Fun Forward. For Footwear, SS23 will be a season of creative outburst to develop surprising hybrids with a fashionable edge, while celebrating essentials with a somewhat nostalgic value. The season’s highlights certainly include the ballet flat, which has grown by +70% YOY or the house slipper that saw a +159% increase. Those homey styles return to the essentials or surprise in extreme  interpretations by opting for pneumatic or gummy soles. For SS23, we can see heels maintain their pre-pandemic revenge moment to dress-up with a +111% YOY spike. Designers are even looking at flat staples like the flip-flop, sock or ballet flat to put onto a heel and to develop creative new looks. Other important heels remain the platform and mule, especially in pointy styles with a Y2K allure, in wedges and in modernized Mary Janes with grungy features. Talking about subversive, darker notions, the goth-inspired Oxford, punky details and a workwear undertone have infused an array of products as well. Bent-heels and sleek outlines and other slightly odd elements are defining such styles for SS23. But at the same time, to soften this harsher feeling of a summer season, glass-elements, soft-touch sock styles, florals and delicate lacing are integrating a dreamy and historic notion. Mixing such opposing worlds is creating a universe in line with a current #whimsigoth trend and take us on experimental routes. At the same time, the appeal of craft and authentic shapes with raw attributes continues from previous seasons. This stable trend is supported by a growth of cowboy boots with +50% for SS23 and emerging crafty, chunky lace and straw styles. Generally, SS23 sees several micro trends infiltrate the category and create innovative statements. Check all the need-to-know below: