From slingback styles and two-tone pumps to ballet flats and loafers, our favorite styles are getting a fresh update while retaining their timeless appeal.
The retro inspiration of the 1980s remains more relevant than ever. The era of excess continues to inspire contemporary fashion, with iconic shoe designs making a strong comeback on the runway and in street style. Today, these designs are being revived on the runways where, although they have been reimagined, they retain the same sophisticated spirit that defined them decades ago.
80s-style shoes that are in fashion in the summer of 2026
Although there were many shoes that defined the 1980s, these are the styles that have never gone out of fashion and are now considered summer favorites:
The Ballerinas
Ballet flats held a special place in the fashion of those years, as they were considered a comfortable choice, moving away from the classic and austere image they had previously been associated with through the creations of designers such as Christian Dior and Elsa Schiaparelli.
Ballerinas, Ayede.
T-Bar Shoes
The 1980s had a soft spot for classics; for some reason, Madonna’s wardrobe consisted of items like white T-shirts, mini-skirts, and socks. However, it was the way these pieces were presented—and, in fact, reimagined—that made the style so significant. That’s why Yves Saint Laurent chose a shoe with a history: a pair of T-bar pumps. Combinations like this would become a benchmark in the years to come.
Sandals, Jude.
Slingbacks
The reason stars like Amal Clooney and Lily-Rose Depp wear slingbacks is that this particular style hasn’t gone out of fashion. A little daring and very distinctive—that’s how this style can be described—it’s the perfect way to create striking outfits.
Pumps, Alaia.
Loafers
There are shoes that never go out of style, and that’s exactly the case with loafers. They were once considered the epitome of the preppy aesthetic. The trend was so strong that it influenced the following decade, where the seeds sown by Giorgio Armani in 1987—with trousers, a white shirt, and a loose-fitting jacket—would take root, becoming the foundation of many minimalist outfits.
Two-tone shoes
Although Chanel wasn’t the only fashion house to feature two-tone shoes on its runways, it was the one that turned them into a signature of the brand. Rooted in the history of its founder, Coco Chanel, these shoes were introduced in the 1980s with a slimmer heel, modernising the design without straying from their classic style.
Slingbacks, Roger Vivier.
