After weeks of winter walks and hurried Christmas shopping – your footwear may be in need of a new year makeover. “In 2024, we saw a noticeable shift in footwear preferences, with chunky sneakers giving way to sleeker, dress-casual styles,” says TOMS ‘ brand manager, Darcia Schouten. “This trend was largely influenced by changing lifestyle needs – people sought footwear that was not only stylish but practical for day-to-day activities.
” “Comfort-driven designs that blend sophistication with ease of wear have become essential, as consumers prioritise versatility,” explains Schouten. If you’re trying to predict the biggest fashion trends for 2025 in anticipation for the post-holiday sales, look no further, as fashion insiders break down the hottest footwear styles for 2025. Riding boots The western and cowboy boot trend was huge in 2023/24, but horses are taking a more front and centre approach to the 2025 trend, with riding boots becoming the it-style of the season.
Riding boots swept the runways of Gucci and Hermès, with equestrian style becoming a prolific motif for 2025. “Its streamlined silhouette and dress-casual versatility make it the perfect option for FW25,” says Schouten. The ‘riding’ motif is predicted to proliferate fashion.
Stella McCartney unveiled fashion’s new ‘it’ bag, the ‘Stella Ryder’, at Paris Fashion Week for s/s 2025 and the equestrian-focused fashion house, Hermès, has outshone its luxury rivals with an 11.3% ri.
