Shoe Capsule Wardrobe 2025: 6 Trendy Pairs to Try

Given that we’re well and truly into the new year, there’s no time like the present to ensure we’re stepping into 2025 on the right foot.

To do so, it’s worth reassessing our footwear collections to ensure a shoe capsule that balances practicality and flair. Unlike other fundamental wardrobe staples, shoes take quite the beating considering how they’re required to take us to and fro across a wide range of terrains. Investing in designer shoes or a pair like The Row’s minimalist leather sandals is only a wise decision if the only time you plan on wearing them is from your house, into a cab and then to a restaurant. However, for those of us who like what’s on our feet to protect against the elements and provide a polished finish to our looks, it’s imperative that our 2025 shoe capsule wardrobe pulls double duty.

Once upon a time, we might’ve said that finding this equilibrium was impossible, with shoes designed for either dressing up, going to work, wearing on holiday or running errands. We’ve come a long way since then though, with luxury designers, high-street stores and sportswear brands all offering up shoes that can survive your daily step count and look good whilst doing so.

This description might have you conjuring up an image of some stiletto-trainer hybrid like Sneex or Isabelle Marant’s wedges, but don’t worry—in 2025, the styles making up our shoe capsule are nothing if not modern spins on timeless classics. There are new takes on retro trainer silhouettes like the Puma Speed Cat, which originated in the 2000s as an ode to ’80s motocross, the Adidas Taekwondo and even the coveted Bode X Nike Astro Grabber, which references ‘70s American high-school football.

Also taking cues from the past are clogs, which were the star of the show in Chemena Kamali’s debut collection as creative director for Chloé. They’re back in a big way, now offered in varying cork platform designs with studded and suede accents for slip-on-and-go elegance. Just look to Daisy Edgar-Jones for proof of how wearable they are. You’ll also see why this anti-heel item has become such a popular height, especially when paired with sculpting leggings or straight-leg jeans. Like any solid fashion fundamental, all these shoe styles can be dressed up or down with almost anything to suit various occasions.

Whether you’re building your shoe capsule wardrobe from the ground up or refreshing your existing pairs for something a little more contemporary, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to the shoes you can rely on in 2025 and beyond. Uncover them all, ahead.

THE ULTIMATE 2025 SHOE CAPSULE

1. Retro Trainers

Style Notes: Dries Van Noten took his final bow at his eponymous label with his spring/summer 2024 collection, in which the Belgian designer left us one last piece to covet: the leather-trimmed low-top trainers. It’s fitting that these shoes were released amidst the resurgence of retro trainers and at a time when everyone from Jennifer Lawrence to Emily Ratajkowski seemed unable to part with their Puma Speedcat OGs. Now, we’ve seen Adidas Taekwondo sneakers join this cohort, with a whole host of other styles heating up, too.

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2. Boho Clogs

Style Notes: When a shoe trend gets a collective endorsement from Sienna Miller, Georgia May Jagger and legendary supermodel Pat Cleveland, we’re going to pay attention. Of course, we’re talking about Chloé’s Maxime Leather Wedge Sandals. But for something more wearable, we’re taking cues from Daisy Edgar-Jones’s soft bohemian look and Monikh Dale’s lived-in yet elevated ensemble featuring the Judith Studded Leather Mules.

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3. Suede Loafers

Style Notes: Suede has stepped into 2025 on a high note, from Prada’s chocolate tote to Marks and Spencer’s sold-out viral suede loafers. Thanks to the popularity of the latter, we’ve observed velvety versions of our favourite preppy shoe taking over the high street.

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4. Pointed-Toe Boots

Style Notes: There’s nothing sleeker than a pointed-toe boot. Irrespective of the heel height, the streamlined, razor-sharp shape brings an element of polish to any look. We love wearing them with a scarf blouse to bring a touch of softness.

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5. Slingback Kitten Heels

Style Notes: Beloved by the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Dua Lipa and Lily-Rose Depp alike, slingbacks are a classic and classy shape that seemingly never fall out of favour, but since their mainstream introduction in 1957 by Gabrielle Chanel, they’ve undergone quite a makeover. None are more relevant than the slingback kitten heel. Giving you a put-together look but keeping your feet comfy, these are as polished for work as they are practical for surviving the commute.

6. Wedge Sandals

Style Notes: Whilst the kitten heel is all about keeping you comfortably close to the ground, the wedge sandal will have you soaring above street level with poise. No longer reserved for beachy espadrilles, wedges have been reclaimed as a chic shoe style that plays with proportion and adds a bit of sturdiness to the base of your look.

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