The Trendy, Anti-Flat Shoe Fashion People in London, New York and Milan Are Wearing Nonstop

As a fashion editor, you won’t be surprised to hear that Fashion Month is my favourite time of the year. Weeks of inspiration on tap, it’s a pleasure to see my own city light up with excitement, but even more affirming to the see the event manifest itself differently in each fashion capital.

Ever energised by the fizz of fashion month, I can’t help but dive into street style and runway shots the moment I get a chance. And, having sorted through countless images I noticed that there’s a specific shoe trend permeate fashion crowds across the world this year.

A fresh silhouette for autumn 2024, the leopard print heel was the shoe of choice for showgoers in New York, London, Milan and Copenhagen this September and, at this rate, I don’t see its popularity slowing down before Paris either.

A stark difference from the black mary janes and ballet flats that have dominated street style scene since last September, this season’s It shoe explores a flirtier side of fashion, almost always featuring a sleek, skinny heel and, of course, the lavish print.

Pleased, but not surprised, to see the trend out in force—fashion people will know that the A/W 2024 runways were rife with the feline print. Now, with brands backing the motif in a big way, it makes sense that those most-in tune with the latest trends have rushed to add leopard print heeled shoes to their looks this season.

A Copenhagen Fashion Week attendee styled leopard print slingbacks to a show in August this year.

Of the leopard print heels trotting down the streets right now, it’s slingback styles that are really taking off. Spotted dashing across the pavements of London last weekend, Who What Wear UK’s own deputy editor, Maxine Eggenberger, styled a sleek kitten-heel pair with a suede trench coat and a crisp white shirt for her days worth of front-row appointments.