The Only Summer 2026 Shoe Trends Worth Shopping, Per the Runways

As you begin planning your summer wardrobe—what your fashion priorities will be, the vibe you want to project, and the new pieces you need—consider working from the feet up. The right thong sandal or flirty mule can set the tone for the season—whether you’ll tackle warm-weather style the CBK way, with an outwardly fabulous, more-is-more approach, or with a different strategy entirely. The biggest Summer 2026 shoe trends are a particularly smart starting point, as designers zeroed in on eight distinct silhouettes, each with its own aesthetic and POV.

That’s not to say the footwear from the Pre-Fall 2026 collections reinvented the wheel; rather, brands remixed shoe trends that have historically performed well and are rooted in timelessness. Case in point: the wide assortment of high-vamp flats. The simple V-neck flat appeared at Kallmeyer in crinkled gold leather, at Ganni in cherry red and covered in studs, and again at Rag & Bone in porous black mesh, a smart option for beach-bum days. Those who prefer no-frills footwear will be partial to the thin strappy sandals that drew on ‘90s minimalism; Fforme’s were flip-flops, Christopher Esber’s were kitten slingbacks, and Stella McCartney’s were three-strapped high heels, but each was easy to imagine Sarah Pidgeon wearing on FX’s Love Story.