As summer 2026 winds down, FN editors ranked the top 10 shoe styles that reached a fever pitch during the warmer summer months. While the designer flip-flop made its way onto red carpets and became the “It” shoe of 2025, this summer saw an uptick in thong sandals with kitten heels and more slip-on styles that elevated the flat sandal.
Instead of the traditional sandal, women also turned to the clear shoe trend to show off their feet this season. Everyone from Jennifer Lopez and Katy Perry to Khloé Kardashian couldn’t stay away from the translucent shoe designs from brands like Gianvito Rossi and Aquazzura. For men, sockless loafers became a go-to. Michael B. Jordan turned heads when he dressed up a casual Spider-Man T-shirt with loafers at the “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” premiere in New York. But that’s not all. See the 10 shoe styles and trends FN editors picked as the shoes that have defined summer 2026.
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10. The Nike Moon Shoe
FN contributing editor Riley Jones, who covers sneakers, says the Nike Moon Shoe had a moment this summer. Rihanna stirred up some controversy early in the season when she was spotted wearing a sporty look paired with Nike x Jacquemus Moon Shoes SP sneakers. At the New York premiere of “The Odyssey,” Travis Scott debuted his Travis Scott x Nike Moon Shoe on the red carpet. He then wore the same shoes during an interview on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” The shoes fit into the low-profile sneaker trend and are on the brink of an overall revival.
9. The Men’s Loafer
Low-profile loafers, scrunched-up loafers, mule loafers and everything in between were the undisputed shoes of the summer for men, says senior editor at FN Stephen Garner. While women also wore them this season, the shoes made frequent appearances on red carpets, at events and on the streets, paired with tailored outfits or dressed down with shorts and T-shirts. On the celebrity front, Michael B. Jordan, Winston Duke, Tom Holland and more stars slipped into loafers to keep their low-key summer looks looking polished.
8. The Ballerina Sneaker
Ballet sneakers were among the most frequently worn shoes this summer. From the FIFA World Cup to other outdoor summer events, people kept low-profile, ballerina-inspired shoes like the Adidas Originals Taekwondo Mei Ballet sneakers and the Puma Speedcat ballet shoes on rotation. The footwear also had global appeal and could be spotted during World Cup celebrations and European vacations. Style influencer Julia Kammerer was spotted wearing a yellow popcorn fabric short-sleeved top with Brazil print from Pull & Bear, red athletic shorts from Adidas, along with red and white Adidas Taekwondo Mei sneakers in Germany.
7. The Ballet Flat
While The Row’s jelly shoes and flip-flops had a good run in 2025, the ballet flat quickly returned as the go-to shoe for dressed-down, casual outfits. Whether it was Zendaya in Margiela Tabi ballet flats, Kaia Gerber in her own Repetto Kaia Ballet Flats, Kylie Jenner riding a bike with Timothée Chalamet or Anne Hathaway giving her feet a break from heels in Alaïa’s fishnet flats, the shoes continued to prove their enduring position as a wardrobe staple.
6. Animal Print Shoes
Animal print shoes have evolved into an all-weather option. FN contributing editor Maggie Clancy observed that this summer in particular proved that the snake print, cowhide and croc-embossed prints fit not only on boots but also on sandals and pumps. Teyana Taylor wore a blue iteration of a snakeskin pump at Matthieu Blazy’s fall 2026 Chanel haute couture show in Paris, while Regina King and Kelly Rowland showed off their feet in python-print sandals.
5. White Shoes
White shoes have become a reliable footwear option for any occasion in the last few years, but this summer, we watched the color take over royal appearances, red carpets and beyond. Zendaya shocked the world when she arrived at “The Odyssey” premiere in custom heelless pumps created through a collaboration between Christian Louboutin and Matières Fécales. The stark white shoes complemented her angelic white gown, which was also designed by Matières Fécales.
Kate Middleton arrived at Trooping the Colour in June in London, taking her go-to Gianvito Rossi Gianvito 105 pumps out for a spin, this time opting for the shoes in white, which she had only worn sparingly and while on vacation in the past. Sadie Sink opted for the Givenchy Bow Boudoir sandals, which are also becoming a go-to among celebrities. While we have seen the style in black, Sink opted for an all-white version for a clean look.
4. The Low-profile sneaker
This summer put the final nail in the coffin for the bulky dad shoe sneaker trend. The Adidas Samba continued its reign as the supreme low-profile shoe, with stars like Nicole Kidman wearing it on commutes, to parties and while traveling, among other occasions. The Adidas Samba Jane provided a new iteration of the popular sneaker, giving it a boost this summer, and soon the style was spotted on just about everyone’s feet. Olivia Wilde sported another popular low-profile sneaker, the Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 sneakers, which added comfort to her ultra-polished look.
3. Clear Shoes
The clear shoe has been around for years, but this summer, it became a style that designers released repeatedly and celebrities returned to over and over again. Clear shoes are often worn in the warmer months, and we saw iterations of it appear in towering stripper heels, on dainty barely-there mules, pumps and more. The prominence of footwear made from PVC, TPU and other clear materials took over streetwear, runways and red carpets. Stars repeatedly returned to the trend, including Jennifer Lopez, who spent the summer in barely-there Gianvito Rossi’s Elle mules, Katy Perry, who performed at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Aquazzura Sea Wave Wedge 105 and Teyana Taylor, who stepped out in the translucent Saint Laurent Brigitte pumps.
Now Anthony Vaccarello and Saint Laurent seem to have taken notice of this latest wave and are taking the clear shoes trend to the men’s market. The creative director presented his spring 2027 ready-to-wear collection during men’s Paris Fashion Week in June, and the presentation featured transparent footwear for men.
2. Minimalist Mule Sandals
Minimalist mules have been quietly building momentum since last year. Stars like Selena Gomez, Emily Ratajkowski, Heidi Klum and Victoria Beckham have been sliding into the shoes since then, with the Paris Texas’ Lidia mule emerging as one of the most popular styles. This summer, the shoe style took off, becoming a bestselling design for brands including Christian Louboutin with its Me Dolly mule, Saint Laurent with the Babylone mule and Gianvito Rossi with the Sofia mule. The styles appeared on red carpets and the street while also trending on social media. Stars like Keke Palmer, Kaia Gerber and Kelsea Ballerini showed the versatility of the shoe, pairing their individual styles with the minimalist mules.
1. Thong Heeled Sandals
As FN’s fashion market editor, Jaden Thompson, said, the “humble kitten-heel thong sandal has emerged as the hottest shoe of the summer.” The style, which is usually defined by the simple thong straps of a casual flip-flop and the subtle elevation of a kitten heel, has taken over the women’s dress shoe market at price points ranging from fast fashion to luxury. Lori Harvey, Hailey Bieber, Kaia Gerber, Lily Collins and more stars wore the shoes to elevate their summer looks.
Source: WWD
