Fall Is Almost Here: These Are the Classic Shoes I'm Most Excited to Wear

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Camper, Repetto, Worishofer, Manolo Blahnik, Saint Laurent.
(Image credit: Camper; Repetto; Worishofer; Manolo Blahnik; Saint Laurent)

When it comes to my wardrobe, shoes are the category I obsess over. Alongside bags, they're the items I'm pickiest about and the ones I prefer to invest in. While I tend to err on the side of saving on elevated basics, footwear feels different. Living in New York means I'm constantly walking, so my shoes need to hold up on long days out and about. Due to that, I've grown particular about what I buy, prioritizing quality and gravitating toward timeless pairs I won't get sick of, especially since I wear them on repeat.

With the season shifting, I can't wait to start wearing different silhouettes. On the trendier side, expect Venetian slippers, boat shoes, animal prints (cow, snake, zebra), croc-embossed textures, rich burgundy, cherry red, silver, satin, suede, and patent leather. While fashion cycles are forever changing, I always think of fall as a return to the classics.

My mind immediately goes to trench coats, cashmere knits, and turtlenecks as well as shoes like ballet flats, Mary Janes, and loafers. For 2025, we'll also see clogs, wedges, mules, kitten heels, pumps, Tabis, knee-high boots, Hunters, and, of course, Uggs.

Below, the enduring minimalist styles I'm most excited to wear.

Audry Hiaoui
Associate Shopping Editor

Audry Hiaoui is a writer based in New York. For Who What Wear, she specializes in emerging designers, independent labels, and brand discovery, as well as interviews both on and off camera. Her writing has appeared in AnOther, Wonderland, office, Interview, LOVE, and i-D, among others, with multiple cover stories and features in print, and she has worked as an editorial producer for Vogue during fashion months. She holds a master’s degree in journalism and documentary filmmaking from City, University of London, and has an extensive background in film, having worked for Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, and VICE U.K. as well as on various projects including documentaries and music videos, and most recently as a writer’s assistant on an upcoming HBO/A24 series.