Ballet flats, loafers, closed-toe shoes, clogs, mary janes, and even knee-high boots are the trendy styles for fall, and retailers are in position to deliver on those trends.
“Based on our checks, we believe ballet flats and mary janes, boots, clogs, heels and loafers are likely to be fall favorites this season,” said Dana Telsey, chief investment officer at Telsey Advisory Group (TAG).
And while athletic performance sneakers have continue to fare better than lifestyle shoes, the casual sport lifestyle footwear styles fell year-over-year, according to data from Circana, which noted that performance footwear dollar growth rose 6 percent year-over-year in the first half of 2026. And in her review of shoe trends, brands and retailers, Telsey also noted the footwear firms benefiting from consumers shifting away from athleisure.
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Telsey said that the call-outs for the ballet and mary jane styles from Adidas, Birkenstock, Caleres and Steve Madden in their recent earnings calls was because these styles can be dressed up or down. “We are seeing a lot of suede, velvet and animal print,” she said noting the round, square and split-toe shapes as the preferred toe shapes.
Boots generally have a strong fall and winter selling season. Given early reads from retailers and brands, Telsey said styles for fall include ankle, heeled from kitten to high, moto, slouchy, rain and western, among other styles. She cited Steve Madden as one shoe firm that is “delivering trend-right styles across brands.” She also noted Caleres’ Famous Footwear as a retailer leaning into more fashion styles for fall, and that its Stuart Weitzman brand will be celebrating its “iconic knee-high boot.”
“Chocolate brown and brown suede appear to be the choice of the season,” Telsey said.
The TAG analyst also cited clogs — and even mules — as “having a moment within casual footwear,” adding that the trend is led by the strength and heritage of Birkenstock’s Boston clog. “We believe the trends are led by the strength and heritage of Birkenstock’s Boston clog,” she said. “Birkenstock is celebrating the style’s 50th anniversary in 2026 and is continuing to influence many other brands’ clog and mule offerings.”
Also expanding an array of clogs and mules are the Dolce Vita and Steve Madden brands, a part of Steve Madden Ltd., and the Sam Edelman brand, which is part of Caleres Inc. “Many clog styles are unisex, but there are also more feminine styles with heels and embellishments,” such as buckles, fabric type and rivets, the TAG analyst noted.
Another shoe style expected to do well is the loafer, particularly as women want a stylish dress-up shoe for work. “We believe women are turning to loafers for exactly that, a polished shoe to complete any fall outfit,” Telsey said. She noted that Deckers Brands is “evolving its Ugg offering with less reliance on cold weather and injecting more fashion, like ballet flats and loafers.”
The return to dressing up for work and social outings are also creating a demand for high heels, “from cone shaped to stiletto, kitten to high, stacked to wedge, and strappy and metallic to a classic pump,” Telsey observed. “Women are using heels to instantly elevate an outfit, and are adding the style across corporate, event, and casual uses.” She also noted that heeled-shoes are seeing simiarl color tones and materials similar to other shoe categories, “with an emphasis on browns, reds, suedes, and animal prints, with a bit more metallic and shine.”
One retailer expected to benefit is Dick’s Sporting Goods, Telsey noted, as it is expanding its casual assortment mix with strength in Birkenstock and Ugg brands.
Among other brands and retailers, Telsey said that Abercrombie & Fitch is growing its footwear assortment and providing head-to-toe looks, while Macy’s shoe merchandising emphasizes fall trends across styles at both its Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s banners.
Also expected to have a good third quarter is Designer Brands, particularly as women’s dress category was a “bright spot” in the second quarter. Telsey also noted that as back-to-school moves to the rearview mirror, athletic becomes a smaller part of the business and an increase in dress and boots becomes the focus.
And Telsey also noted Urban Outfitters’ Anthropologie accessory category, which in the second quarter comped positive due to strong performance in footwear. Key footwear categories for the specialty chain include sneakers, boots, flats and heels.
