The 2023 Heel Trend Report

Heels are one of the most classic pieces of footwear – and are also one of the best ways to “elevate” any outfit. But with so many shapes, styles, and colors it’s sometimes hard to navigate the world of heel trends. That’s where we come in – our Stylight Insights team analyzed the shopping and browsing behavior of our 120 million annual shoppers to understand which heel trends are getting all the hype. We’ve collected some of the top trends that have stepped into the spotlight – some are classics reinvented while others are breakout stars, Stylight is here to walk you through 7 Heel Trends of 2023!

Net (Nothing but Net)

Mermaidcore took over almost every social media channel this summer – influencing make-up, hair, clothing, and of course shoes. Mesh or net-like material has been seen everywhere, but particularly pumps, heeled sandals, and mules. Big fashion houses like MiuMiu, Bottega Veneta and Dolce & Gabbana have already included heels with mesh details in their current collections and on Stylight the demand for these shoes has increased by 30%.

Seen on:
Leonie Hanne, Darja Barannik 

Wavy Heels

It may have started as a micro-trend but we can already say that wavy heels will be a very hot topic in summer and in Fall 2023. For this trend, the heel does not go straight down, but rather makes a small wave, which gives any shoe, no matter how simple, an exciting look. Brands that are already making waves? Dior, Loewe, Bottega Veneta, The Attico, Proeza Schouler as well as Cult Gaia. On Stylight, wavy heels have come out of nowhere and are thus what we call a breakout trend – more info on this term at the end of our report.

Seen on:
Maria Bernad, Emy Venturini

Cinderella Heels

Heels adorned with rhinestones or precious stones have become a major trend this season, capturing the attention of many of fashion royalty as well as making their mark on the catwalks. The exquisite sparkle of rhinestones and gems adds a touch of glamor and opulence to any outfit. Leading luxury brands such as Prada, Chanel and Aquazurra have incorporated these sparkling embellishments into their collections, elevating the appeal of this new princess trend. On Stylight we’ve seen a 95% increase in demand for heels with rhinestones. And it seems like the trend has even transitioned over to heeled boots, especially since they’ve been spotted on both Taylor Swift and Beyonce during their world tour performances. On Google, searches for “rhinestone boots” have increased by 55%!

Seen on:
Caro Dauer, Tamu McPherson, Nina Suess

Transparent Heels

This heel trend may be transparent – but we still can’t take our eyes off it! We’ve seen the clear trend before (who could forget Kim Kardashian’s sweat-inducing, clear thigh-high boots in 2019), but this time around it’s way more wearable and dare we say, practical. Clear heels in all shapes and styles have been spotted on red carpets and runways – see-through panels, or clear heeled sandals, or even transparent looks in different colors. There’s a style for everyone – which is probably why this is one of the breakout trends of 2023. Brands like Acne Studios, Manolo Blahnik, and Giuseppe Zanotti have all featured heels with this style.

Seen on: 
Hailey Bieber, Kim Kardashian, Jeanne Damas, Amal Clooney 

The New Mary Janes

It’s clear that the Mary Jane is back and stronger than ever – but in 2023 they’re getting an update. While the classic Mary Jane is still trendy we’ve been spotting a new version on the streets. The signature strap that goes across the top of the foot is placed closer to the front of the shoe and is usually quite thin compared to the more classic version that has a wide strap that sits closer to the ankle. The look is becoming quite popular and has been spotted on many celebs (even on the Princess of Wales). On Stylight we’ve already seen a 17% increase in demand for the “new Mary Jane”. Jacquemus, Jimmy Choo, and Gucci are just some of the brandst that are at the forefront of this trend.

Seen on:
Kate Middleton, Xenia Adonts, Sophia Richie

Wedge Mules

Wedge mules are undoubtedly one of the must-have shoes for Summer 2023. It’s a shoe made especially for those that are fans of the Y2K style that continues to trend. It’s the perfect combination of lift and comfort, and comes in a variety of styles, colors thanks to brands like Bottega Veneta, Ganni, and Acne Studios. On Stylight, we’ve recorded a 92% increase in demand for wedge mules.

Seen on: 
Leonie Hanne, Nina Sandbech, Chloe Lecareux

Barely There Heels

Last year it was the chunky, plateau Valentino pumps, this year we’re seeing heel trends on the complete opposite side of the spectrum. The “naked” heel with barely there straps is another one of our breakout trends this summer. Cool brands like Saint Laurent and Alohas have their own versions of the shoe, but all have delicate, dainty straps. Not surprisingly, this trend has literally exploded this summer season on Stylight, experiencing a boom in clicks compared to the previous year.

Seen on: 
Khloe Kardashian, Normani, Camille Charriere, Megan Markle

About this report

Stylight is the go-to destination for online shoppers to find and compare premium fashion, home and beauty products quickly, stylishly and flawlessly across top retailers and brands. Our website has over 1500 partner shops, 120 million yearly users and we are present across 15 international markets. As part of our Stylight Insights team, we analyze key e-commerce figures and statistics on Stylight and across other channels like Google, TikTok, Instagram, and report on trends we see in the fashion, beauty, and interior industries. For this report, we analyzed Stylight numbers in a year over year comparison in the time frame of May 1 – June 25th 2023 vs the same period in 2022. In this report, the term “Breakout trend” refers to the specific instance when the trend being analyzed had no demand in the previous year. Google numbers were taken from the last 12 month period.

written by:

Rebekah Ortquist

email hidden; JavaScript is required