The best designer shoes to buy

Shoes occupy a similar place in a fashion lover’s heart as handbags. They can elevate an otherwise dull outfit and are often masterpieces of creativity and craftsmanship.

Designer shoes also depreciate at a much slower rate than clothing (but faster than bags), sometimes even growing in value over time.

So if you want to invest your hard-earned money in a pair you won’t regret buying, come next season, or even want to make a little ahead of your shopping habit, you’ve come to the right place, as we’ve consulted the experts to find you the bottom line on which designer shoes are worth the investment.

Investing doesn’t have to mean skipping the trendiest styles in favor of the classics. In fact, we spoke to Mytheresa’s VP of fashion, Tiffany Hsu, to find out which styles she predicts will reign in 2023.

Neoclassical pumps

“A neoclassical pump is a must for next season, and you can’t go wrong with Saint Laurent,” Hsu tells ELLE UK.

Saint Laurent’s ‘Pablo’ Slingback Pumps are classic yet so sexy, they work from day to night with any look.

How to style them? Continue the neo-classic theme with an a-line circle skirt (perhaps in leather) and long black coat, or copy the Saint Laurent runway with tight lycra and Matrix sunglasses. Either way, these vampy pumps can be read as both work and floor appropriate.

High heels in the sky

“We’ve seen a lot of versions of the platform for last summer, but especially as a sandal we really love them,” explains Hsu.

“Amina Muaddi is still the queen of shoes and her ‘Sita’ version in suede is so elevated.”

How to style them? Elongate your legs to the max by pairing these stunning heels with a tiny mini skirt. We like to mix and match by pairing petite skirts with a crew neck and an extra long coat – tights are of course optional.

XL Mary Janes

Imaxtree

“A big trend we’ve seen for SS23 is the return of plunging platform Mary Janes,” Hsu tells ELLE UK.

“My favorites are Bottega Veneta’s ‘Mostra’ platforms, as they are elegant yet timeless.

How to style them? When you want to create a subversive and feminine ensemble, stepping on Mary Janes is a great choice. We’ll pair them with midi skirts and oversized suits, just like we saw at Bottega Veneta’s AW22 show.

Knee-high stompers

“Boots and miniskirts are my favorite combination for spring,” says Hsu.

“Acne Studios is a true classic and their square toe knee high boots are just adorable.”

How to style them? The combination of mini skirts and knee-high boots is a great idea for spring, but while it’s still cold, a midi length will still do the trick. The combination of ankle boots and a swing skirt always works, but we’re especially fond of jeans paired with leather.

Ballet flats

Imaxtree

“Ballerinas come in all shapes and colors for next summer,” explains Hsu.

To add some sparkle, choose embellished ballet flats from Miu Miu and upgrade your wardrobe. A pair of plain black jeans mixed with flats will do the trick.’

How to style them? Hsu is right—Miu Miu’s super-shiny offerings are probably the best-dressed. But if you’re investing in some punchier color, we say double with ultra-feminine shapes.

While discovering the next ‘it’ shoe is a worthwhile pursuit, it’s the vintage, archival and second-hand shoes that will take your wardrobe from trend follower to trend setter, with lasting praise down to the boots (pun intended purpose).

It’s also a better financial choice, with pre-packaged parts being cheaper in the first place and often retaining or even increasing their value if you choose wisely.

“Evergreen items and accessories are always a safe investment, often increasing in value over the years,” Vestiaire Collective tells ELLE UK.

“We notice that luxury accessories, especially bags or shoes, are the best performing categories on our platform.”

To find out which brand of stilettos, sneakers and flats to invest in (or sell if you’re tight on cash), Vestiaire let us know their best-selling shoe brands of 2023, namely Christian Louboutin, Gucci, Parada, Hermès and Jimmy Choo.

For those uninterested in the passing trends of the ‘New In’ section, and indifferent to the ebbs and flows of the resale market, his classic shoes, timeless in their style and proud of their heritage, should they turn to.

Here they are THAT UK choice of shoe style cleats.

Gucci’s Jordan Loafers

Getty Images

You’ll probably be familiar with Gucci’s iconic Horsebit.

As the story goes, while working at London’s The Savoy hotel shortly after World War I, a young Guccio Gucci (the brand’s eponymous founder) noticed how important horse symbols were to the English aristocracy. So when she started the Gucci brand in 1921, she made sure that the iconography was intertwined with her identity.

It was his son, Aldo, who introduced the Horsebit loafer in 1953. The luxurious leather garment quickly became synonymous with the jet set and Hollywood stars.

Although already a true classic, Alessandro Michele’s arrival at the helm of Gucci in 2015 signaled a renaissance for the style. Reworked in a slimmer shape to create Jordaan style (pictured above), the horse-embellished pack is once again a must-have.

Chanel two-tone slingbacks

Getty Images

First created by Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel in 1957, there’s more to Chanel’s two-tone slingbacks than meets the eye; the nude top elongates the leg, while the black toe shortens the leg. Genius.

Former creative director Karl Lagerfeld reintroduced them in Fall/Winter 2015 and they quickly became a must-have.

You’ll have to go straight to Chanel to get a pair (or get second-hand)—and there’s no guarantee that Chanel will keep making them for years to come.

Christian Louboutin Pigalle Pumps

Getty Images

Named after a historically seedy area in Paris—Quartier Pigalle, home of the Moulin Rouge and other such institutions—the Pigalle is by far Christian Louboutin’s most iconic red-soled shoe.

With a pointed toe and straight 120mm pencil heel, the shoe is loved for its posture-correcting and leg-elongating abilities. Kate Moss has countless pairs and you’ll rarely see her on the red carpet wearing any other shoe.

Black patent is the signature fabrication, but due to their popularity they are available in a plethora of fabrics and treatments.

Which Manolo Blahnik pumps

Getty Images

When Carrie Bradshaw chose Manolo Blahnik’s blue jewel, Hangisi pumps as her “something blue” when she (finally) married “Big” first. Sex and the City movie, she unwittingly (or maybe not) gave the shoe iconic status.

You don’t believe us? Olivia Palermo decided to wear them on her wedding day in 2014.

Covered in satin with a 105mm heel, the Hangisi was inspired by Napoleon I, Josephine and Pauline Bonaparte. The signature Swarovski-embellished buckle on the toe, meanwhile, was inspired by a vintage piece found by Blahnik, an accessory aficionado, in Italy.