Fashion media ELLE Taiwan published a report on October 18, 2026, republished from ELLE UK, rounding up seven flat shoe trends worth noting for fall/winter 2026. The piece notes that even as temperatures drop, flat shoes remain a wardrobe staple, not something boots alone need to replace.
According to the report, jazz shoes—carrying over their summer popularity—feature soft leather, thin soles and delicate straps. Functional thick-soled flats borrow the grippy, chunky soles common to hiking boots and sneakers, blending practicality with polish, with Miu Miu's collection cited as an example. The list also includes metallic silver flats, lace-up oxfords with an English collegiate feel, kitten heels with a barely-there heel, backless mules, and black ballet flats that return to a pared-down palette, paired variously with skirts, suit trousers or slacks.
From an everyday-life perspective, these styles read less as brand-new items and more as a reminder of alternatives when the seasons change: functional thick-soled flats suit commuting or days spent on your feet, while kitten heels lengthen proportions without sacrificing comfort. Many wardrobes already contain similar loafers or ballet flats, so restyling them during a seasonal closet clean-out may be more practical than rushing to buy new pairs.
