Trend Alert – The Mesh Flat Is Summer’s It Girl Shoe
See-through shoes are in. A flood of mesh, caged and diamanté styles have flooded our social feeds and are fast becoming the shoe of the summer. Plus, with an appearance on the SS24 runway, this trends has legs to go into next year.
- The humble ballet flat has had a makeover, popping up on social feeds in sheer and mesh fabrications and, thanks to influencers, this updated style is fast becoming the It shoe of the summer. Supported by the popularity of Balletcore and Barefoot Boy Summer, the sheer shoe is a must-have investment for SS24.
- The Row, Sandy Liang and ALAÏA are the cult brands to know. ALAÏA’s fishnet pump has replenished seven times since June 2022, noting its price increase from £490 to £580 in June 2023 as demand peaked.
- As a trend in its infancy in the mass market, retailers should act quickly to be early adopters. In SS23 arrivals, mesh has been favored on heels, with slingbacks accounting for 46% of options and, sell outs at Mango, Zara and H&M, show that consumers are reacting well to the sheer fabric – a good indicator for next year.
- Pre-Spring 2024 collections championed mesh on pointed pumps, but several designers, including Anna Sui, Blumarble and M21, opted into the trend with sheer socks, a commercial, low-risk alternative. JW Anderson’s SS24 show debuted crochet slip-ons, a sub-trend likely to gain momentum ahead of next year.
- The mesh ballet flat fits into some of 2023’s biggest promotional stories that we expect to make a reappearance next year, including topical Balletcore as well as the Reveal & Conceal theme, and also slots perfectly into vacation edits alongside crochet, straw bags and hats.
Trend Accelerators
The Influencer Community
While designers have landed sheer shoes practically under the radar in SS23, the influencer community has propelled them into the spotlight. Trending brands ALAÏA and Chanel have been fan favorites, noting mesh, leather and rhinestone materials used to update the humble ballet pump.
The Rise of Balletcore
Since the Miu Miu Fall 2022 show, the ballet flat has made its comeback. Once the untrendy sister to the chunky shoe, its minimalist aesthetic has won over consumers. The mesh trends reinvention of the style further extends its longevity in the market.
Barefoot Boy Summer
An unlikely trend to rear its head in SS23, Jacob Elordi and Mike Sabath, have been spotted walking the streets barefoot. Seen as the outdoor trend in its purest form and rebelling against years of chunky, its bodes in favor of sheer shoes.
The Cult Models
ALAÏA Mesh Ballet Flats
The Row Sock Mesh Flats
Chanel Mesh Mary Jane
Le Monde Beryl Lattice Flats
Mass Market Interpretations
Spring 2024 Direction
JW Anderson Spring 2024
Tanya Taylor Pre-Spring 2024
Anna Sui Pre-Spring 2024
How to Promote
Vacation Shop
Balletcore
Reveal & Conceal
Date analysis
Products new in Jan 1 – Jun 23, 2023
Categories Analysed
Shoes, Sandals
US & UK retailers considered
Womenswear: & Other Stories, Abercrombie & Fitch, ALDO, Cider, Dune, Free People, H&M, lulus, Mango, Mint Velvet, NA-KD, Nasty Gal, New Look, PrettyLittleThing, Pull&Bear, River Island, Stradivarius, Zara