Fall Footwear: Blending Bows and Buckles
Written by Gabi Beard
Fashionable footwear pulls an outfit together, and what is a trendy outfit if it’s not completed by the perfect shoe? The duality of fashion lives in every season, and this fall, footwear trends are split between two aesthetics: balletcore and bikercore. 2025 style is more adaptable than ever – there are endless vibes to embrace and countless ways to express each one. In today’s fashion landscape, two eras coexist: dainty and edgy. This season especially, we’re seeing the two collide – balletcore bringing bows, satin, and mesh flats reminiscent of Mary Janes, while bikercore embraces bold boots, buckles, and platforms. These trends stand on opposite ends of the spectrum, but can they intertwine? This fall, grunge meets femme. On campus, that means swapping your summer slides for something that can handle both the commute to class and late-night plans.
These contrasting styles reflect the moods shaping today’s fashion. Ballet flats are making a major comeback, embracing nostalgia and femininity. This look fits perfectly into the “clean girl” aesthetic, pulling together a graceful, elegant, and effortless look. Ballet flats are incredibly versatile – they can dress up a pair of jeans, complement any pants, and add a delicate touch to skirts and dresses. They’re perfect for days when you’re running around from class or a coffee study session, but still want to look put-together. They’re also a great option when you want to dress up your outfit but still keep the comfort of a flat – perfect for days when you have a presentation or an interview. Chic and professional, yet comfortable.
A variety of flats are being shown in soft neutrals and muted shades to complement seasonal colors such as deep maroons and rich browns. However, there are also so many fun colors in flats to dress up and bring life and vibrancy to a classic outfit. From delicate prints to lace bows, there are so many fun options to choose from to create a soft, timeless, and classy look.
At the same time, fall footwear is also embracing bikercore aesthetics with chunky boots and edgy platforms trending at an all time high. Boots are everywhere this season, being worked into almost every outfit. For students, boots are the ultimate go-to, and they are ideal for walking across campus in chilly weather or complimenting your outfit for a game or a night out.
Whether you want to throw them on under jeans for a casual class fit or wear them with a skirt to go out at night, they can be easily dressed up or down. They can easily elevate the style of a basic outfit with low effort required. Knee-high boots with straps and buckles pair effortlessly with skirts, shorts, or longer pants, adding height and grunge. This aesthetic cherishes an edgy style, making shoes the statement piece that can tie together or elevate any outfit. Platform loafers have especially been a huge shoe trending this year. They’re similar to ballet flats but with a bolder twist, this look also offers a timeless, classy, and polished look in a different way. With loafers making a major comeback this year, they reflect the nostalgic moments our generation cherishes, making classic high-fashion styles to fit today’s modern cultural and fashion moments. These chunkier shoes are typically being worn in brown and black shades, serving as neutral color staples to be worn to match several other colors and compliment the deeper and darker shades of fall. They can also come in bolder and brighter colors to add a stylish pop of color to an outfit, creating a more personalized touch to a classic look.
Looking at our cultural moment, we are seeing these two styles being intermixed and working to compliment each other, blending edge and femme. Influencers like Hailey Bieber and Bella Hadid have popularized this approach, inspiring looks such as pairing delicate flats with a grungy black leather jacket and slouchy blue jeans, or styling glossy leather knee-high boots with a lace minidress. Our era of fashion is bringing nostalgic and timeless footwear to modern day outfit trends, mixing edge and class. This combination is trending on campus as students are pairing oversized jeans with flats, or matching cozy knit sweaters with leather boots. Mixing the grungy and delicate femme look on campus is never a bad choice and is always a classic go to look for class when you want to be stylish yet cozy. These fall statement shoes are a way to express individual style and creativity, and combining textures like leather, satin, mesh, and suede adds character and personality to any outfit.
There are also so many ways to accessorize these shoes from socks to tights to stockings. Whether it is sheer tights or lace socks, there is so much character that can be added to a look through adding these accessories. These small touches can bring a look together, complimenting both the shoe and the overall seasonal aesthetic of the outfit. These accessories not only add style and flair to the outfit, but also provide warmth for the cooler fall months.
Fall footwear isn’t just about the shoes themselves – it’s also about how you style them. Both softness and edge in these looks can complete any outfit, making them ideal fall shoes for a polished and trendy look. Depending on the vibe you want to go for, both styles can make you feel confident in different ways. The fun part of fall footwear is curating your ideal outfit through your own style and creativity, using these shoes to embrace both grunge and femme existing at the same time. Whether you’re walking to your 9 a.m., heading to a club social, or dressing up for game day, fall footwear can transform how you show up. No matter where you are heading, the right pair of shoes can bring confidence to every step.
Edited by Bailey Young, Isabella Zapata and Ana Massoglia
