As society evolved throughout the ages, shoes are not merely worn for functionality, but to make a statement that speaks to a person’s originality and personal style. In the Greek and Roman periods, people choose to wear sandals. In fact, the thinner the sandals were, the higher ranked in status an individual was. On the other hand, in the Baroque era, it was a culture of expensive materials and colors. Shoes speak louder than words.

Here are the trendiest footwear styles today:

1. Kitten heels
Kitten heels are shoes with a low feminine-shaped heel that is relatively around 1.5 to 1.75 inches. It surged in popularity in the 50s and 60s for becoming a great alternative to high heels. These shoes allow an individual to remain comfortable, but classy at the same time. Some examples of the Kitten Heel are the Sam Edelman Dori Pumps, the SCHUTZ Kone Slingback Pumps and the Jeffrey Campbell Khara Sandals.

2. Metallic loafers
Loafers are slip-on shoes that can be worn for formal or casual occasions. In addition, they don’t require lacing and are quite flexible, so it is beneficial to senior citizens. Loafers originated from moccasins worn by Native Americans. In the 1930s, they gained popularity when American companies started addressing them as loafers. Some examples of these shoes are the Marsèll Metallic Loafers, the Beya Metallic Leather Loafers from Saks Fifth Avenue and the London Rebel Loafers.

3. Espadrille sandals
Espadrille sandals are “sandals made of canvas, with soles of varying heights decorated with rope”. The origins of the sandals date back to Southern French and Northern Spain as far back as the 13th century. They were worn globally, but did not reach popularity in America until the 1940s. In modern times, these sandals are an exceedingly widespread trend in Europe for their ability to be fashionable, but also provide comfort to whoever chooses to wear them. Some examples of these sandals are the Charlotte Espadrille, the Lauren Espadrille Sandal and the Brighton Espadrille Sandal.

4. Platform sneakers
Platform sneakers resemble traditional athletic sneakers, however its performance is sacrificed for a beautiful aesthetic. The popularity of platform shoes dates back to the 70s in which they were recognized as the party shoes. Initially, they were typically worn by women in their teens or early twenties. However, as they were getting more popular, more people, including celebrities would wear them. Today, platform styled sneakers can be seen everywhere from model runways to Instagram pages. Some examples of these types of sneakers are the Vans Platform Slip-on Sneaker, the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Canvas Lift and the Steve Madden Wedge Sneaker.

5. Heels with chain details
Chain details heels are heels with a chain attached to fit around the ankle. Once Bottega Veneta’s creative director, Daniel Lee, debuted the label’s cult stretch heels adorned with gold chains for Pre-Fall 2019, the trend of chained shoes followed. Chained shoes can easily elevate simple fashion pieces such as jeans and knitwear. Examples of these chained heels include the Heeled Leather Mules from Zara, the Olivia Chained Wrapped Pumps from Brother Vellies and Gina Embellished Leather Sandals.