As the fashion marathon reached its final stop in Paris, it offered a clearer picture of what’s going to trend in shoe land come next season.

For one, shows in the French capital consolidated the elevation of flip-flops with new iterations of thong sandals dominating the local catwalks, which also continued to fuel the ballet core craze with different takes on flats, legwarmers and even toeless socks. Other novelties included sneakers’ great comeback and the mushrooming of laced-up mannish shoes, which were favored by a pool of brands to offset their feminine fashions.

Here’s a cheat sheet to master the latest footwear trends. 

Thong Sandals

After Milan, brands in Paris continued to revisit the quintessential summer must-have shoe, showing range in their interpretations. These ran the gamut from the plastic version in pastel tones of Chloé’s cool girls to the sporty hybrids paraded at Miu Miu and Casablanca. More arty touches flourished at McQueen and Paula Canovas Del Vas, while at Carven and Paloma Wool a minimal approach conveyed ‘90s vibes. Ditto for brands including Yohji Yamamoto, Issey Miyake and Nehera, that kept things timeless with black versions of the style.

Sneakers’ Comeback

Sneakers fans, rejoice! After few seasons of more dressed-up footwear options such as flats, mary janes and kitten heels taking the spotlight, sneakers are back in the game. Once again, Miuccia Prada led the way with her Miu Miu show, displaying designs with extra-flat soles, which also appeared at McQueen and Gabriela Hearst. Yet there’s a sub-category that was predominant and hard to miss: boxing shoes, aka high-top sneakers with flats soles that got the luxe treatment at the likes of Loewe and Stella McCartney and were taken to the extreme at Dior and Ann Demeulemeester.

Balletcore

If boxing is not really your thing, indulge in the balletcore craze. Brands shed new light on the dainty and comfy aesthetics, which follows in the footsteps of the all-about-flats trend seen in New York and Milan this season. Many labels spiced flats up with crafty techniques, as seen at Acne Studio, or laced up options, like at Chloé and Dries Van Noten. A fetish vibe infiltrated in the leather version favored by Ludovic de Saint Sernin and in Louis Vuitton’s bold take on flats, while distressed effects marked Stefano Gallici’s interpretation of the ballet style at Ann Demeulemeester. Leg warmers further build on the trend, as seen at shows ranging from Miu Miu to Rokh.

Lace It Up

As a counterpoint, fashion houses also looked at the men’s shoe rack to revisit Oxford styles that could ground their ready-to-wear collections and enable them to play with the feminine and masculine duality. Highlights included Jonathan Anderson’s take on men’s dress shoes for Loewe, where the designer stretched the silhouette to exaggerated length for an almost cartoon-like effect. Styles at Vivienne Westwood had a similar vibe, only reworked in a pointy toe, which also marked Victoria Beckham’s interpretation of the design, often rendered in a plastic version, too. 

Slouchy Boots

The boho wave kickstarted with Chemena Kamali’s successful debut collection at Chloé earlier this year still trickled in some shows and the footwear options they displayed. Yet new interpretations of the slouchy boots found their way on the catwalks, from the sleek one seen at Balmain and Rick Owens to the extra-glam disco-ball version spotted at Rabanne.

The cat’s out of the bag. Kitten heels have been making a comeback in recent seasons after temporarily falling out of favor with the grand arbiters of fashion.

At Milan Fashion Week, for instance, Attico and Prada showcased low-heeled footwear as part of their spring 2025 collections, as did indie brands such as Vivetta and Federico Cina.

Off the runways, celebrities have embraced the ladylike style as well this year. Sarah Jessica Parker dressed up sweatpants with kitten heels while filming the third season of “And Just Like That…,” and both Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid were spotted in pairs at Paris Fashion Week and the Cannes Film Festival, respectively.

For those wanting to learn more about the trend before jumping in, FN explored the history and controversy around kitten heels with help from two noted fashion historians. We look at the essential components and purpose of the kitten heel — and why it has its share of haters.

What Is a Kitten Heel?

