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Florals for spring may not be especially groundbreaking, but how many pairs of botanical-themed shoes are in your rotation? Crisp white sneakers and neutral-toned summer sandals are warm weather essentials, but there’s nothing like a punchy pop of posies to breathe new life into a capsule wardrobe. Avant-garde-n prints, intricate adornments, and playful color accents are quick and simple way to refresh everyday outfits for the sunny season ahead without a wardrobe overhaul. And, off the heels of the “Garden of Time”–themed Met Gala, along with a hefty harvest of blooming shoe releases, flowery footwear has never felt fresher.
The floral trend has been budding since 2020, back when plant parents embraced mentally-healing hobbies that cultivated their green thumbs while slow-living Cottagecore and garden-inspired aesthetics grew deep roots on TikTok FYPs. A beautiful bouquet or potted plant can obviously bring a smile to any face, but a study at Rutgers University found that the mere presence of florals is proven to relieve stress and positively effect lasting emotional wellbeing, similar to mood-boosting hues in color psychology. As fashion reflects the attitude of the culture, it’s no wonder that so many labels and street style trendsetters are embracing ornate florals and organic textures in modern silhouettes.
A meadow’s worth of nature-inspired sneakers, sandals, and dress shoes have sprouted over just the last year, from upcycled slip-on sneakers inspired by garden tool canvas tote bags by Vault by Vans X Nicole McLaughlin in March 2023 to Cariuma’s editor-loved sustainable sneaker collaboration that plucked inspiration from Van Gogh’s moody floral landscape last summer. Most recently, Rihanna’s spring-ready Fenty x Puma Creeper Phatty Earth Tone sneaker collection that embraced terrestrial, garden shed themes in its campaign imagery instantly sold out upon release, while almost every size of Hoka’s brand new Vibrant Bloom spring collection, which adorns cult-favorite walking shoes with flowering embroidery, have been swiped up within just over a week.
Elevated ’90s-inspired clogs that run parallel with an increasing interest toward gardening are seeing a long-awaited resurgence, as seen framed in gold rivets at Chloé’s Fall 2024 runway, on the feet of Josh O’Connor at the 2024 Met Gala in upholstery-like, opulent beaded floral print by Loewe, or in blooming uppers from affordable brands like Dansko.
Similarly, on the high-style front, flowery dress shoes, which previously trended as whimsical designer garden-party shoes in 2016, have proved to be some of the most block-busting offerings of the season across a range of floral motifs. Larroudé x Gabriela Noelle’s ’60s-mod sandals and mules, described by Marina Larroudé as “wearable, interactive works of art,” nearly sold out in mere days following their debut, while Khaite’s ever-popular Marcy Flats (donned by the likes of Gigi Hadid and Jennifer Lawrence) have refreshed last summer’s ‘quiet luxury’ mesh flat trend with delicate, three-dimensional floral embroidery to replicate lilacs and sweet rose buds.
From paisley-like liberty prints, screen-printed jacquard, rosette strap appliqués, and exciting pop-art adornments, there’s a contemporary crop of floral iterations that bring style points to any ensemble. Whether your style POV leans into muted neutrals or colorful hues, flowery themes invite visual texture and intrigue, while multicolor prints allow plenty of room to play with pairing colors.
Below, Footwear News Shop editors curated floral flats, sandals, mules and sneakers that are in full bloom for spring and summer 2024. Stop and smell the roses as you scroll — these fresh picks offer a bounty of botanical beauty.
Top Floral Flats for Women
Saks Fifth Avenue Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4/5 stars Store Badge on Google: 4.5/5 stars
Price upon publish date of this article: $495
Saks Fifth Avenue Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4/5 stars
Price upon publish date of this article: $450
Price upon publish date of this article: $950
Top Floral Sandals
Price upon publish date of this article: $330
Price upon publish date of this article: $318
Price upon publish date of this article: $395
Price upon publish date of this article: $262.50
Price upon publish date of this article: $1,145
Top Floral Mules and Clogs
Price upon publish date of this article: $145
Price upon publish date of this article: $159.60
MyTheresa Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.7/5 stars
Price upon publish date of this article: $875
MyTheresa Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.7/5 stars
Price upon publish date of this article: $1,200
Top Floral Sneakers
Price upon publish date of this article: $145
Hoka Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.3/5 stars
Price upon publish date of this article: $170
Price upon publish date of this article: $125
Price upon publish date of this article: $122.50
Price upon publish date of this article: $159
Price upon publish date of this article: $170
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Meet the Author
Olivia Cigliano is a Commerce Writer & Producer at Footwear News and WWD where she writes and edits shopping content on the best-rated footwear, TikTok style trends, and more. Olivia received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Emerson College, and her byline can be found in publications including Elite Daily and CR Fashion Book.
