Dipped-Toe Heels are About to Become 2026’s Favourite Shoes

We’re not even at the end of January, yet the early signs of a defining 2026 shoe trend breaking through are already hard to ignore. Casting back to the spring/summer 2026 runways, Chanel set the tone—offering a fresh riff on its iconic cap-toe design. Rather than the classic, sharply defined contrast, the house introduced a more modern interpretation: heels finished with what looked like a subtle dip of colour at the toe.

It didn’t take long for the fashion crowd to take note. Since then, a steady stream of stylish celebrities has embraced the emerging look—reviving the traditional cap-toe heel in the process.

Spotted on the very same day, Jessie Buckley stepped out in Chanel’s new dipped-toe heels, opting for a high-vamp style finished as if the toe had been lightly dipped into white paint. Worn with a monochrome outfit, her look was innately elegant and entirely unfussy.

Moments later, I spotted Tessa Thompson’s take on the trend. The actor chose a more traditional interpretation of Chanel’s cap-toe, rendered in warm beige with a chunky block heel and mule silhouette, finished with a glossy black toe.

Now, I can’t help but see this trend gaining serious traction this year. It has the reliability of a tried-and-true classic—Chanel’s cap-toe heels have been in circulation for as long as we can remember—but with a subtle update that gives them a distinctly modern edge. Add to that the renewed energy at the house under Matthieu Blazy’s appointment and a growing roster of celebrity endorsements, and it’s clear: the chicest heels of the season will all feature this elevated detail.