A kitten heel is defined as a shoe with a low heel that measures about 1 to 2 inches in height. But that’s not all, according to Elizabeth Semmelhack, director and senior curator at Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto. The shape is important as well. “A kitten heel isn’t just a shoe with a lower heel, the heel must be a very low stiletto heel to qualify,” she said.

This silhouette first arrived in the 1950s following the invention of the stiletto, an innovation whereby a metal shank inside the shoe allowed women’s heels to be taller and narrower, yet still support the wearer.

For those who weren’t quite ready to wear those towering heels, footwear designers and brands offered a lower alternative. Enter: the kitten heel.

“This type of heel was often marketed to young women who were not yet ready for higher heels — hence the reference to a cute, young animal,” said Colleen Hill, senior curator of costume at The Museum at FIT in New York and co-curator of the 2022 exhibit “Shoes: Anatomy, Identity and Magic.”

However, women of all ages soon adopted the look, as seen on Audrey Hepburn in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” in 1961 and her numerous other movie appearances. And in the 1990s, royalty brought the silhouette to the forefront once again, with Princess Diana frequently opting for short stilettos for her various public appearances.

Why Kitten Heels Are Controversial

As fashion controversies go, the kitten heel kerfuffle is quite mild, but it has inspired numerous discussions on platforms like Reddit and TikTok, where fans and haters have engaged in heated debates over its pros and cons.

The problem, as Semmelhack explains, is that the kitten heel is “strangely betwixt and between,” having neither the ability to provide complete comfort or telegraph sexuality. “Kitten heels aren’t as comfortable or as surefooted as a flat and they don’t do the work, if you will, of a stiletto in terms of expressions of power or desirability,” she said.

What’s more, said Semmelhack, “the kitten heel has long been associated with demureness, so perhaps that is part of its challenge.”

The Advantages of Kitten Heels

Despite its drawbacks as an “awkward in-between” shoe, Hill was quick to come to the kitten heel’s defense, arguing for its merits as a fashion accessory. “This style can work very well with different looks, especially if their wearer wants to play with proportions — they can pair very well with a cropped trouser, for example,” she said.

Additionally, Hill pointed to the health benefits of this silhouette, noting that some podiatrists actually recommend wearing a low heel rather than a flat. Among its attributes: It can help improve posture and offer more arch support.

Plus, Hill added, “kitten heels are certainly easier to wear than higher heels or wedges.”

What is a red carpet without high heels? Celebrities love to hit the step-and-repeat in their towering stilettos, whether in the form of closed-toe pumps, strappy sandals or sleek boots. The seemingly gravity-defying footwear lends an air of feminine power and sexuality to any ensemble, not to mention the fact that it enhances the shape the leg.

But very high heels have not always been the norm in footwear. In fact, while elevated heels date back over a millennia — and have fluctuated in terms of their popularity through the centuries — the stiletto only came into existence several decades ago, thanks to technological innovation.

To find out more about the origins of the high heel, FN reached out to noted fashion historians for their insights on the history and enduring power of this iconic footwear.

The First High Heels

Elizabeth Semmelhack, director and senior curator at the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto, has spent years researching the history of heels, tracing them as far back as the 10th century, though she said they could date back even further in Western Asia. According to her findings, the earliest heels were used for horseback riding in Persia and their invention was tied to the creation of the stirrup.

“It is my contention that the heel was invented for horseback riding as a means of locking the foot in the stirrup,” Semmelhack said, adding that they continued to be used in Western Asia for centuries before traders brought them to Northern Europe in the 17th century, where they served a similar purpose. “Their interest in heels was spurred by new trading and political interests in Persia.”

During the 17th century, heels gradually moved beyond just horseback riding, becoming a fashion accessory that symbolized status and wealth. According to Semmelhack, the shoes were worn by both men and women until the 18th century, when “heels became the purview of women only and were given the job of proclaiming gender.”

