Summer 2023 in 6 themes (+1)

Sandals and boots, high heels and wedges, high-heeled and flat models all coexist on the catwalks. And sneakers? Less present, but always loved by the public.

Summer 2023, which was staged at the Milan and Paris fashion weeks, at White and at Micam Milan, seems to no longer take into account the seasons. High-heeled sandals and dizzying plateaus, knee-high (or higher) boots, Mary Janes and flip-flops, clogs, and platforms, high-heeled pumps with wedge heels or stiletto heels, sandals that leave the whole foot bare or with ankle laces: these are all models that coexist with women’s fashion shows and events in October. Who was most daring? Surely Paris with daring, creative, witty, and curious proposals such as Loewe’s sandal with a huge anthurium flower on the toe, Balmain’s marble-effect heel and wedge, Rocha’s sock-boot with its transparent “aquarium” boule heel and goldfish, but Milan was also on par with the flamingo-toe pump or the inflatable ankle boot complete with an inner tube by Moschino.

Dizzying shoes: wedges and plateaus

It is the leitmotif of many collections (from Versace to Valentino, to Gianbattista Valli) where the monobloc wedges, or the plateau or double plateau offered in various heights (of 20cm by Andreas Kronthaler x Vivienne Westwood) supported by chunky heels characterise sandals and boots. Clogs (from Etro) and platforms (from Fendi) completed the look of the outfits.

Andreas Kronthaler x Vivienne Westwood

Heels: Sculptures or Stilettos

There are many heels; high and thin or shaped to form small sculptures, comma-shaped or in Plexiglas, retro or futuristic, round in metal or with special effects. In any case, these are virtuoso elements that give a gritty character to the shoes.

Ferragamo

Straps and buckle-straps: from sandals to Mary Janes

Sandals with thin straps that leave the foot bare or with strings that twist around the ankle, or with ankle-straps closed by a maxi buckle. But also Mary Janes with a pointed high heel (Prada) or with a square toe.

Stella McCartney

Sergio Rossi

Santoni

Daniele Giovani Design

The boot: knee-length and beyond

As has been the case for some years now, if in winter sandals – especially for the evening – are essential, knee-high boots in leather or fabric (also elaborated with corset lacing, as by Givenchy), the cuissard is the rule even for spring/summer (from Scervino, Off-White, Rick Owens).

Off-White

Jimmy Choo

Pollini

Flats: not just sandals

Flip flops, slippers, vinyl sandals, but also Mary Janes and slingbacks, ballet flats and moccasins and dance shoes (MM6 Maison Margiela)

Ermanno Scervino

Tesorone

Fabio Rusconi

Antonio Barbato Maestri Veneziani

Prosperine

Gladiator sandals: from sandals to closed shoes

Halfway between the boot and the sandal, there is the gladiator model: it leaves the foot uncovered or, at Dior, it is a closed shoe complete with a wedge and with a series of straps tightened by a small buckle, which climb up to the knee.

Christian Dior

AGL

Sneaker: is it still passion?

If they have been seen less on the feet of the models on the catwalk, they are instead super popular with the audiences at fashion shows, the insiders who also sell them in their stores. And Gen Z has no intention of forgetting them. So it’s time for urban and street sneakers, super coloured or single-coloured, but always characterised by details or a contrasting sole.