Start fall on the right foot, or better said, in the right shoes 13 shoe trends for autumn.

While everybody is enjoying the last summer days, we’ve already immersed in fall 2020 trends. And next season is a special one for shoe trends. The question is; what are the best shoes for this fall? Have we changed our habits, and consequently, our footwear choices, after so many months at home, without going out and partying? According to market reports, sales of high heeled shoes have dropped considerably while sales of sneakers and comfortable shoes have risen.

With or without Coronavirus, we’re slowly taking steps back to normality. I have plenty of friends going to the movies and theatre. Almost everyone goes to restaurants and the offices are back to business. And all these people need new shoes for fall and winter, of course. Because, we may be going out less, but this doesn’t mean we should do it with less style, right?

So with all the optimism of the world, let’s see which shoe trends for fall 2020 have emerged from the last runway shows and street style. From bejewelled shoes for small dinners with at maximum six friends, to chunky boots to walk instead of taking public transportation. Additionally, bright coloured boots to raise spirits at the office. In other words, the fall 2020 shoe trends are perfect for our new lifestyle.

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Thigh-high boots

Step into fall with these dramatic over-the-knee boots. We’ve seen them at Balmain, Victoria Beckham and Proenza Shouler runway shows. Alexander McQueen and Saint Laurent also created show-stopper second-skin boots. Wear your thigh-high boots with shorts like Balmain’s models, and with all kinds of skirts and dresses, from mini to maxi.

Platform shoes

In fall 2020, the shoe trends will take things to new heights, literally! Whether wearing pumps, sandals or boots, make sure they have platforms; hello the ’70s! This shoe trend started last year but, according to Tom Ford, Celine, Miu Miu and Dries Van Noten, platform heels are still going strong for the coming season. By the way, you should wear chunky platform sandals with thick tights as seen at Rochas. But please, do practice walking on the sky-high platforms before venturing outside, we don’t want you breaking your ankle!

Animal Kingdom

It’s a jungle out there so put on your animal print shoes in fall 2020. Leopard print, croc and snakeskin boots, pumps and loafers are super chic and make any outfit look dressier. By the way, animal print is one of the shoe trends that never go out of trend.

Bejewelled shoes

Your footwear will be sparkling like jewellery and so beautiful they belong in museums! Embellished with rhinestones, pearls and colourful Swarovski’s, and you will wear these little jewels not only with fancy outfits but also with jeans to go to the office, very ’80s indeed. Prada, Rochas, Area and JW Anderson are some of the designers who presented these sparkling shoe trends in their F/W20 collections. Miu Miu and Gucci’s bejewelled footwear come with a punk-ish edged.

Heavy metal

One of the hottest shoe trends for fall 2020 is the metal chain embellished shoes. Chunky chains are the main 2020 jewellery trend, and fashion loves them so much that they’ve decorated everything with chains, boots, sandals, pumps, you name it.

Mary Janes

We saw this shoe trend on the catwalks and in the streets during fall 2020 fashion weeks. The cute Mary Janes are back. This autumn, they come with kitten heels like the cute baby-blue Marc Jacobs’. But they have also been revamped with platforms, and are all grown-up in metallic colours, silver and gold.

Bright colored boots

Fall will be all about colours, and that applies to footwear trends too. Cowboy boots, booties, long boots, no matter the length or style, as long as they shine like the sun or a clear blu sky! Longchamp presented bright yellow boots embellished with bold chains on the catwalk, another of the main shoe trends for fall 2020. And Carolina Herrera’s heeled boots came in bright green. Additionally, bright boots seemed to be the number one footwear choice of fashion enthusiasts and editors during fashion month.

White after Labour Day

Forget the old rule about not wearing white shoes after Labour Day. This fall, white, off-white and cream shoes will be everywhere. We saw them at Dior, Saint Laurent, The Row and Valentino, to name a few. From loafers to Mary Janes and boots, white footwear is one the fall 2020 shoe trends that will elevate your autumn outfits.

Loafers and Oxford shoes

The bourgeois loafers are back this fall. Paired with jeans, tailored pants, skirts and even gowns, as seen at Giambattista Valli, the chic loafers are a must-have this season. Likewise, Oxford shoes and brogues are the best flat shoes for fall, for polished and sophisticated looks. For example, the brogues Marc Jacobs created in white mock croc.

Combat boots

Combat boots are one of the footwear trends for fall 2020 we’ve seen the most in the streets during the latest fashion weeks. In fact, the bulky boots are among the best shoes for fall and have already become a classic. Valentino presented them with platforms while Dior’s combat boots came with rubber toe-caps. Fashion show-goers approve the edginess of combat shoes, and they balance their footwear with the most stylish bags.

Woven and scrunched texture

From Bottega Veneta’s huge hit, the scrunched intrecciato weave, to Off-White’s sandals with rushed straps, shoes come with bulky texture. A sure bet for fall 2020; this shoe trend is already in the wardrobe of every fashion enthusiast.

Shearling and feathers

Get cosy this autumn in fluffy yet super chic shoes covered or just embellished with shearling. The fuzzy texture was present at many fashion shows, like for example, Miu Miu’s chic Mary Janes. Also, mules and flats with fluffy shearling will bring warmth and style to your feet. For a bit more of glam, go with the boudoir-like feather-embellished footwear, these statement shoes are deliciously decadent and fabulous!

Chunky Wellies

Among fall shoe trends for fall 2020, Wellies are by far the most practical and the best shoes for fall, not to mention how cute they are. Prada had models down the catwalk wearing rain boots with chunky tractor soles and Chloe elevated wellies with block heels. Additionally, Bottega Veneta, Dior, Valentino and Versace also showed chunky Wellington boots for fall.

Now you only have to choose your favourite shoe trend for fall, or maybe all of them!

Street style photos via Shutterstock. Runway photos courtesy of Marlene Birger, Ganni and @zimmerman.