A Game-Changing Invention

Up until the mid-20^th century, shoes were most often constructed with wide, stacked heels, wedge and platform soles, which all provided a secure step for the wearer. And they frequently varied in height, depending on the reigning trends of the time.

For instance, Dr. Colleen Hill, senior curator of costume at The Museum at FIT, noted, “The platform shoes of the 1940s could sometimes feature high heels, since a platform offered stability and paired well with a chunky heel.”

But the world of high heels changed forever in the 1950s with the creation of the stiletto heel, so named because of its long, thin shape that resembled Italy’s famed dagger.

The shoes were the result of modern innovation. “Stiletto heels developed with a new technology for a thin but sturdy metal shank that allowed heels to be both tall and narrow,” said Hill, co-curator of the 2022 exhibit “Shoes: Anatomy, Identity and Magic.”

Hill noted that some have credited Salvatore Ferragamo and Roger Vivier with the “invention” of stilettos. While the true inventor is still up for debate, she acknowledges the two designers were key to its success. “They certainly popularized it, and they both created elegant, innovative designs that continue to be incredibly influential — including variations on the wedge (Ferragamo) and the kitten heel (Vivier),” she said.

For her part, Semmelhack described the stiletto as “the most game-changing heel design.”

“Made using metal, stilettos were the first heels that were both extremely high and extremely thin heels yet also capable of holding the weight of the wearer without breaking,” Semmelhack said. “There have been other important designs, but they are really [variations of] heels.”

Lasting Appeal of Heels

Even as consumer wardrobes have become more casual in recent years and sneakers have dominated the trend cycle, high heels continue to hold a vaulted place within the style lexicon.

Notable footwear designers, including Christian Louboutin, Gianvito Rossi and Amina Muaddi, explore new ways to evolve the silhouette with imaginative shapes and fresh materials and embellishments, catering to women — and men — who appreciate their unique appeal.

As designer Giuseppe Zanotti told FN in 2021, when high heels roared back following sales declines during the pandemic lockdowns, “Heels make you feel more feminine and secure sometimes. You walk differently, you act differently, everything looks more exciting when you feel beautiful and step into a room with confidence.”

How High Heels Evolved Through the Decades: From the 1920s to Today

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There’s a quirky new trend emerging on the spring ’25 runways — perfume bottle heels and bags.

In recent days, Versace and Balmain have both made a convincing case for whimsical accessories.

Luxury designers on and off the runway seem to be more willing to experiment with their shoes and bags this season, and it’s no surprise. When the going gets tough, the industry has traditionally turned to accessories to help them get out of the doldrums. They’re often seen as investment pieces and more accessible than expensive ready-to-wear looks that might lose their luster after a season or two. For spring ’25, many fashion houses are reverting back to classics and greatest hits in their ready-to-wear offer, giving shoes and bags more room to shine.

At the same time, every luxury fashion house is banking on the beauty category like never before.

So perhaps it made perfect sense then that Versace and Balmain decided to combine the best of both worlds for some showstopping runway pieces.

Donatella Versace transformed her best-selling fragrance, Bright Crystal, into shoes and clutches.

Balmain, for its part, just opened its first standalone beauty boutique in Paris with partner Estée Lauder. So longtime creative director Olivier Rousteing thought it was fitting to bring the storytelling to the runway too, from head to toe.

Rousteing said many of the accessories channeled the angular lines and graphic components of the historic Balmain perfume bottle, which was first introduced by the house’s founder in 1946 for his Vent Vert fragrance — and which was adapted for the new line of Balmain Beauty scents, Les Éternels.

Milan Fashion Week has come to a close and this season, flats and kitten heels ruled the runway.

At Roberto Cavalli, Emporio Armani, Marni and N. 21, for instance, a wide array of flat styles were showcased. At Attico and Prada, meanwhile, kitten heels continued to trend.

Off the catwalk, similar fashions were spotted on the streets of Milan, with guests attending shows in a range of flats, from loafers to Dr. Marten’s boots.

