The Cute But Comfy Shoe Trend That Will Have You Ditching Your Heels In 2025

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Ah, heels — the quintessential love-hate relationship of all shoe enthusiasts. As proven by all those glamorous red carpet outfits that literally hurt to wear, fashion can be a tug-of-war game between comfort and beauty, and shoes are some of the worst offenders. We're always on the hunt for that holy-grail pair, one that ticks all of our style boxes and remains wearable for more than an hour at a time. But such heels are sadly rare, and it's both physically and mentally exhausting to keep subjecting ourselves to subpar pairs for date night, special events, or — perhaps worst of all — long hours at the office.

There are several outdated shoe trends to ditch in 2025, and if you ask us, uncomfortable heels should be among them. Whether you're struggling with pinkie-pinching in the toe box, unstable stilettos that wear out your ankles, or heels that only look adorable at the cost of painful blisters, enough is enough. This year, there's another, equally trendy option that looks fabulous without all the suffering: almond-toe flats. That's right: Flats are back in vogue, and we couldn't be more thrilled with their return. To get in on this trend in 2025, reach for almond-toe styles that embrace elegance, ease, and adaptability.

When you get worn out with painful heels, stylish flats are the answer to your woes. But why pick almond-toes over other favorites? Well, round-toe flats can be charmingly twee with certain outfits, if you don't mind a 2010s throwback, and pointy flats can be a bold style statement for fashionistas making a power play (though, depending on the shoe, they may pinch almost as much as heels). However, almond-toe flats win hands-down for fashion-forward versatility. For one thing, the shape of almond-toe styles feels a lot fresher than the flats of seasons past. Their gently tapered design also presents a happy medium between other flats with chic, elongating lines that still give your toesies plenty of breathing room. Sweet and sleek is the name of the game for shoes this year — just look at the booming hybrid sneakerina (aka the hybrid shoe trend we're seeing everywhere in 2025).

However, one of the best qualities of an almond-toe flat is its versatility. Unlike round- and pointed-toe flats, which have more pigeon-holed style vibes, almond-toes can be worn with various aesthetics — sweet or sharp, cute or couture. This also makes it easy to style your ballet flats with casual outfits or more formal ensembles. Mix and match them with your whole wardrobe, from that office-appropriate pencil skirt to your slouchiest pair of wide-leg jeans.

And, of course, there are almond-toe styles available for various preferences. Try a strappy pair for a breezy twist on Mary Janes — for example, the Riekhany's Woven Almond-Toe Ballet Flats have a high rating and come in many colors. Or, keep things streamlined with a pair of sleek almond-toe flats, like the Vivienne Slip-On Ballet Flats from Naturalizer, which is available in hues from classic black leather to a violet suede finish. Now, for more inspo, check out the shoe trends everyone will be trying in 2025.