At Sabato De Sarno’s Gucci, the focus has been on putting the best foot forward, both literally and figuratively. The Italian designer’s debut show last September featured a striking opening look with horsebit leather platform loafers. His sophomore women’s show showcased thigh-high leather boots, and for his cruise debut in London on Monday evening, the footwear in the opening look combined the elegance of ballet pointe shoes with Gucci’s iconic horsebit emblem.
Notably absent from the collection were stiletto heels, signaling a shift towards more comfortable and practical footwear. The show also prominently featured chunky horsebit loafers paired with white socks adorned with Gucci’s signature green and red stripes. All the shoes in the collection were designed for navigating the urban landscape, blending glamour with practicality through suede and satin fabrications and triple straps.
According to Net-a-porter’s fall 2024 seasonal report, flat shoes are having a significant impact on the fashion market. The retailer sold 8,500 pairs of ballet flats since January, with 13 percent of those sales attributed to Alaïa, known for its mesh, perforated leather, and crystal-embellished designs.
“The resurgence of flat shoes is a testament to the casualization of fashion we’ve seen over the past year. Sales of flat shoes are up by nearly 20 percent compared to last year, driven by the popularity of Alaïa ballet flats, which were the ‘It’ shoe of 2023 and continue to dominate,” said Libby Page, market director at Net-a-porter, in January.
Other flat shoes that are quickly selling out on Net-a-porter’s website include Chloé’s Rebecca Sandals and various styles from The Row.