We Asked Fashion Experts The Shoe Trends They Won't Wear

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Just because something's trending doesn't mean it should automatically make its way into your closet. Across both clothing and footwear, trends are there for people who are drawn to them, but no craze is one-size-fits-all. Particularly in the fast-moving world of shoes, styles that are in one season are often kicked to the curb the next (just check out these outdated shoe trends to ditch in 2025), so there's no shame in bypassing the bandwagon altogether.

To find out which shoe trends even the experts are giving a pass, we spoke to three fashion pros: style expert and Velvet Image Lab founder Elena Mensch, San Diego-based personal stylist and image consultant Cynthia Kennedy, and TWEEDS style consultant Matt Jefferson. For the latter, it's a controversial look that has divided the court of public opinion. "I'm not going to do the whole 'chunky shoes' thing," Jefferson tells Glam exclusively. "Since when have we decided to start dressing like the Keebler Elves? I keep seeing this at events like the Met Gala, where I'm convinced fashion designers are just trying to see what they can get away with. Unless you're a member [of] KISS, I don't want to see you in chunky platform shoes." 

True enough, celebs like Teyana Taylor and Zendaya wore chunky shoes to this year's big event, and it's easy to see why they wouldn't be for everyone, even if there are many ways to incorporate platform shoes into your wardrobe. As long as you have your reasons for not jumping behind a craze, then you don't have to answer to anyone. There are plenty of trendy footwear options to love in 2025, from leather boat shoes to chisel-toe mules, but there's nothing wrong with sticking to timeless options instead. 

One of the statements of the year is undoubtedly the sneakerina, a hybrid shoe we're seeing everywhere in 2025. Basically, this style brings together the svelte, minimal feel of the classic ballet flat with the laces and chunkier sole of a sneaker. While several designers have launched iterations of the shoe in 2025, Elena Mensch isn't sold. "These ballet-sneaker hybrids are the fashion equivalent of a spork: technically functional, but awkward at everything," Mensch notes exclusively to Glam, admitting that she would be open to some versions of the sneakerina more than others. 

Louis Vuitton's LV Sneakerina leans more toward the sneaker side, so it's easier to pull off, but the style expert draws the line at Puma's Speedcat Ballet. "That's a full identity meltdown — is it a sneaker, a ballet flat, or a cry for help? They're editorial gold, sure. On a magazine page, they make perfect sense. But in real life? Picture yourself, barely awake at 7 a.m., staring at these things wondering if they'll make your dress look ridiculous or your jeans look confused?" Mensch adds that Christian Louboutin's Cassia Lace Ups are a no-go for the simple reason that "getting dressed shouldn't require a strategy meeting."

Ultimately, Mensch is against the concept of sneakerinas in general because they break the fundamental rule of footwear: practicality. "Those pointed-toe heels that go with everything? Yes," she says. "The ones that leave everyone questioning whether you're dressed for a barre class or a black-tie event? Probably no. Sometimes the most radical choice is choosing what actually works."

For many, the appeal of jelly shoes is in their nostalgia. This style takes millennials, in particular, right back to the '90s, and while some might want adult versions of their favorite childhood footwear, Cynthia Kennedy doesn't see it that way. "Jelly shoes are one trend I just can't get behind — no matter how many times brands try to bring them back to make them feel cool or 'elevated,'" she tells us. "Yes, they may be nostalgic for some, but for me personally, they instantly bring back memories of being a kid at a waterpark, running around in those gummy plastic sandals that somehow gave you blisters and still let in every grain of sand."

Speaking exclusively to Glam, she explains that she can't shake that uncomfortable feeling when she wears jelly shoes, even if they have "the little heel or barely there straps" or they've been turned into adult shoes in some other way. "They're squeaky, sweaty, offer no support, and always just a little too shiny to feel intentional," she says. The key to carving out your own personal style is following your heart while also embracing the fact that other people may have different opinions, and that's exactly how Kennedy feels about jelly shoes: "Cute on someone else? Maybe. But for me, it's a no. I've lived that era once already ... and that was more than enough."

If you're more interested in timeless shoes than passing trends, invest in a classic white sneaker, which will never go out of style when worn well.