While sneakers and trainers — from Adidas, Nike and Asics were go-tos — chunky and platform sneakers also had a moment. Interestingly, a Yeezy Boost 700 Wave Runner sneaker was spotted in the wild following its original release in summer 2017.

There was also the occasional high heel, and crazy footwear, too, including a pair long hair-like flats, which were reminiscent of Gucci’s goat hair slippers from its fall ’16 collection. We couldn’t miss Rick Owen’s 13mm rivet-detailing platform boots, either.

Others opted for kitten heels in pops of color, including red and orange.

Take a look.

Milan didn’t hold back. Shoes paraded on the spring ’25 runways showed range, spanning from flats and kitten heels to quirky designs standing out for their unusual shape or flashy embellishments.

Need evidence of such a broad spectrum? Just take a look at the Prada show, where Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons displayed some of the brand’s greatest shoe hits over the years, slightly reworked for spring, and more.

With their unmatched talent and intuition in grasping the zeitgeist, the duo looked back at fashion ideas to cast a new light on them, while challenging the conformism set by algorithms and the current “core” obsession with the disruptive joy of expressing one’s uniqueness through clothes and shoes alike. 

In the same spirit, key footwear staples were revisited with a twist across many other shows here.

Flats

Following in the footsteps of Tory Burch relaunching her iconic Reva ballet flat introduced two decades ago, brands in Milan also opted for minimizing heights and maximizing comfort. They kept things unfussy, but never banal since the wide array of flat styles showcased played with twists, interwoven techniques, heart shapes, big bows or PVC and metallic effects, as seen on the catwalks of Roberto Cavalli, Emporio Armani, Marni and N. 21. 

At Ferragamo, pointed designs were in sync with Maximilian Davis’ ballet inspiration, as the creative director riffed on links between the Florentine house and dance stars across the decades for spring.

Kitten Heels

Further building on the ladylike trend that has been going strong for few seasons now, kitten heels continued to pop up on the runways, this time even to style nighttime attires. Cue The Attico’s cool show, where open-toe silver mules accessorized the highly seductive looks rich in crystals, lace and fringes. Needless to say, kitten-heeled styles also appeared on the Prada catwalk, as well as on the runway of indie brands such as Vivetta and Federico Cina. 

Flip-Flops Reloaded

These are not your usual flip-flops. Brands revisited the quintessential summer must-have in their own way, from the refined leather version seen at Etro to the pop one in primary colors showed at Missoni. At Fiorucci’s first runway show flip-flops were fun and extra-puffy. And at Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini, their familiar shape turned arty with a knot while at Marco Rambaldi they had a crafty vibe as made out of fabric scraps. The hardest-to-miss version? Sunnei’s take on the design, coming with colorful wedges.

Quirky Shoes

As designers tiptoed back into a more eccentric vibe in sync with their quest for fun, joy and positivity (and their attempt of breaking free from all-things “Quiet Luxury”) they experimented with colors, materials and techniques to create eye-catching footwear, too. Bottega Veneta won with its glass flowers blooming from pointed mules, but Moschino’s fringed pumps and those covered in colorful price tags made for quite a competition. At Jil Sander things got sparkly in round-toe styles while Avavav announced its collaboration with Adidas covering the Superstar sneakers with a shell toe in the four-finger shape that is a signature of the Stockholm-based indie brand. 

New York Fashion Week has come to a close. This spring ’25 season, designers continued to return to reoccurring favorites, such as the ballet flat and sneaker. Patterned thigh-highs made a statement on the runways, while unexpected collaborations, such as Proenza Schouler and Sorel, rounded out the list of the top shoes at NYFW.

See the rundown below.

1. Luar Knee-High Boots

Raul López’s Luar showcased a range of shoes for spring ’25, an introduction to the category, featuring knee-high boots, kitten heels, oxfords and mules, with the brand’s signature logo. A standout was its leopard-print boot. The pattern was seen in handbags as well as in a knee-high, complete with a boot buckle and harness-like design, as well in thigh-highs.

