Trends in womens shoes seem to come and go so quickly these days, blink and youll miss them, but there are also lots that stay around and become shoe staples as well as those womens shoe styles that will never go out of fashion.
Here is a guide to the different types of popular womens shoes and how you can wear them.
Ankle strap shoes
Ankle strap shoes come in lots of different designs and is more of a reference to a design feature that is a strap around the ankle. They can be court shoe style, wedge or usually a sandal and offer a comfortable fit with the ankle strap. If you are petite or have short legs you should avoid ankle strap shoes because they cut you off at the ankle and make you appear shorter.
Court shoes
A classic style of shoes that features a full shoe design and back, court shoes usually have rounded toes but are also sometimes peep toes. One of the most popular and versatile types of shoes with a wide-ranging availability of colours and styles that work for many occasions.
Mules
A traditional style of slip on shoe that comes in either flat or high heel styles, mules have made a big comeback to the footwear fashion in recent years with the clogs trend. Their key feature is the open back and the toe can either be open or closed.
Platform shoes
This refers to the sole of a shoe rather than the type of a shoe and features a thick sole, usually of approximately 1 inch and is often seen on a variety of shoes including courts, sandals and many more. Platform shoes are design to make higher heels more comfortable to wear and walk in and also elongate the legs.
Shoe boots
Shorter than an ankle boot but taller than a shoe, shoe boots (also known as shooties) hit the catwalks last year and are now a firm favourite among the footwear trends. They finish below the ankle and come in an array of styles from the flat to the high heeled and look great with leggings and jeans for all and with skirts and dresses for taller women.
Slingbacks
A popular style of shoes that comes in a big choice of styles and is defined by an adjustable strap around the back of the ankle for excellent fit and comfort. Lots of slingback shoes are sandals or peep toes and work for so many occasions and for all women regardless of height.
Stilettos
The traditional high heel, stilettos are actually defined by the heel style which is tall and thin. Usually reserved for special occasions, stilettos give that much longed for extra height but are not known for their comfort as many lack a platform sole and are all about that striking heel.
Gladiator sandals
Gladiator sandals first came into the footwear trends a couple of years ago and now look like their set to stick around. At first they included styles that went up the legs but they seem to have settled down to more versatile styles like black and brown leather gladiator sandals or those with stud detailing. They really easy to take from day to night and work with lots of recent clothing trends like denim, floral prints and maxi dresses.
Brogues
Another recent footwear trends, brogues are in fact a formal mans shoe with a cut out design and like other androgynous fashions, they have been brought to the forefront of womens fashion. Womens brogues are so easy to wear and combine comfort and practicality with a fashionable look; team with skinny jeans, leggings or floral playsuits.
Wedges
A style of shoe where the heel and sole are connected, wedges are one of the biggest footwear trends of the past few years after the bohemian look was big. Wedges usually have a thick platform sole and the design makes them very comfortable to wear and walk in and the beauty of them is that they also go with lots of different outfits.