Welcome to Reality Check: a new regular franchise from the ELLE fashion editors that asks: how well do the season's biggest trends really work in the wild? This week, it's a strong case in favour of the furry shoe.
I’ll admit, penning a lot of the entries for this franchise has evoked feelings of nostalgia, nausea and downright terror in me – but this time, I am all in. Look, I'm sorry about legitimising the skinny jean revival last week, but please let me make it up to you with a thesis on the best accessory microtrend to come out of the AW24 runways.
This season, fluffy shoes are everywhere – and if a pair of floor-dusting fur-covered mules sounds like the silliest thing you can add to your wardrobe right now, you’re absolutely correct: but we can’t be sensible all the time, right?
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On the AW24 runways, designers served up all manner of hairy footwear, from teddy-bear flats at Simone Rocha to Monsters Inc pumps at 16 Arlington. David Koma offered maribou-trimmed slingbacks, while Loewe’s signature Toy pumps now come covered in fuzzy chenille-style cotton.
We know that the route to wardrobe success lies in restraint: invest in the sensible things, and you’ll reap the rewards for years to come. A sparkling sheer dress is fun once a year (rent it!) but an impeccable black blazer is forever. However, we can only be so well-behaved, and an unexpected statement accessory is the best way to offset all those studiously selected basics, injecting personality and punch into classic tailoring and blue jeans.
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This season, I’ve resurrected a pair of feathered Prada kitten heels from seasons past, wearing them with everything from wide-leg jeans to puffy taffeta dresses – and while I’ve admittedly had to check the forecast diligently (footwear fluff is firmly a weather-dependent proposition) they have brought deliciously silly energy to my regular wardrobe.
On the high street, H&M has dropped an easy pair of tactile mules that offer an easy way to embrace the trend, while Charles and Keith’s fur-lined sandals are ideal for energising a jeans-and-tee look come spring. Zara has hit the new-season trend trifecta with a pair of red, furry ballet flats.
Now, walking around with a pair of feather dusters strapped to your feet might not sound like the wisest sartorial move, but you cannot deny the joy on offer here. These shoes are capital-F fun and, in my opinion, make the perfect reward for being so diligently sensible with the rest of your wardrobe, If you’re hunted down the perfect black blazer, found your forever jeans and stocked up on enough decent white T-shirts (Arket’s heavy-duty design is The One, by the way), you deserve to indulge.
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Roberta Schroeder is the Senior Ecommerce Editor at Harper's Bazaar, ELLE and Esquire, overseeing shopping strategy and content across fashion, beauty, and travel. Roberta has reported on everything from market-leading skincare brands to the world’s most iconic fashion pieces, while also regularly updating a range of shopping guides, including LED masks, heritage cashmere brands and niche new dress brands to know.
Roberta has more than 15 years' experience in the luxury sector, spanning editorial consultancy, trend forecasting and journalism. Over the years, she has worked for global brands including Farfetch, Chanel, and Vogue.
When not testing beauty products, trialling trends and curating content that spotlights the very best in fashion and beauty, Roberta can usually be found trawling resale sites and vintage stores for a long-coveted designer find. Follow Roberta on Instagram at @roberta__schroeder
