Spring’s Satin Shoe Trend Stole the Show at the Oscars

I love the glitz of award season—the jaw-dropping gowns, the bold beauty looks, the perfectly coiffed Old Hollywood waves.

But if I’m being honest, these grand fashion moments only hold my attention for so long. What always leaves a lasting impression? The shoes. A shoe person through and through, I treat A-list events as a crystal ball for the next big footwear trends, and this year’s Oscars red carpet didn’t disappoint. Amid the usual parade of glossy leather heels, a softer, more unexpected style quietly stole the show—a trend so compelling that I also spotted it making waves on the streets of Italy throughout the past few days of Milan Fashion Week..

Rather than the metallic leather pairs we usually see, celebrities gravitated towards something altogether more delicate: satin shoes. Subtly shimmering and effortlessly elegant, this refined shoe trend quietly enhanced the evening’s best outfits.

Take Kaia Gerber, who wore a pair of Manolo Blahnik satin court shoes in a pearlescent white, complementing the ethereal layers of her flowing maxi dress without distracting from its beautiful intricacies.

Once reserved almost exclusively for brides, satin heels have been making a slow and steady return to the mainstream, no longer confined to shades of ivory and cream. Case in point: Natasha Bryant also opted for a pair of Manolo Blahnik heels, yet this time in black. She styled hers with an all-black ensemble for a striking silhouette without the starkness of glossy or patent leather.

Meanwhile, Emma Stone and Felicity Jones leaned into the trend with barely-there beige and champagne-hued pairs, their shoes blending seamlessly into the sweeping hems of their gowns.

Elsewhere in Europe, the very same shoe trend has been making waves amongst the Milanese style set. Stepping out for fashion week events, this elegant shoe emerged as one of the few silhouettes favoured across the board.