Fashion People in Paris and NYC Swear By This Luxe Shoe Trend

If there’s one thing women in Paris and New York City have in common, it’s this: They know how to dress in a high-value way. Whether they’re stepping out from the Ritz or having lunch on the Upper East Side, stylish Parisians and New Yorkers are highly equipped to put together expensive-looking outfits. Over the years, they’ve used a variety of different items to do this, but in 2025, one of their tried-and-true tricks is a patent leather shoe, with Chanel’s new mocassins being every fashion girl’s favorite.

TikTok’s favorite model-turned-chef Nara Smith is one such fan. Smith was spotted over the weekend in NYC wearing a luxurious chocolate-brown fur wrap coat, black trousers, and a pair of the viral and hard-to-find Chanel flats, which debuted on the runway at the French fashion house’s Resort 2025 show in Marseille. With that pairing, she added a chunky gray sweater, black tights, gold jewelry, and a black top-handle clutch.

On Nara Smith: Chanel Patent Leather Moccasins ($1225)

Smith was hardly the first fashion person to put the popular shoes to work, with big-deal content creators like Veronika Heilbrunner and Sophia Roe both wearing their pairs to Chanel’s Haute Couture show that took place last week in Paris. Heilbrunner styled hers with tights adorned with floral brooches and a tweed skirt set, while Roe took a simpler approach, donning her flats with sheer tights and a leather knee-length dress.

But Chanel isn’t the only brand making footwear more elevated with the use of patent leather. Saint Laurent, Khaite, Alaïa, and Toteme all too have used the glossy material to level up their shoe collections in recent seasons, much to the delight of chic women everywhere. Scroll down to shop the best pairs on the market right now.

Shop patent leather shoes: