What Will Be the Shoe of Summer 2025? 7 Menswear Experts Weigh In
By Tyler Watamanuk
Just about every summer, a shoe of the moment emerges in menswear circles. Perhaps no silhouette is more emblematic of this phenomenon than the Adidas Samba, the classic sneaker that held sustained ‘It shoe’ status for several seasons running. These days, however, the world of men’s footwear has become more daring and sprawling than ever. New contenders for the top spot have emerged recently, from ballet-inspired silhouettes and heeled leather mules to the super sleek kicks we lovingly call tornado sneakers. And this is to say nothing of the trusty loafers and other classic shoe styles that have surged in recent years. (Not to mention the straight-up soccer cleats folks are now wearing on the pavement?) This summer, the battle for shoe supremacy is as wide open as ever.
To help us determine which footwear style will reign supreme during the summer of 2025, we tapped some men’s fashion pros for their predictions. And while the slender sneaker is undoubtedly poised for a big summer, our menswear insiders also pointed to minimalist loafers, freaky oxfords, and lug-soled boat shoes as potential breakout stars, just to name a few. Let the summer shoe games begin.
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