Kitten heels, cowboy boots and slouchy knee-highs – These are the AW shoe trends we’ll be buying

As the summer sun dwindles, so are the chunky Balenciagas and Zara brown leather slides that have saturated our Instagram feeds. This season, shoe trends are all about modern chic, with an unexpected twist. Designers such as Tom Ford replaced skyscraper platforms with a sophisticated but simple kitten heel. Emporio Armani and Ganni reestablished our appetite for western footwear with their undeniably cool cowboy boots. And Giambattista Valli brought us back to the seventies with the formerly abandoned slouchy boot, styled perfectly with oversized check coats and skinny jeans.

In previous seasons, you might have rolled your eyes and muttered an ironic “groundbreaking” about the shoe trends for fall; or in other words, another pair of heavyset boots! But this season, there really is something to get excited about. I’d argue for more of a silky yellow kitten heel, beautifully paired with pale blue tights. Hooray! A stunning twist for fall. Second on the list is western cowboy boots. I’m psyched about this old-hollywood style revival. I suggest modernising cowboy boots with a simple woven skirt. The choice of fabric is essential; avoiding leather is crucial as too much of anything can be unappetising.

Lastly, the slouchy boot. Some of you might still be hesitant, but I’d advise styling this trend with an oversized woollen coat. With knee-high burgundy boots, this autumnal look is perfection. AW18 is all about statement pieces; mixing bold fabrics with peculiar patterns. The creativity is weirdly fantastic. The ugly dad sneaker (aka the ultimate designer dupe… can you tell I’m not a fan of fast fashion impersonators?) still occasionally roam our Instagram feeds, but my suggestion is cutting the cord while you’re ahead.

Put your best foot forward this season and check out my top best trend picks for AW18:

The Understated Height 

Knife satin slingback pumps by Balenciaga, €595 at net-a-porter.com

Drama sling patent, € 695.00 at christrianlouboutin.com

Melon two part sling courts, €67.00 at office.co.uk

The Trendy Cowgirl

Cowboy ankle boots, €59.95 at Zara 

Austin 45 leather Chelsea boots by Gianvito Rossi, €850 at net-a-porter.com

Leather cowboy boots, €503.00 at uk.sandro-paris.com

The Statement Slouch

Snakeskin print Gaucho boots, €229.00 at uterque.com

Scrunch slouch boots by Carvela, €215.00 at brownthomas.com

High-heel leather boots, €119.00 at zara.com