In the Noughties, the likes of Kate Moss and Alexa Chung made ballet pumps an indie-sleaze staple, as they were a means of darting all over London comfortably, as well as making late-night pub outfits look a little bit more thrown together, rather than too try hard. Kate Moss grounded all of her Topshop micro minidresses with a pair of well-worn Repetto pumps. Over the past few summers, they have become a celebrity staple once again, with brands delivering more luxe alternatives to the black leather styles of yore – think of Loewe’s crystal embellishments, Alaïa’s sold-out studs and Fendi’s expensive-looking neutral shades. But just like Kate Moss’s trusted Repettos, these are all a comfortable option for those days when you’re not sure what time you’ll be out until.
This nostalgic summer shoe has been bubbling up in recent years, however as soon as The Row included caged jelly shoes in its September 2024 runway show, even the most discerning fashion types have been revisiting the shoes that they last wore to stomp over rock pools when they were six. These £800 flats are now sold out, however Vogue’s Naomi Smart has selected Ancient Greek Sandals’s IRO jellies as her shoe of the summer – she’s been wearing them to the office and not for splashing around pools and beaches.
Last summer, I wrote a piece for British Vogue about how instead of sandals, A-Listers were wearing the back-to-school loafers you usually revisit in September. This mood has continued for another year, as Gucci’s creative director Sabato de Sarno’s debut collection for spring/summer 2024 featured no less than 25 platform loafers on the catwalk. For those concerned about blisters and over heating, I love St Agni’s macramé pair that wouldn’t look out of place in Ibiza.