2. Cos Flats & Socks

Cos presented a range of ballet flats on the runway, seen in green, pink and shearling. What set the trending silhouette apart this season was pairing it with matching socks. The styling detail gave the shoe a boot-like effect. Creative director Karin Gustafsson also used earrings in the form of beaded tassels on the toes of some shoes for added decoration.

3. Paul Andrew Floral-Embellished Bootie

Rebirth and renewal were key themes for Paul Andrew’s spring 2025 collection. A standout? Andrew’s mesh sandal bootie seen in blue. The floral-adorned style was first made as custom wedding shoes for Whitney Port. The shoe was updated with a new heel and in more colors.

4. Willy Chavarria x Adidas

New York-based designer Willy Chavarria unveiled his new collaboration with Adidas Originals at his spring/summer 2025 runway show. Among the 22 collaborative looks, the footwear stood out. For this collab, Chavarria updated the archival Adidas “Jabbar” sneaker created for legendary basketball icon Kareem Abdul Jabbar, one of the most celebrated basketball players of all time. The sneaker was updated with a pointed toe, a shoe shape that many in the Chicano community – which Chavarria frequently celebrates in his collections – often wears.

5. Coach’s Charm-Adorned Soho sneakers

Coach’s spring ’25 collection featured its new Soho sneaker, inspired by the cross-training sneakers of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. The style was distressed specifically for the runway collection and embellished with stickers, as well as a series of resin charms depicting taxi cabs, cassette tapes, and other ephemera. The shoe furthered Coach’s sustainability efforts with its upper crafted in regenerative leather.

6. Tory Burch’s Reva Flat

Tory Burch brought back one of its most iconic shoes ever: the Reva flat. The customer-favorite originally launched in 2006 with the help of the late Vince Camuto. The Reva ballet has not been available in recent years — until now. The spring ’25 style has been relaunched with some modern updates, too, including cut-outs, a beveled coin, and a new mule silhouette.

7. Proenza Schouler x Sorel

Proenza Schouler kicked off New York Fashion Week early on Wednesday, Sept. 4. Along with its spring ’25 collection, the label debuted a limited-edition footwear collaboration with Sorel on the runway. The collab — which marks Sorel’s first designer partnership since its Sorel x Chloé boot in 2017 — sees new iterations of the brand’s Caribou Mule and Caribou Chelsea Boot. The all-weather designs are crafted from a sleek leather in a palette of black, ochre and ecru.

8. Palomo Spain x Bimba Y Lola

Palomo Spain’s latest collaboration with Bimba Y Lola featured new silhouettes adorned with the chrysanthemum flower. For this collection, the chrysanthemum, a flower that symbolizes passion and good fortune in oriental culture, expands in a large and unlimited size on golden brooches added to sandals and charms on handbags with chains, colossal rings, necklaces and earrings.

9. Larroudé x Markarian Patchwork Boots

Larroudé and Markarian launched their latest collab during NYFW. The capsule featured florals, brocades and fabrics from Markarian’s fall ’24 collection across a range of styles. A standout was the knee-high boot in red patchwork. The line also offered wedges, sandals, ballet flats, mules and more seen in floral dutel, black wool, suede and velvet.

10. PH5 x Charles & Keith Mule

PH5 unveiled a new collaboration with footwear and accessories brand, Charles & Keith at the brand’s spring/summer 2025 show this week. The capsule collection includes a shoe, bag and other items, launching next spring. The shoe from the exclusive capsule is a hybrid sneaker/mule in two colorways that mirrors the ready-to-wear label’s signature wavy cutout dresses.

PH5 x Charles & Keith sneaker mule

Platform shoes have today become a staple item in women’s footwear closets, in the form of boots, sandals, heels and sneakers. Their popularity can rise and fall along with the current fashion trends — especially when the reigning look calls for wide-leg pants — but the unique appeal of platforms keeps it coming back decade after decade.

Arguably, though, the biggest moment for platform shoes was the early 1970s, when the elevated footwear became hugely popular across a remarkably diverse set of young people. It bridged both racial and gender divides and crossed oceans, showing up across the globe in Europe, Australia, the U.S. and elsewhere.

