Step Into FW24's Favorite Shoe Trend: Furry Footwear

Fresh into the new year, the internet and fashion pundits alike claimed the mob wife aesthetic as a trend that's here to stay. As a result, we slowly saw fur permeating our wardrobes, feeds and most recently, the Fall/Winter 2024 runways.

However, beyond traditional fur and faux fur coats, this fashion month introduced furry shoes. From Paris to Milan, designers showcased sneakers, heels and boots with everything from short stubbly fur to elaborate mane-like textures.

Consumers, too, have caught on since furry footwear's debut on runways this season. Depop reported a 133% increase in searches for "faux fur/fuzzy shoes" this week and Google Trends shared a 45% spike in searches for the same during Paris Fashion Week.

More generally, novelty footwear has had the internet in a frenzy this past year. Predecessors like the famous Loewe balloon heels, red MSCHF boots and frog JW Anderson slides paved the path for fur shoes of all kinds. Perhaps the feeble state of the economy makes playful footwear an easy way for both designers and consumers to experiment and add a layer of fun to an otherwise recession-core landscape.

Whatever the reason, fun and furry shoes aren't going anywhere. Take a look at some of our favorite furry moments from FW24 fashion week shows below. In other footwear news, check out Axel Arigato's new onyx sneaker.

David Koma

David Koma's incorporation of fur shoes feels like a girly dream. The designer pairs large, flat and floppy fur heels with chic color-coordinating dresses and two-piece sets.

Masha Popova

The queen of Y2K, Masha Popova brings her take to furry shoes this season; paired with slouching-shoulder graphic tees and printed jeans. Popova treats furry shoes as a neutral and through her design introduces texture without detracting from the overall ensemble.

Ferragamo

Monochrome and leather ruled the runway at Ferragamo's FW24 show. Yet, the '20s inspired collection stayed true to the liberated era with its spunky use of fur in its footwear. Models strutted the runway in heels with long and dragging fur, resembling costume bear paws, and booties with strings of fur lined along the side.

Versace

This season, Versace had fun with fur, presenting us with three different iterations of furry shoes. The first is similar to the chunky and stringy fur shoes we've seen across runways, with Versace choosing a point toe heel rather than the, more common, rounded ones. The second iteration is a platform, knee-high leopard print boot resembling the animal-fur texture. Lastly, a mule like shoe was unveiled with fur that imitates and curls like human hair.

Acne Studios

Acne Studios kept things simple, presenting heels lined one strap lined with fur. The fur on the heels most closely resembles the texture we're used to seeing on fur coats– fluffy, soft and homogenous. The brand styles the heels with its structured, statement leather dresses.

Diesel

An exploration of voyeurism, Diesel'sMilan Fashion Week show incorporated fur shoes in subtle ways. The footwear perfectly blends into the otherwise loud and experimental fur ensembles throughout the collection. Stand out pairs include the cozy all white boots, the tan boots with hanging fur bits and the fur lined leopard clogs.

MM6 and GCDS

Staged during Milan Fashion Week, both the MM6 and GCDS shows had a one-off fur moment. In collaboration with Hello Kitty, GCDS created the cutest kitten heels that Hello Kitty herself would approve of. On the other hand, MM6 debuted a sleek point toe pump with calf-hair textured fur and a silhouette resembling no show socks.