Spring 2027 fashion month brought out-of-the-box footwear from New York to Paris, with designers showcasing pom-pom Courrèges designs, bug-inspired Thom Browne pumps, playing card-detailed Chanel heels, and tennis ball-heeled Lacoste sneakers during the recent presentations.
What You Need to Know About Spring 2027 Footwear
- Courrèges introduced low-to-the-ground heels and flats featuring feathered pom-pom details that extended up the leg or served as a belt.
- Thom Browne debuted colorful bug-inspired heels drawing influence from the film A Bug’s Life.
- Lacoste experimented with sneakers incorporating an actual tennis ball into the heel design during its Paris presentation.
Courrèges and Givenchy Embrace Pom-Poms in Paris
Fashion month consistently delivers boundary-pushing accessories, and the spring 2027 ready-to-wear presentations proved no exception. Backstage at the Courrèges show held at Palais de Tokyo in Paris on September 30, 2026, low-to-the-ground, butter-yellow heels debuted alongside white ballet flat-esque bases. Both styles featured feathered pom-pom details that stretched up the model’s leg and even wrapped around the waist as a belt, as reported by WWD.
The pom-pom trend extended beyond the Palais de Tokyo. Across town, Givenchy’s Paris runway presentation incorporated large pom-pom embellishments into its footwear lineup. Alongside the fluffy accents, Givenchy’s range featured zipper-trimmed sandals built on curved, two-pronged heels.
Thom Browne and Saint Laurent Look to Nature
Designers found inspiration in the animal kingdom for the spring 2027 season. Backstage at The Shed at Hudson Yards in New York on September 15, 2026, Thom Browne displayed colorful bug-inspired heels, a direct nod to the animated film A Bug’s Life.
Meanwhile, Saint Laurent carried its overarching gold collection theme straight down to the footwear. The Parisian fashion house rounded out its spring lineup with shoes featuring sculptural snake heels. Chanel joined the animal-inspired movement with orange-and-white tiger-striped shoes boasting side cutouts and a doubled leather slingback strap, while adding playful playing card embellishments featuring black spades and red hearts to other heels on the runway.
Experimental Sneakers and Whimsical Details Across Milan and Paris
Athletic wear received a surrealist upgrade during the international fashion weeks. Lacoste experimented with sneakers featuring a tennis ball embedded directly in the heel during its October 4, 2026 presentation in Paris. Onitsuka Tiger bridged its athletic heritage with alternative silhouettes by showcasing flat fisherman sandals in Milan on September 23, 2026.
Whimsy dominated several other major houses. Dries Van Noten covered pumps entirely in rainbow crystal embellishments. Gabriela Hearst sent out flats featuring knitted floral details in red, yellow, and blue at the Petit Palais on October 5, 2026. Bottega Veneta countered with bold red netted flats featuring wrap-around ankle straps, and Loewe layered charm-adorned sandals over blue tights alongside kitten-heel styles cut with diamond patterns.
| Designer Brand | Presentation Location | Notable Footwear Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Courrèges | Palais de Tokyo, Paris | Feathered pom-poms extending up the leg and waist |
| Thom Browne | The Shed, New York | Bug-inspired heels influenced by A Bug’s Life |
| Lacoste | Paris | Sneakers featuring a tennis ball in the heel |
| Chanel | Paris | Tiger-striped slingbacks and playing-card motifs |
| Gabriela Hearst | Petit Palais, Paris | Flats with knitted red, yellow, and blue floral details |
Valentino rounded out the eccentric footwear displays with intricately beaded stiletto boots depicting colorful scenic vistas, while Tory Burch kept lines sleeker with gradient teal embellished pumps, asymmetric vamps, and thin leather slingback loafers featuring soft fold-over details.
