The world of fashion is always evolving, especially when it comes to footwear. Recently we've seen some exciting new trends emerge that combine style and performance to create shoes perfect for both adventures outdoors and strutting down city streets.
One rising trend is the barefoot or minimalist shoe, designed to allow your feet to move more naturally. Brands like Vivobarefoot and Lemaire are offering super thin-soled loafers and desert boots to reconnect wearers to the feeling of walking barefoot. High fashion labels like Loewe and Bottega Veneta have also embraced barely-there shoe designs, with woven sock boots that hug your feet.
If this barefoot shoe trend get's you hyped, here's what to look for when shopping for this style of footwear:
- Wide toe boxes that give toes room to spread out
- Flexible, thin soles similar to the thickness of socks
- Lightweight materials like soft leathers and breathable knits
Kanye West's futuristic Yeezy Pods slide right into this trend with their unique cut-out design exposing most of the foot to air and ground. The sleek, second-skin silhouette allows for unencumbered movement.
For exploring the great outdoors, technical fabrics are also having a fashion moment. Brands like Merrell and HOKA are fusing high performance with standout colors and prints to create hiking shoes and trail runners that wouldn't look out of place on city streets.
If you're shopping for technical outdoor shoes, here's what to look for:
- Waterproof, fast-drying fabrics like nylon and GORE-TEX
- Grippy, lugged rubber soles to handle rough terrain
Here at State of Flux, we offer versatile footwear for modern life, like our Legacy 96 in jet black nylon and Shadow 6000 GTX in brown full-grain leather with GORE-TEX protection. Both models feature Fresh Foam cushioning and Vibram outsoles, ready to go the distance whether the journey leads to mountain trails or museum halls.
Looking ahead, what shoe trends do you want to see next? Let us know and be sure to browse our latest arrivals to stay ahead of the game in both fashion and function!