Outdated Shoe Trends To Avoid In Winter 2024

When warm sunlight gives way to cool breezes, we're perfectly happy to switch out our wardrobe and unearth last year's favorite garments. From donning our cuddliest, most oversized sweaters to styling that pretty fall dress, changing weather is the perfect excuse to rediscover (and reimagine) all the treasures in our off-season storage. Unfortunately, not all of those sartorial gems have the staying power to remain trendy from year to year — including footwear. 

That's right: Sad as it is, last year's go-to autumn boots and winter-ready heels may no longer have a role in your closet this season. But how do you know which shoes to set aside and which to hold onto? To get a glimpse of what's coming (and what's going), Glam spoke exclusively to Peter Martinez of Leather Skin Shop. Using his industry insight, Martinez clued us into the biggest footwear flops of winter 2024, plus a few suggestions on what to wear in their place.

When you think about the perfect winter shoe, a few adjectives may come to mind: Chic. Cozy. Versatile. So it's no wonder that sock boots made such a splash in the mid-2010s, embodying all these qualities with their comfy, calf-hugging design. At the time, these surprisingly stylish hybrids were spotted on all manner of haute couture runways, from Balenciaga's 2016 Fall Ready-to-Wear show to Yeezy's Season 2 collection.

As of 2024, however, it seems that the furor has well and truly died down. After a recent but short-lived resurgence, sock boots are no longer a must-have cold-weather accessory. As Peter Martinez exclusively told Glam, "Their fit and higher comfort may have earned them the 'ultimate winter shoe' badge, but I can't see the sock boot trend lasting till winter 2024." 

More specifically, he points to the absence of sock boot offerings from major couturiers as a sign that this footwear is no longer top-of-mind or on the cutting edge of style. "The lack of prominent appearances on this year's top fashion runways suggests [sock boots] may be taking a backseat for the upcoming season," says Martinez, and we're inclined to agree.

At first glance, it may seem obvious to set aside wedge heels when the weather turns cold. "Espadrille style wedges won't see the light during winter this year," Peter Martinez tells Glam, and it's no wonder why: These summery, skin-baring shoes invite discomfort (or even frostbite) in many winter climates. But in years past, we've been able to get by with wedge-heeled alternatives more suited to chilly weather: wedge-heeled boots, booties, and even sneakers have remained as viable options while our espadrilles languish in storage.

For winter 2024, though, Martinez predicts that even weather-appropriate wedges are no longer in vogue. "Once a hugely popular footwear choice, wedges are now facing a decline in popularity," the expert explains. "It's evident that the choices in contemporary fashion lean more toward refined and sleek aesthetics. Hence, the bulky silhouette of wedges clashes with the current fashion trends." In other words, our footwear watchwords for winter 2024 should lean away from the chunky or funky and more toward classy, simplicity, and timelessness.

Round-toe pumps are classic enough that you don't have to toss out all your old standbys, but let's make one thing clear: such basic staple heels aren't going to turn any heads this season. As Peter Martinez exclusively told Glam, "A lot is going on between trend forecasters over the shape of the toe box, deciding which one is going to ride the crest of the wave." 

Right now, "the round toe style seems to be confined to Mary Jane style shoes," he adds. Don't get us wrong — we still haven't let go of our favorite Mary Janes from the style's 2023 boom. However, their popularity hasn't been quite as pronounced this season. Instead, Martinez foresees some sharper throwbacks coming down the pipe.

"The way is paved for square-toe boots and pointed-toe options, conveying the developing sense of body positivity," he says. Body positivity, you may ask? If you've ever crammed your foot into heels with a too-narrow toe box, you know what kind of sacrifices we sometimes make for fashionable footwear. Square-toed trends offer a more comfortable, inclusive option for feet of all sizes and shapes. Meanwhile, both square-toe and pointed-toe shoes are also perfect homages to '90s styles, an aesthetic that is still oh-so-hot right now.

While white sneakers may never go out of style, not every other shoe can make the same boast. White boots, in particular, are subject to the ebbs and flows of footwear fashion — and right now, their popularity is definitely on the ebb. "A classic trend that has fallen out of favor with modern fashion is white boots," Peter Martinez reports to Glam. "Those who struggled to keep them spotless before the arrival of winter can rejoice, as the white footwear trend is not going to last this year."

Let's face it: White boots aren't ideal (or sensible) in any areas where rain, slush, and mud are winter regulars. And even if you manage to keep them pristine, that doesn't make them appropriate for everyday wear. White boots may help you feel like a carefree ski bunny bound for the slopes, but they're out of step this year — meaning you're more likely to end up looking like an over-the-top James Bond character than a fashion-forward girl boss.

Some shoe trends seem destined for only a brief time in the sun, while others transcend mere fad status to become timeless classics. We would have confidently placed our favorite lug-sole boots in the latter category, but Peter Martinez presents a dire prediction: "Lug-soled footwear was seen everywhere in the past few years, but their days in the spotlight might be numbered."

Say it ain't so — lug-sole boots are on their way out? On the one hand, we invite you to pry our Doc Martens out of our cold, dead hands (or off of our cold, dead feet). On the other hand, we can kind of see Martinez's point. Everyone and their literal grandmothers have been sporting lug soles recently, robbing them of their novelty. But if chunky boots are outdated, what should we wear instead?

Fortunately, Martinez is ready with fresh ideas. "It's time to swap [lug boots] with sleeker options that are high on the fashion agenda, like the kitten heel boots," he tells Glam. It's an appealing suggestion. Compared to lug soles, kitten-heel boots' shape around the foot is slimmer, sleeker, and sharper, creating a more streamlined effect that suits current fashion trends. And if you're still looking for a strong, structural element, many kitten-heel boots are boxy around the ankle or calves — evoking the powerful, combat style of lug-sole shoes in a more modern way.