The shoes were the perfect complement to the disco and glam rock music of the era, which embraced outrageous, gender-bending ensembles that demanded attention.

Below is a look back at the height of popularity of platform shoes and their enduring legacy in today’s style landscape.

A Brief History of Platform Shoes

The earliest platform shoes were developed for practical purposes. For instance, in Ancient Greece, they were used in plays to increase the height of certain actors and make them more prominent on stage.

During the Middle Ages, they were helpful for traversing through the muck in city streets. Italians of the time called them chopines, while in the rest of Europe they were known as pattens. The geta sandals worn in Japan offered a similar benefit.

But our first 20th century example of the shoe arrived in 1938, courtesy of designer Salvatore Ferragamo. Considered the creator of the modern platform, Ferragamo crafted the Rainbow sandal for actress Judy Garland, in reference to her beloved song “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” The multicolored sandal was produced in kidskin leather with a layered cork sole and heel covered in suede. The original is now a museum piece, in the collection of The Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, though replicas in nappa and suede are available from the brand for $2,900.

Why Were Platforms Popular in the 1970s

After seeing moderate success in the 1940s, platform shoes roared back in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Much of the credit for its fresh popularity goes to the reigning pop music of the time — and accompanying aesthetics.

This was the era of disco. Think ABBA, Donna Summer, the Bee Gees. When men and women hit the dance floor at Studio 54 in New York City or even their local nightclub, they were often wearing bell bottoms or wide-leg pants that could drag on the ground, making taller shoes a necessity. And the benefit of platforms is that they can add height to the wearer without causing the foot to arch at an uncomfortable angle (as in the case with stilettos heels). So those Dancing Queens could go all night without pain.

Meanwhile, across the pond, in the U.K., glam rock was similarly sweeping the nation with its even more outrageous outfits. Artists like David Bowie, KISS and Elton John all adopted platform shoes as part of their over-the-top, on-stage personas — and fans wanted them off stage as well.

The year 1970 also marked the debut of “Soul Train,” a TV series that helped popularize the music and fashion of the Black community among mainstream audiences.

In a 2023 CNN feature about “Soul Train,” radio broadcaster and music industry veteran Dyana Williams explained its impact. “The fashion was fly,” she said. “It was a combination of kind of boho hippie meets Black nationalism. … ‘Soul Train’ set a tone for young people at that time to wear their hair natural, to wear vests, the platform shoes, the bell bottoms, the long maxi dresses. So our fashion taste, the cultivation clearly came from ‘Soul Train’ and then the rest of the media that we saw.”

And on the big screen, movies like “Saturday Night Fever” and blaxploitation films such as “Shaft” and “Foxy Brown” further fueled the platform shoe trend among diverse audiences.

Who Wore Platform Shoes

Today, platform shoes are made primarily for women. But in the 1970s, the style was almost equally worn by men and women.

Historians refer to this era in the 1960s and ’70s as the Peacock Revolution, when men’s fashion became more flamboyant. Young men threw out their father’s staid gray suits of the 1950s. Instead, sport jackets and shirts became more colorful, with stripes, plaids, ruffles, corduroy and velvet. Pants got wider. The hair got longer. And the shoes got taller.

What we typically see in fashion history is women adopting items from menswear, but this is one of the few instances where the opposite occurred, where men embraced a more feminine look. Some have tied it to the era’s evolving ideas around traditional gender roles and stereotypes.

Which Platform Shoes Were Popular

One of the hottest shoe brands during the disco era was Kork-Ease. Today it is best known as a comfort footwear brand, but in the 1970s, its buffalo sandal — a sky-high platform wedge featuring crisscross thick leather straps — was tearing up the dance floors across the country and selling out in stores.

In fact, Tommy Perse, co-founder of legendary L.A. retailer Maxfields, told the Los Angeles Times in 1988 that he sold so many pairs of Kork-Ease sandals in the ‘70s that “it gave me money to travel to Europe.”

