A French Editor Shares 22 Chic White Shoe Styles for 2026

Eugenie Trochu is Who What Wear editor in residence known for her transformative work vogue france and that Substack NewsletterWhere she documents and shares her simple approach towards new trends, fashion and style and other ideas. She is also working on her upcoming first book that explores fashion as a site of memory, projection, and reinvention.

I believe that the white shoe is a must-have in my wardrobe. I have dozens of shoes: boots, flats or high, chunky loafers, soft ballet flats, espadrilles worn to the bone… For me, a white shoe is the complete opposite of a white outfit, it’s easy to wear. Because I’m not afraid to get it dirty; In fact, when it is lived a little it becomes a little cooler, unlike everything else. And because it gives an outfit a twist like nothing else. Whether the look is very simple or already a little over the top, it does what it needs: it expands.

Take, for example, the checked pink trapeze dress, La West-style. Some already quite vocal, almost borderline. Add some shiny heels and it’s finished. You become a concept. A Barbarella meets the young girls of Rochefort Perfectly suitable for situation, dress, not for everyday life.

Whereas with white sandals, or very light beige sandals, everything immediately comes back down to earth. It’s almost questionable how well it works. It becomes more legible. Light. Without looking like you tried (holy grail). With sandals, there’s always a bit of a sixties feel, very Twiggy. A bit simple, but perfectly constructed. With Repetto Zizzi, you are transported to somewhere else entirely. Fast. More Parisians. Very Serge Gainsbourg on Sunday morning: jeans, a folded shirt, and the ability to be better dressed than everyone else for no apparent reason.

With an all denim look, it’s exactly that, efficient, effortless. The white shoe draws the eye to the foot like a perfectly placed full stop. It literally illuminates the shadows.

And as I said before, this is where it all comes down to: The shoe should never be too perfect. White that is so new is almost suspicious. Something too obvious, something too intentional. I like it when it’s alive. When it has gone somewhere. Slightly worn-in maison margiela replica sneakers, Zizzis that have already seen some sidewalk wear, ballet flats worn out, very Zen. An off-white is always more interesting. Even more reliable.

And then there are the shoes. White shoes are another category altogether. More cinematic. More imagination. Very Sharon Tate. Very late afternoon sun, tousled hair, a perfect shade for no reason. And of course Margot Robbie embodied her in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Mid-calf, flat boots – almost innocent, yet totally iconic. I never found the exact same pair. I know Hermes made some at one point, which makes sense.