Gifting Shoes at Christmas: Your Complete Guide

November 26, 2024

With Christmas only a matter of weeks away it's important to get all those last minute gifts bought, wrapped and popped under the tree. If you’re struggling to find inspiration about what to buy that special family member or friend, why not treat them to some brand new shoes. It doesn’t have to be just shoes; there is a huge selection of footwear out there that would make the perfect gift, from Winter boots and sparkly party shoes to warm, cosy slippers.

If you can’t find a specific pair that you think will be suitable, a gift voucher or gift certificate is a good idea as this will give the recipient the freedom to choose what to buy themselves. When you’re choosing footwear as a gift think about the season we are in, a pair of boots will be a welcome gift with the Winter still ahead of us, while a pair of slippers are perfect for keeping feet snuggly over the Christmas and Winter period.

With the weeks flying by, there is no time to lose! Pour yourself a hot chocolate, grab a mince pie and let us take you through our guide to Christmas shoes…

Buying Shoes As A Christmas Gift & Christmas Traditions

Here at shoezone we think that gifting a pair of shoes is a fantastic last minute gift that anyone, from family to friends will love, however in some Christmas traditions the giving of shoes as a gift is linked to many superstitions, the main one being that if you gift someone special a pair of shoes that person will sadly end up walking away from you in the new year, however not everyone is that superstitious. In many European countries, Christmas gifts are actually left inside of shoes that children leave out while here in the UK, USA and Italy presents are normally left in stockings.

As we mentioned when picking out shoes as a Christmas gift it’s important to think about the person you are buying them for.If someone loves their heels there’s no point in getting them flats and vice versa. A gift voucher or gift certificate is perfect for popping into someone’s Christmas card or stocking, that way they can pick out the footwear they want themselves.

A nice Christmas tradition many families take part in is buying new slippers for the kids and allowing them to open these on Christmas Eve, this gives them something new and cosy for the exciting evening ahead waiting for Santa. Another idea is buying some fun novelty slippers for Christmas Day; they make lovely stocking fillers for the little and big kids and are perfect for popping on for snuggling up on the sofa after Christmas dinner.

Christmas Shoes For Ladies

There’s not many ladies out there that don’t love a new pair of shoes, so this Christmas why not treat that special woman in your life from mum to grandma, sister to daughter, there is something for them all.

For mums Christmas is a very busy time, they are so busy making the day special for everyone else it’s nice to treat her to something a little special that will really make her day. A pair of elegant party shoes will help her feel glam on Christmas Day or for those family parties and gatherings.

If you’re looking to pamper your mum a little then it has to be a pair of super soft and cosy slippers, with so many different styles out there you can go for a classic or fun style. Why not speak to your mum and see if there is a pair of boots she has had her eye to take her through those cold Winter months, a classic riding boot is perfect for all ages and adds a classic twist to any outfit.

Sometimes practicality is needed when you are buying a Christmas gift, now your granny may be young at heart and a huge fan of novelty slippers but sometimes a really good pair of supportive and durable shoes will be well received, especially if she likes to be out and about. A pair of comfortable loafers or casual shoes will feel like heaven on her feet and give her more confidence when it comes to going out, obviously still treat her to some slippers, after all who doesn’t love a new pair of slippers at Christmas.

For sisters, best friends and daughters there is nothing better than receiving a glam pair of shoes or one of the hottest footwear trends around. For a bit of style inspiration look online and in fashion magazines to help you make a decision about what to gift them. Why not treat them to a gorgeous pair of loafers or brogues in gorgeous rich, seasonal tones such as brown, tan and burgundy. With the wintry weather pick out a pair of stylish boots, a pair of over the knee boots will add a cool, retro touch to their outfits while quilted ankle boots are perfect for those budding fashionista’s.

As with all mums and grandmas, don’t forget the slippers, there is nothing better after a busy Christmas day than snuggling up on the sofa as a family in your new slippers and PJ’s.

There is a bit of a heated discussion out there about whether or not you should buy your girlfriend shoes or not for Christmas. Now we would say there is nothing wrong with buying that special lady in your life a pair of shoes, especially if she has dropped a few hints about what styles she has had her eye on, there is however a lot of superstition as we mentioned, they make good stocking fillers, so perhaps keep it to that and not a main gift.

Men’s Shoes For Christmas Gifts

Footwear is a great gift for the men in your life and with so much choice out there you can find something for dads, granddads, sons and brothers that they will love.

It doesn’t matter if you’re buying for a sporty dad, gardening dad or stylish dad the choice of footwear out there is huge. For dads on the go why not treat him to some super lightweight trainers, with lots of bright, bold colours and retro designs to choose from, he’ll love wearing these on his morning run or for chasing the grandkids round. If your dad loves getting out in the garden or just walking the dog then a pair of new wellies is a fantastic gift, he doesn’t want cold, wet feet after all. For stylish, trendy dads a smart pair of shoes or classic Chelsea boots will be a great gift to pop under the tree for him, he can wear these for both work and play, mix things up by choosing brown, burgundy and blue instead of classic black.

For granddads there is nothing better than a cosy pair of slippers, a moccasin pair will usually be faux fur lined so they are perfect for popping on for his afternoon nap after Christmas dinner. Again as with picking footwear for your grandma, speak to your granddad beforehand and see if there is a style he would like himself, that way he can choose what comfy style he would like.

For those stylish sons and brothers a pair of fashionable shoes or boots is a must. With the cooler weather, why not treat his feet to some classic Chelsea boots or for an urban feel, a pair of lace up boots. If he’s more of a shoe man, kit him out in some almond toe shoes with eye-catching pepper pot detailing. If he’s after something a little more casual, pick out some canvas shoes, a lace up pair will look great with jeans and he can wear them into the next season.

Kids Shoes For Christmas Gifts

Picking out footwear for the kids Christmas gifts has never been easier or more fun, with a huge range of character footwear available nowadays you can gift them a pair of shoes featuring all their favourite superheroes and princesses, can’t find the shoes you want? Then simply treat them to a pair of trainers or boots, the choice is huge. With babies and toddlers receiving so many toys at Christmas a little stocking filler of shoes is a welcome addition as they are always needed; choose a little pair of boots, or pretty shoes that can be worn for the special day and beyond. Boots with cosy linings and eye-catching detail will be a winner with little children.

As we mentioned before kitting the kids out with a new pair of slippers for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day is a little tradition in most families nowadays. With lots of characters and bold prints to choose from there is something for young and older children. Bootie slippers are great for those extra cold days and the kids will love wearing them over the Christmas holiday period when all they want to do is play with their new toys Santa brought for them.

With the Winter here to stay it’s a good idea to add a pair of boots into their gifts this festive season, try and choose a style that they wear out of school to make them a little more fun. For fashion conscious girls and boys, choose a mini-me style like mum and dads fashion favourites, that they will love.

So there we have it, our guide to what footwear styles would make a good gift for your family and friends. Remember to think about the person you’re buying for and what they like. If you are struggling to think of the perfect style then gift your loved one a gift card or voucher, that way they can pick and choose their own styles. So go on, get the gifts in the bag ready for Christmas, it’ll soon be here!

Check out the shoezone blog for more style tips and footwear suggestions for every occasion.