Last updated on January 19th, 2022 at 01:49 pm
We’ve arrived on the strange and unfamiliar shores of 2018 – and it’s sure to be a very exciting time, particularly in the world of fashion. This is, of course, something in which we’re very much interested – on behalf of both our male and female customers. What new and exciting shoe trends is 2018 going to bring us?
We think you should be just as excited as we are, of course. A New Year represents a fantastic opportunity to refresh your wardrobe. And this extends from your head all the way down to your toes.
Designers are always hard at work bringing out new sorts of footwear. It’ll look different to the old stuff, of course – but general advances in comfort, cost and practicality are also to be expected. But what’s likely to be on offer in 2018? Let’s examine some 2018 footwear trends, and see if we can see what you might be slipping your feet into over the coming months!
Women’s Shoe Trends for 2018
Naturally, women travel through a slightly different fashion-world than men. For one thing, they are generally likely to be more attuned to what’s in and what’s out; for another, women are differently proportioned and so require footwear to match. Let’s take a look at some women’s shoe trends for 2018!
Colours
First, let’s consider the colours we’ll be wearing. Yellow looks set to play a significant role in the coming year, appearing in everything from jackets and coats to shoes. Of course, bright yellow is extremely loud and eye-catching, particularly if you’re wearing it on your feet; but there are surely darker, more reserved shades of mustard and canary yellow set to rear their heads. A pair of yellow canvas shoes is a great match to a summer dress of the same colour.
More generally speaking, hyper-saturated bright colours are to be in even greater evidence than they were in 2017. Bubblegum-pink, vivid red and luminous green shoes will count among the foremost women’s shoe trends of 2018 – continuing their progress from 2017 nicely. Such footwear is, naturally, a bit of a risky choice – and you’ll need to match it carefully with the rest of your attire. With that said, going for something bland and safe when you’ve the opportunity to go for something eye-popping is a risky strategy, too – why not jump on the trend and invest in some seriously loud shoes this year? This is especially so if you’re looking to get fit as part of your New Year’s resolutions: women’s trainer trends for 2018 are utterly saturated with wonderfully garish sneakers that’ll support your feet while drawing attention to them!
Patterns
It isn’t just bold, block colours set to make a resurgence. Plaids, checks and other patterns are on the up, and look set to decorate shoes as well as dresses and skirts in 2018. Fans of traditional highland-inspired tartan will welcome the return of such extravagances. But even if you’re not Scottish, the comforting appearance of tartan combined with the stylish shape of a modern flat shoe is sure to do the job nicely.
2018 looks set to be a year in which the popularity of floral patterns will continue – but it’ll evolve a little, with those decorative flowers getting a bit more abstract and stylised as designers look to get creative with their floral works. Some of them might barely be recognisable as flowers at all! In the world of shoes, you should expect to find decorative flourishes coming in the form of stitching or buckles, or little miniature brooches that hang from the top of a pair of high boots.
Shapes
Thus far we’ve covered style and colour – but what about the most important part of the shoe? What about its shape? The mule shoe is set to continue its ascent in the coming year, with both closed and open-toe variations on the theme enjoying greater popularity than ever. We all enjoy the convenience offered by simple, stylish mule-shoes that can be kicked off with ease at the end of a working day – and designers are keen to tap into the demand!
Back to the ’80s
It’s also worth noting a particular retro fascination that modern shoe designers have with the eighties – echoing the succession of 80s nostalgia domination modern film and television. You should expect to see still more neon-pink trimmings on white trainers and other less-subtle nods to the decade that gave us The Terminator, Pac-Man and Wham! Depending on how enthusiastically you’re going to embrace the trend, you’ll be able to find a pair of eighties shoes to match the rest of your eighties-inspired wardrobe.
Men’s Shoe Trends for 2018
For the most part, 2018’s men’s shoe trends look set to chart a similar course to the women’s trends. With that said, there are sure to be some obvious differences. Let’s consider what might be on the menu for ss18.
1980s-style
The world of men’s fashion is also affected by the fascination with the 80s that we’ve already touched upon, with a particular focus on aping the Wall Street baggy shirts and long neckties that you might associate with the world of Reaganite high-finance. When it comes to business shoes, you’ll be wearing black leather again – it’s a classic choice.
Colours
Moving away from the reliable classics, brilliant white is almost certain to be popular this year – and, in an ideal world, we’d all be wearing it from head to foot. While this is a little impractical for most people (you’ll want to avoid looking like an extra from a mid-90s R&B video), it’s something that you’ll want to at least partially pursue. Thus, opting for a pair of bright-white shoes and a matching top is a sensible choice. Naturally, white shoes will show up any dirt and stains more obviously than black ones – and so special attention should be paid to cleaning and maintenance if you’re to pull this off!
Another colour that’s set to be enduringly popular over the course of 2018 is pink (salmon, hot pink or ‘millennial pink’ are all good choices). It’s a fantastic way for gentlemen to state that they’re in tune with their feminine side – or that they’re so in tune with their masculine side that they can get away with pink without endangering their perceived machismo. Hot pink shirts might be paired with subtle white shoes, or perhaps vice-versa. Of course, a pair of men’s canvas shoes coming in a tantalising shade of pink would also surely make a welcome addition to your wardrobe this coming spring.
Patterns
Checked shoes are set to be in – we think the pattern looks best on canvas lace-up shoes, or the classic slip-on sneakers that look fantastic when partnered with a suitable pair of slim-cut jeans. But men’s fashion will probably tend a bit more toward vertical stripes – with trousers and suits making strong appearances during last year’s London and Milan Fashion weeks. Stripes might well find their way onto your shoes, too – making a nice alternative to checks.
Men’s Trainer Trends
If you’re shopping for men’s trainers, then you should expect to find luminous green trimmings in strong evidence – they provide a nice visual accent to an otherwise grey and reserved shoe. If you’d prefer to go for something a little bolder, however, then all-over brightly-coloured trainers will surely form a significant contribution to ss18’s men’s shoe trends. Lace up a pair of brilliant orange trainers and shift that Christmas weight in double-quick time. You’re sure to draw plenty of attention in the process!
Unexpected Pairings
2018 might also be one of the years in which once-unassailable laws of fashion are finally brought low – with the most notorious being the pairing of socks with sandals. Yes, menfolk of Britain have for decades embarrassed their girlfriends by sporting this forbidden combination. But Prada last year decided to buck the trend by putting their models in socks and sandals, and other big names followed swiftly afterwards. Now, not everything that struts down the catwalk one year ends up on the high street the next – but even if it turns out that the world isn’t quite ready to accept socks and sandals, one can never quite have too many socks, and so it makes sense to stock up.
In Conclusion
We’ve run through some of the trends that are anticipated in 2018 – but of course, what you ultimately decide to wear will be influenced more by what you feel comfortable in than the ever-fickle winds of fashion. If you buy something you’re unsure of just because you understand it to be the ‘in’ thing, then the chances are that you won’t end up wearing it, however red-hot it might be!
With that said, it’s worth paying attention to what’s fashionable. Give yourself the chance to branch out into unfamiliar territory, and you’ll be rewarded with a fresh new look that’s sure to turn heads – in the best possible way!
