Everybody knows that fashion trends make a comeback from time to time – we can’t invent something new every year and never repeat ourselves. But one thing is to know and another is to see with your own eyes. So, let’s look at the latest footwear trends fall 2021 and compare these shoes to very similar-looking vintage shoes and boots from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. What modern designers and fashion houses appreciate footwear ideas of the past long gone?
This fall season, the pandemic restrictions continue to ruin our social life. People tend to spend a lot more time at home than at the office or anywhere else. Thus, many trendy designers switched from creating fancy-looking but unbelievably uncomfortable shoes to cute and homey footwear that could be easily worn at home and reminds us of slippers.
Fall 2021 shoe trend #1
Fuzzy and furry shoes with faux fur or animal fur
There is a wide range of slippers, flip flops, sandals, mules, ballet flats, uggs, and other shoes made either from real animal fur or faux fur. We can find such footwear in Gucci, Marni, Ugg, Alexander McQueen, Jimmy Choo, and other designers’ collections.
For example, here is a pair of Go Coffee Run slippers from Sorel.
Go Coffee Run slippers from Sorel
And these are vintage Swedish traditional reindeer shoes. Similar footwear pieces were popular among Scandinavians. They were always made from real animal fur, flat-soled, and often embellished with traditional embroidery, pompons, weaving patterns, etc.
Swedish traditional reindeer shoes
Both pairs are flat-soled, extremely comfy to wear, and warm.
And here are a bit similar fur ballet flats by Emme Parsons made from sheep shearling. They are also extremely simple and comfortable.
Ballet flats from Emme Parsons
Fall 2021 shoe trend #2
Mules of various design
Mules are among the most fashionable shoe styles this fall season. They can be made from leather, faux fur, suede, etc. Simple and unadorned mules are trendy now, unlike most vintage 17th-18th-century mules.
Here are suede slipper mules from Manolo Blahnik.
Suede slipper mules from Manolo Blahnik
And these British mules are from the early 17th century. They are from The Met Museum.
British mules from the early 17th century
The designs of these two pairs of shoes are very similar. They both have a leather sole, a tiny heel, a deep upper part. But the vintage shoes are a lot more elaborately decorated.
Fall 2021 shoe trend #3
Slouchy boots
This is a curious trend for high boots. They look pretty and unusual. And you would think it’s a modern and fresh idea but not really. Just compare these pairs of designer and vintage boots.
These are leather slouchy boots from Manolo Blahnik.
Leather slouchy boots from Manolo Blahnik
And another lovely pair of tall boots from Free People.
Tall slouch boots from Free People
But just look at these vintage traditional boots from Ukraine, the late 19th – early 20th century. They’re even more intricately slouched, more like sort of pleated. The pleats were not only good-looking but added extra comfort to the shoe.
Vintage traditional boots from Ukraine, the late 19th – early 20th century
