The shoe and socks trends of London Fashion Week

Fashion Month is in full swing and we’re still reeling from all the iconic looks of London Fashion Week! The Chopova Lowena, Burberry, and JW Anderson shows left us breathless but, as always, the main event of Fashion Week was the super chic street style. Guests from all over the world graced the British capital with their fashions, and we diligently took notes: today’s class is all about the hottest shoes and socks combos for FW23.

It seems like the shoe trends for FW23 are going to revolve around mainly four styles: on one hand, sexy, slouchy, pointy knee-high boots; on the other, rebellious, embellished, and equally as pointy ballet flats, Mary Janes, and kitten heels.

We predicted that thigh and knee-high boots were going to be all the rage this Fall/Winter, especially slouchy silhouettes. Dramatic, tall boots have never really gone out of fashion, but the “straight-leg” and “baggy” styles of this year definitely add an exciting new vibe to a shoe that might feel a little too reminiscent of 2016 fashion—thinking about the suede mini skirt + over-the-knee skin-tight black boots combo… man, those were the days!

At LFW guests have styled their tall boots with mini dresses, but they’re super chic paired with jeans and maxi skirts too.

Besides knee-high boots though, this will be a flat shoe fall for sure. Ballet flats and balletcore have been trending for almost the whole year, and we’re definitely going to see the trend transition into fall as well. The same can be said for Mary Janes, that are getting a studded makeover for the cold months. Lastly, Y2K-inspired kitten heels aren’t giving up on their it-shoe status: ultra-pointy silhouettes are what to keep an eye out for.

Often an overlooked accessory, socks are the perfect way to add an extra something to your outfit. And, believe me, LFW was socks galore! Despite the impending British autumn chill, many guests opted for mini, midi, and maxi skirts which perfectly showed off their hosiery.

Two trends emerged: sheer knee-high socks for a romantic feel, and contrasting, ankle-length socks for a masculine, nerdy touch. Both trends have a distinct preppy vibe to them, but different objectives: the sheer hosiery adds cheekiness and refinement at the same time; the ankle socks in browns, greys, and black play down ultra-feminine shoes like ballet flats and kitten heels to add a bit of good tension.