Red shoes have become a fashion fan favourite – here’s how to incorporate them into your wardrobe

Despite fashion’s perennial flirtation with neutrals, it’s colour that keeps creeping back into our wardrobes once winter fatigue properly sets in. After seasons dominated by beige, chocolate brown and ‘quiet luxury’ staples, there’s a renewed appetite for something a little more playful. We’ve cycled through our fair share of standout shades in recent years – from dopamine brights to soft pastels – but right now, one colour is quietly (and confidently) taking centre stage: red.

Rather than feeling overtly trend-led, the current take on red is more about styling than statements. It’s being worn in pared-back, everyday ways, eg blouses, ballet pumps and hair bows. While deeper tones carried us through winter, there’s a noticeable shift towards fresher, brighter reds as we edge closer to spring.

As with all current cool girl looks, the key is to look effortless, even if you’ve paid a lot of attention to the details. Shoes are one of our favourite ways to incorporate the colour with minimal faff or outfit planning. Simply swapping your trusty white trainers, black ballet pumps or go-to boots for red is the key to winning style points without too much effort, and we’ve detailed exactly how to do it – as evidenced by our own wardrobes. 

Trusty trainers are probably the easiest way to step into this trend. Thanks to the rise of striking Adidas Sambas or loudly coloured Gazelles, there’s no short supply of options. To instantly liven up your look, swap your go-to black or white runners for a punchy red pair. No matter if you’re wearing jeans and a simple white T-shirt, a colour-matching tracksuit or a daytime dress, they’ll be the most eye-catching element of any outfit.

You won’t be short of options to choose from, either, whether you go for the sell-out standard Adidas Gazelles (£85), a striking suede style from FitFlop (£95) or a colourful coral style from Gola (£90). 

Ballet pumps have seen a huge revival in recent months, with people opting for the minimalist shoe style when wearing jeans and a T-shirt, a two-piece suit or a dress of any length. While black is an incredibly popular pick, followed closely by the iconic Chanel two-tone option, red is rising up the ranks. To make it even more striking, we’d suggest pairing red pumps with neutral shades such as cream, beige or black. Or, on the flip side, clash the colour with blue or yellow if your wardrobe is home to many bright and bold shades.

FitFlop has us covered with these high-cut soft-leather ballerinas, £90.

While trainers and ballet pumps certainly seem like an easier swap, perhaps because there are more options of red styles to choose from, boots are also a brilliant option. You may have to pay more attention to the style you go for – whether it’s a pointed toe, chunky sole or lace-up front – as the pool of options isn’t the widest, but once you find your favourite fit, you can wear them as you would any black pair. Jeans, trousers, suits and skirts will all work in some capacity.

Ganni has a great cowboy option (£445) that will pair perfectly with billowy skirts and shorts, Charles & Keith has a striking platform style (£109) and Asos has a ankle cowboy style (£53.99) that will enhance the appearance of an all-red outfit. 

Images: Getty; courtesy of brands