Other brands from across the price spectrum — from Sbicca to Yves Saint Laurent — also capitalized on the trend, crafting platform versions of pumps, loafers, brogues, knee-high boots and everything in between.

The Legacy of Platforms

By the mid- to late 1970s, the platform shoe trend had fallen out favor, making way for the preppy/sporty look of the 1980s.

But like all things in fashion, what is loved is never forgotten, so it was only a matter of time before the footwear made its return. And the 1990s delivered, bringing us flatform sandals like the Steve Madden Slinky sandal, towering leather boots a la The Spice Girls, stacked Dr. Martens and more.

In the 2000s and 2010s, platform shoes evolved further, adopting aspects of the fetish trend with extreme heights, razor-thin heels and clear Perspex materials. One famed example is the YSL Tribute heel, which launched in 2009. “It” girls galore stepped out in the 5-inch heels, and it is still the No. 1 most-searched style for the brand on TheRealReal.

One major trend: flip flops and thong sandals.

Attendees were spotted arriving to shows in simple black flip flops as well as kitten heeled versions. They paired the thong style with suiting, maxi skirts and see-through dresses.

Another hot shoe were ballet flats — but with a twist. Many guests opted for double-strapped Mary Janes, instance, while others chose the classic silhouette in different patterns and materials, such as mesh.

Take a look.

If you haven’t been living under a rock, you know it’s Brat summer. Since Charli XCX released her her sixth studio album, “Brat,” in June, she’s been dominating the charts and the digital discourse. So much so, the Internet declared 2024 Brat summer, a play off the continued theme of dubbing a season with a certain vibe, attitude and accompanying aesthetic — i.e. “Hot Girl Summer” or “Feral Girl Fall.”

What is Brat summer, you ask? According to Charli XCX, it’s an array of things. When she released the album she explained the process, writing on Instagram… “also just going ‘f—k it, it’s brat!’ and doing whatever the f—k we want.” At its core, the idea is to unabashedly be yourself, be brazen, fearless and bold. It could look like partying in the wee hours of the morning to cruising on a speed boat. It could even look like Vice President Kamala Harris.

On Sunday, President Joe Biden officially dropped out of the 2024 presidential race and endorsed Harris. Celebrities quickly followed showing their support for Harris, with Charli XCX simply Tweeting: “Kamala IS brat.”

kamala IS brat

— Charli (@charli_xcx) July 22, 2024

Harris is also leaning in. Shortly after the announcement, the @BidenHQ official campaign account on X changed to @KamalaHQ, with banner art to mimic Charli XCX’s “brat” album cover, replacing brat with “Kamala” in the same font and green background.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Charli (@charli_xcx)

Without fail, fashion is getting in on Brat summer, too. Brands have been touting slime green shoes and products that embrace an unfiltered and unapologetic attitude. Kate Spade, for instance, sent out its Brat “starter pack,” filled with green flats, handbags and matching sets. Charles & Keith, meanwhile, has promoted its lime green platform sandals.

Brat summer essentials, Charli XCX, said in interview, can be luxury but it can also be “trashy.” “A pack of cigs, and like a Bic lighter, and like a strappy white top with no bra,” she explained.

Picture Y2K looks — short shorts, oversized leather jackets, thigh-high pointed-toe boots and trucker hats. According to Depop, searches for “Charli XCX” were trending in June, with 212% MoM uptick. On July 4, online retailer Lyst said that searches for slime green rose 17% in the past two weeks.

Keep scrolling for the ultimate Brat summer shoes.

Black Suede Studio Tory Croc Boots

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Charles & Keith Nuala Ruched Platform Mules

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Dolce Vita Azalea Pointed Toe Booties

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Jeffrey Campbell Estella Slingback Pumps

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Marc Fisher Genessa Over-the-Knee Boots

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Jessica Simpson Kashet Platform Sandals

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Diesel Pointed Toe Knee High Boots

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Prada Satin Mules

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