I remember when the beloved wedge trend died a death. It was 2019 and we were just coming out of a summer that had been dominated by wedges. Castañer’s famous espadrille style adorned the feet of every bridesmaid and wedding guest, while cork-soled versions became the go-to shoe to wear with ditsy floral wrap dresses and wide-leg jeans.

Like with a lot of trends that become oversaturated, we got the ick and wedges were swiftly demoted to uncool status. In 2023, Khaite and Balenciaga redefined the style with pairs that were sculptural, patent and pointed, and in 2024 Chloé’s wedge-wearing front-row went viral, but both comebacks lacked staying power.