White shoes are having a moment, transforming from a once-polarizing fashion choice into a modern wardrobe staple.
White heels have long been associated with strict seasonal rules and used mainly for weddings, baptisms or church. But now, the crisp white footwear has undergone a stylish reinvention and has reached a new level of popularity. Searches for “white shoes” have steadily increased on Google each year, reaching an all-time high in 2025. The white shoe has managed to do so by proving its staying power through adaptability across seasons.
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Wearing white shoes after summer was once considered a fashion faux pas, but is now worn confidently year-round. While white sandals and heels rule the warmer months, white boots have become a popular option for colder weather, often paired with winter whites or worn as a statement to brighten a darker ensemble.
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White boots made several appearances on the runways earlier this month, including at Chanel and Prada’s recent fall 2026 shows. More brands have continued to expand their white shoe offerings as of late, featuring styles ranging from mules to mesh pumps to strappy sandals. Christian Louboutin recently dropped a wedding collection featuring modern designs that a bride can wear well past her big day. White ballerina flats, Derbies, Oxford shoes, loafers, slingback pumps and other styles were also featured on the runway at recent shows for brands like Bottega Veneta, Alaïa, Dior, Ferragamo and more.
The Bottega Veneta fall 2026 show, which marked the brand’s second collection designed by creative director Louise Trotter, featured an array of white footwear. The new shoe offerings included all-white, low-profile, lace-up shoes, spiky ballet mules, loafers, furry pointed-toe heels and more.
Other designers, celebrities and street-style influencers have also embraced the trend over the past year, showcasing everything from sleek white pumps to platform shoes. Stars like Zendaya, Kate Hudson, Rihanna and Taraji P. Henson have been spotted wearing white shoes including the Louboutin Miss Z pumps to chunky heels by Alevi Milano, Miu Miu cap-toe pumps and Rene Caovilla sculptural sandals.
While all-white sneakers became popular earlier this decade, white heels are now entering “must-have shoe” territory as we return to dressier footwear following a comfort-first era. Comfortable footwear like sneakers, flip-flops, Crocs, Uggs, Birkenstocks and ballerina flats saw an uptick in popularity, mostly following the 2019 global pandemic. But as the fashion world and society have returned to pre-COVID-19 normalcy with nightlife picking up steam and return-to-office mandates across most industries, dressier shoes and high heels are back in demand.
The white shoe style is also gaining popularity amid a resurgence in minimalism and an industry-wide preference for clean lines and neutral palettes; white shoes fit seamlessly into that aesthetic. It also coincides with the “quiet luxury” trend that has dominated recent fashion cycles. The trend emerged in the early 2020s, reaching a fever pitch in 2023, and marked a shift away from flashy, logo-filled fashion toward understated, unbranded clothing made with high-quality materials. The trend gained popularity through cultural influences like “Succession” and celebrities and influencers like Gwyneth Paltrow during her 2023 court trial.
The HBO show’s costuming featured minimalist shapes, neutral colors, tailored suiting and invisible branding, which sparked widespread interest in how the wealthy dress. WWD reported in 2023 that Google searches for “quiet luxury,” “stealth wealth” and “old money style” skyrocketed by 684, 990 and 874 percent, respectively, after the first “Succession” episode aired in 2018. The interest continued well into the first half of the 2020s, leading to the popularization of the “clean girl aesthetic.”
From being known as a statement to now being a reliable go-to, white shoes and heels are no longer just a passing trend, and should be expected to continue making appearances on the red carpet, sidewalks, fashion runways and beyond.