Retro Shoe Styles Seeing A Resurgence In 2025

They say that everything old is new again, and nowhere is that truer than in the realm of fashion. While sartorial innovation is always exciting, we'd argue that the pull of nostalgia is equally strong — in fact, if you've ever wondered why trends return in a circular fashion, you can largely thank retro revivalism, as it's one of the driving forces behind this eternal cycle.

Returning fads are especially effective when we get the best of both worlds by remixing classic looks in novel ways. Case in point, some of 2025's hottest shoe styles are blatant nods to vintage styles, though maybe not the ones you'd expect. Where 2024 saw an uptick in niche footwear options, from chic loafers and metallic pumps to many takes on cowboy boots, 2025 is taking a sharp left turn with throwback stars like clogs, ballet flats, and retro sneakers.

Shoe trends in 2025 are starting off with a surprising bang in the form of chunky, clunky clogs. These thick-soled classics, once the go-to shoe of counterculture intellectuals, have been popping up across runways, including in Ulla Johnson's Spring/Summer 2025 collection, where pristine white clogs contrast the designer's flirty and floral garments. Miu Miu also offered up a curiously reinvented clog-slipper hybrid that trimmed various brightly colored uppers with stretchy, sock-like material.

But the burgeoning clog trend isn't just for poppy, playful brands like Miu Miu. Even Hermès, a label practically synonymous with timeless, high-class style, introduced a take on clogs in its 2025 Spring/Summer collection, with heavy, clog-style sandals in rich, mahogany leather. Whichever style you personally prefer, we suggest staying ahead of the curve by getting your hands on a pair of clogs before the warm weather hits. For example, traditionalists should check out Dr. Scholl's Louis Iconic Clog Mules or the Clarks Women's Paizlee Bay Clog.

Meanwhile, those looking for more vivid clogs would do well to consider Verka's Women's Wooden Clogs from Sweden, which come in a variety of colors. Even if you're not sure how to pair them with your wardrobe, don't sweat it — experts say that styling your shoes wrong has the unexpected benefit of looking bold and intentional, so there's basically no way to fail with statement footwear like clogs.

Ballet flats frequently come in and out of fashion, and fans of their feminine, understated style will be glad to hear that they're hot once more in 2025. Fashion houses like Ferragamo are leading the way, with ballet flats featuring prominently in the label's 2025 Spring Ready-to-Wear collection. Ferragamo's lineup includes classic, ribbon-tied ballet flats in black, gray, and delicate powder pink, keeping the style fresh with sharply pointed toes instead of the usual squared-off design. Ballet flats also appear in Gucci's 2025 Resort collection, offering updated styles with playful strap configurations and trendy hues like red and olive.

However, you don't need a haute-couture budget to add these easy, breezy staples to your wardrobe this year. The Lucky Brand's flexible, foldable Emmie Flats, which come in a staggering range of 37 colors and patterns, and the Amazon Essentials Pointed-toe Ballet Flats, available in 17 versatile styles, are both great options.

When it comes to casual footwear, certain designs like classic white sneakers never go out of style — as long as they're worn well. But this year, tennis shoe trends are taking on a decidedly vintage sensibility with throwback hues and larger-than-life silhouettes. For instance, the runway show for Loewe's Spring 2025 Ready-to-Wear collection was peppered with high-top sneakers serving vibes from the '90s. Loewe presented these pairs in a rainbow of shades, from orange and yellow to a recurring white-and-sky-blue palette. Note: These aren't last year's neon colors. Everything's a little cooler and a little more desaturated, maybe even veering into pastels. In Loewe's case, we're perhaps most obsessed with the perfectly Barbiecore pink and lavender pair, which are so nostalgic it actually makes our hearts hurt as we reach for our wallets.

And while Rouje founder Jeanne Damas took a hit as one of the worst-dressed celebs at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2025, we aren't mad at the label's delightfully '70s-style sneakers. Rouje's swoopy, plum-and-mustard suede Jackson Trainers feel straight out of a period film, but somehow it works. If this sounds like your jam, Project Cloud's Balinda Sneakers in the color mustard carry a similar aesthetic. Or, for the maximalists out there, the chunky Leo Lace-up Sneakers from Blowfish Malibu come in several riotously colorful styles that'll take you straight back to the '90s and noughties.