns and colors. Statement colors like those shown on the Rabanne FW26 catwalk and rich jewel tones are set to be big this season. If your shoes can inject personality and edge into an otherwise classic or feminine outfit, they fit this trend. Honorable mention to split toes and sculptural shapes (especially wedges) which have also been spotted stomping down FW26 catwalks.
4. Tall leather boots
It’s not an FW rundown without boots, and classic knee-highs are the trending boots for 2026. We spotted variants of this on the Alberta Ferretti, Ganni, and Patou runways in several iconic styles (including biker, slouch, and western) and all heel types, from flat and kitten to chunky and stiletto.
The important thing to note about FW26 knee-high black boots is the distinct lack of razzle-dazzle — skip the buckles and embellishments. If you’re doing the trend right, your boots will go with everything and remain a wardrobe staple for years to come. Think understated design, with quality leather, and a timeless shape.
Over-the-knee leather boots also fall under the tall-boot trend. We spotted them in autumnal colors, most notably caramel and oxblood, with the supple, high-quality leather doing all the talking. If you want a best-in-class example of this in action, the Hermès Fall/Winter 2026 runway show will see you right!
How to tag FW26 footwear trends with RFID
Footwear is trickier to tag than garments due to the sheer variation in surface area and shape. But we do this good stuff all day long and have a few tricks to guarantee discreet tagging that also ensures your RFID inlays maintain their high performance and deliver all the lovely benefits of the tech (like keeping shoes in pairs and matched with the right box).
Our first tip is to assess each SKU on its own merit and choose an inlay that suits the shape, material, and use case. Using our free footwear tagging guide and handy inlay finder, you can choose a tagging location for each SKU and an inlay that suits it perfectly.
In our experience, it’s better to go with a thoroughly wear-tested RFID footwear inlay to make doubly sure your investment doesn’t go down the drain. For example, our footwear RFID tags are stress-tested, ARC-certified, and designed to be inserted without damaging the shoe or the inlay.
Planning ahead is also critical if you want to avoid serious delays — don’t fall into the trap of seeing tagging as a last-minute stage before launch, because you’ll definitely need more time than you think. And on that note…
Our final tip is to reach out to an RFID tagging expert ASAP so you can lock in your tag selections and placements while you’re working on your FW26 footwear collection, helping avoid costly re-dos and delays.
Contact our team today— we love a challenge.