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A good heel adds polish and sophistication to a look that flats simply can’t match, but for the average person, comfortable heels are hard to come by. Re-enter wedges: Supportive, sturdy and easier than a stiletto, they’re a simple answer for anyone seeking a little extra height (and, for city dwellers, getting a heel caught in a subway grate becomes one less thing to worry about).
Once seen as clunky and plain (at best), the wedge is making a comeback with sleeker, more stylish iterations. They’ve had a strong presence on runways for a few seasons now; most recently, Sandy Liang put her playful stamp on the style for her Spring 2027 New York Fashion Week show.
Sandy Liang Spring 2027.Photos: Launchmetrics Spotlight
According to Cate Khan, CEO of Trendalytics, the trend is part of a larger shift in footwear preferences: “Consumers are gravitating toward low-profile silhouettes, opting for shoes that are sleek but visually interesting. I think that’s where wedges come in,” she says. “We’re seeing more minimal, sculptural and eye-catching iterations, whether in sandals or peep-toe wedge boots.”
Trendalytics reports average weekly searches for wedges are up 14% year over year, with market adoption climbing 28% as they show up in Pre-Fall 2026 collections from designers like Ulla Johnson and Diesel. But it’s street style that’s pushing the trend further, Khan notes. “TikTok views for wedges are growing by eight million per week, fueled by buzzy brands like Naked Wolfe, especially following its NYFW brand activation,” she tells Fashionista.
Photo: Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
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The especially polarizing wedge sneaker, popularized by Isabel Marant in the early 2010s, is part of this comeback as well. Anyanna Anako (@fashunadict), who’s built a following online for her trend forecasting videos, noticed this on the resale market. “It was when I first saw the Isabel Marant sneakers come back into popularity. It was very much in the early adopters phase, as I remember being able to find them for as low as €70 ($80) on Vinted,” she says. The sneakers now sell for upwards of $140 on resale apps like Depop and Poshmark, and searches are up 48% year over year, according to Trendalytics.
Anako also points out that bottom (pants, skirts, etc.) and shoe trends are reciprocal; and as we head back into an era of skinny jeans, a slim wedge silhouette is complementary. “People really want that 2010s vintage look with the skinny jeans. The more authentic, the better,” she says.
The shoe style is “projected to continue experiencing accelerated growth over at least the next 18 months,” per Khan, so the verdict is in: The wedge has officially “wedged” itself back into the zeitgeist. Below, see (and shop!) our favorite wedge heels of the moment.
Photo: Courtesy of Dolce Vita
Dolce Vita Birk Wedges, $130, available here
Photo: Courtesy of Kinadese
Kinadese Shakira Fringe Heels, $120, available here
Photo: Courtesy of Akira
Akira Azalea Wang Vincent Plaid Printed Open Toe Boot, $100, available here
Jeffrey Campbell Romee-F, $230, available here
Photo: Courtesy of Chelsea Paris
Chelsea Paris Jarvis, $450, available here
Photo: Courtesy of Xarea
Xarea Crush Wedge, $140, available here
Photo: Courtesy of Puma
Puma Speedcat Wedge, $120, available here
Photo: Courtesy of Gimaguas
Gimaguas Slip-On Wedge, $313, available here
Amina Abdul Jalil Misa Wedge, $598, available here
Black Suede Studio Alper 70 Mule, $395, available here
Tony Bianco Milan Chocolate Venice, $190, available here
Photo: Courtesy of Isabel Marant
Isabel Marant Bekett Sneaker, $815, available here
Photo: Courtesy of Reformation
Reformation Gabriella Wedge, $298, available here
Photo: Courtesy of Aeyde
Aeyde Suzanne Mesh Wedge Sandals, €345 ($393), available here
Fredal Salvador Peyton Heel, $478, available here
Photo: Courtesy of Jamie Haller
Jamie Haller Kit Slide, $695, available here
Photo: Courtesy of Kkira
Kkira Nellie, $1,424, available here
Maile Etsu Pink Orange Feather Wedge, $380, available here
Photo: Net-a-Porter/Maryam Nassir Zadeh
Maryam Nassir Zadeh Ballet Wedge, $580, available here
Le Monde Beryl Victoria Wedge Knotted, $735, available here
Khy Muse Thong Wedge, $390, available here
Maeve Wedge Mules, $158, available here
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