The Nostalgic Wedge Sandal Is Officially a Summer Shoe Trend (Again)

Publish date: 0001-01-01

The wedge sandal is a powerful shoe, both because of its hefty, chock-shaped heel and the nostalgia that comes with it. The chunky style takes you back to clomping around in the aughts wearing your best wedge sandals—likely a comfy cork style or a bohemian summer espadrille that announces your arrival. In yet another demonstration of its fashion prowess, the wedge sandal has again become a pivotal summer 2024 accessory trend.

The platform's revival can be traced back to the celeb-studded front row of Chloé's Fall 2024 show this past February—starring actresses Sienna Miller and Kiernan Shipka, British It girl Georgia May Jagger, and veteran supermodel Pat Cleveland, who unanimously sported identical open-toe wooden wedges that nod back to the designer's bohemian spirited past. Set on a mammoth mahogany platform with scribbles of arrow-pierced hearts and "I love you"s, Chloé's Maximime platforms are audacious, romantic, and softly '70s—the designer wedge at its very best.

Emme Parsons Suede Wedge Sandals

Castañer Blaudell 80 Suede Wedge Espadrilles

Chloé Maxime Leather Crisscross Platform Sandals

A TikTok shared by Vogue France chronicling the coordinating FROW moment amassed over three million views, with commenters rejoicing in the wedge sandal's return to fashion's limelight. Replies like, "I can pull mine back out of the closet now?!?! Yeah!!" and "YES!! I'm a wedge girl through and through" flooded the publication's video comment section, indicating a longtime craving for the chunky shoe's comeback.

St. Agni Leather Wedge Sandals

Stuart Weitzman Wovette Wedge Sandal

Stella McCartney Women's Elyse Wedge Platform Sandals

Though Chloé's A-list guests and sentimental TikTok commentators are not the only ones who adore the hefty heel, Katie Holmes repeatedly takes the wedge sandal trend out on her signature strolls throughout downtown Manhattan. This March, the star wore a classic rope espadrille by Franco Sarto that boasts an amenable price tag of $115 (Holmes is, after all, a famed fan of affordable basics). Then, in early June, she slipped into a black cross-strap and croc-embossed wedge sandal from Holmes's collection with A.P.C., named the Juliette.

Chloé Black & White Nama Platform Sandals

Franco Sarto Clemens Ankle Strap Platform Wedge Sandal

Vince Camuto Jefany Ankle Strap Wedge Sandal

Just as Holmes's wedge sandals span across the style spectrum, 2024’s wedge sandal trend caters to an assortment of aesthetics, ranging from '70s-era bohème to think and strappy kitten heels set on a 45-degree angle.

Ferragamo sells sculptural, slanted, and T-strap heels in a nod to the fashion house’s founder, Salvatore Ferragamo, whose Sardinian cork wedges are widely credited with bringing the shoe into fashion's mainstream circa 1930's. Meanwhile, Khaite offers a mesh iteration of its cult-favorite Marion mule, and Christian Dior has espadrille wedges with lace-up gladiator straps that combine two 2010s fashion trends in one shoe—what a bargain!

Khaite Marion Embellished Leather Wedge Sandals

Reformation Emilia Wedge Sandal

Ferragamo Anemone 70mm Leather Wedge Sandals

As New York Times chief fashion critic Vanessa Friedman wrote in her review of Chloé’s recent runway, “Get ready to wear a lot of wedges again.” It's official—the wedge sandal is back with a bang.

Shop the Wedge Sandal Trend

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