Trend obsessives get ready to take note because I’m calling another one for summer 2024. Leading on from last year’s yacht girl summer movement, nautical fashion is on the rise, and its latest iteration, the boat shoe, is officially starting to trickle into our spring summer wardrobes. First spotted on the catwalk at Miu Miu’s Spring/Summer 2024 show, the boat shoe is undoubtedly a controversial footwear choice however when you break down its relationship to the trends we’ve been embracing in recent months, its acceptance among the fashion set is not just unsurprising but practically fated.
Bringing together the old money aesthetic, preppy athleisure styling and, of course, all things nautical, it’s easy to see why the boat shoe has emerged as the it-shoe of summer 2024. One of the reasons for the boat shoes appeal however lies in its new image as its aesthetic in 2024 is not quite as squeaky clean as it once was. After spending many years as the shoe choice of dads aiming to hit the perfect smart casual balance, it’s finally achieved its goal, yet in a more relaxed, lived-in imagining.
On the catwalk at Miu Miu, models paired scuffed boat shoes with low slung and rolled up sleeves for a less polished appearance, while, in recent months influencers and street stylers have taken to styling their boat shoes in one way, and one way only, and it perfectly embodies the more effortless take on the trend. Wondering how to style boat shoes in 2024? There really is only on.