Cozy footwear has never been more “in”
Trend setting footwear
Shearling was seen all over the runways in fashion houses fall/winter 2021 collections. Even though the cozy trend keeps our feet warm in the colder months, shearling started making an appearance this summer in the ever coveted Hermès Chypre and Oran sandals. The fuzzy Chypre style became so popular that Hermès recently restricted the purchase of the sandal to 1 a quarter as a “quota” item only reserved for it’s mega-iconic, classics such as the Birkin or Kelly handbag. It is clear that this new fuzzy trend is popular due to recent shift in styles towards comfy chic. Now styles range from slip-on mules to outdoor-inspired hiking boots. In addition to some of my favorite I shared in my Fall 2021 Trends post, here is an edit of my favorites I find a bit more wearable and practical that I have my eye on this season.
Embracing comfort
Over the past couple seasons we have seen an increase in cozy, cuddly styles. I think this is one of the few examples in recent memory of an inverted trend. Rather than premier, high-fashion houses designing a look that trickles down over time to consumers, instead consumers opted for more comfortable footwear influencing the styles ultimately developed in high-fashion. A great example of this is Crocs which are exploding right now. The rubberish mules used to be reserved for children and chefs working in a kitchen long hours. Now the style is embraced by the masses for their comfort and convenience. Crocs even have famous fans like Justin Bieber and fashion-plate Kendall Jenner—even doing collabs with rockstar Post Malone further entrenching the style as perhaps O.G. ugly-chic shoe joining the likes of dad sneakers and sandals.
With an increase of working-from-home or hybrid work, people craved comfortable, functional, and stylish shoes that could be worn both in and out of the home. Although comfortable, traditional slippers or house shoes do not have a versatile, rubber sole that is suitable for outdoor wear. These new cozy styles embrace the best of both worlds, creating a hybrid shoe that provides protection, warmth, style, and comfort. Thus the fuzzy shoe was born.
Shearling-lined shoes have been around for decades due to it’s practical warmth; however, the material can be seen peeking out of the inside of the shoe onto the tongue or even as decorative elements on the exterior of the shoe. Some styles are entirely adorned with the material creating a fluffy look akin to feather dressing gown slippers from an old Hollywood film. For this list, I am using the term, “shearling” loosely. The materials in these shoes range from faux-fur, fluff-like, to real sheep skin lined and sued adorned footwear.
Favorite shearling shoes
Let me know down in the comments which styles of comfortable, fuzzy shoes are on your list this season. Do you own any of the shoes in this post? Sound-off in the comments and share your review!