Shoes from the 80s that will be back in fashion in summer 2025

These 5 shoes from the 80s are back in fashion!

The fashion of the 80s is hard to forget—the shoulder pads, for example, or the bright colors. But the unusual shoes from the past decade are also legendary and will be worn all over again in summer 2025—including ballet flats, slingbacks, and two-tone pumps. VOGUE reveals which models are back on the runway—and the streets—and how they're being combined today.

#1 Ballerinas

In the 1930s, designers like Christian Dior, Elsa Schiaparelli, and Yves Saint Laurent launched the first ballet flats, which were celebrated not only for their elegance but also for their comfort. Later, in the 1980s, Princess Diana also became a big fan of the silhouette, while Kate Moss and Alexa Chung were among its followers in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Perry Ellis introduced a simple white model in 1987, which she paired with a clean, white look down the runway.

After disappearing from the scene for a few years, these models have made their way back to the top in recent seasons. While classic designs dominated the '80s, ballerinas today are more playful – for example, in mesh or PVC , with leopard or reptile prints. At Chloé, for example, Chemena Kamali presented a lace-up boho version of the shoes, which she combined with a flowing pink set.

#2 Slingbacks

Speaking of elegant shoes: Slingbacks, those with straps around the heel, were part of women's work uniforms in the 1980s. In 1987, when so-called power dressing was in full swing, a design that was comfortable yet formal was needed. Giorgio Armani chose slingbacks for his collection that year, pairing them with pleated trousers, a blouse, and a blazer with wide shoulder pads.

In 2025, slingbacks are especially popular with kitten heels – as brands like Jacquemus, Contessa Mills, and Tamara Ralph confirm. The latter opted for a black version of the slingbacks and combined them with a velvet off-the-shoulder blouse and a midi skirt with pearl embellishment.

#3 T-bar sandals

Drawing inspiration from past decades is nothing new. And while '80s fashion gave the world a blend of opulence, sensuality, and drama, it also brought back many elements of the '20s—like long necklaces and T-bar sandals . Givenchy, for example, introduced a polka-dotted style in 1988, paired with a strapless dress in the same pattern.

There was a time when T-bar shoes were considered old-fashioned. Now, in the summer of 2025, these historic and effortlessly elegant shoes are finding favor again. Christopher Esber, a brand with Australian roots, gave them a modern twist with a mesh version, styled with a minimalist ensemble of a white halter top and black trousers.

#4 Oxford shoes

In the late 1980s, minimalism, which would shape the years to come, slowly began to establish itself. A style characterized by androgynous accessories, such as Oxford shoes. Ralph Lauren had already introduced them with heels in 1985; Helmut Lang and Yohji Yamamoto then blurred gender boundaries with versions that were almost identical to the men's shoes. Lang paired them with a long-sleeved turtleneck dress, while Yamamoto paired them with an oversized white vest and a blue satin skirt.

Oxford shoes were a recurring theme throughout Loewe's Spring/Summer 2025 collection. Instead of styling them into equally androgynous looks, as was the case back then, Jonathan Anderson created a style twist by pairing them with romantic, playful floral and babydoll dresses.

#5 Two-tone pumps

Chanel in the 1980s embodied a luxury characterized by tweed sets, pearl jewelry—andtwo-tone pumps . Founder Coco Chanel often wore a low-heeled pair herself. In 1982 (a year before Karl Lagerfeld joined the French fashion house), two-tone pumps were seen on the runway, paired with a white dress, a black blazer, gloves, belts, and long pearl necklaces.

While these classic black and cream pumps continue to be seen at Chanel, there are houses like Nina Ricci and Balmain that offer more unusual interpretations of the two-tone models—but still in the same style. For summer 2025, for example, Balmain opted for a red and gold version paired with a tweed miniskirt and matching jacket.

This article originally appeared on Vogue.mx .

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