COLLECT THEM ALL: THE IT SHOES NOW

BY BOOTH MOORE

The return of the wedge, the next must-have sneaker from Miu Miu, ballet flats from Alaïa and more.

October 13, 2025

The fashion term It bag first emerged in 1997 when the Fendi baguette became immortalized by Carrie Bradshaw in “Sex and the City,” who said, “It’s not a bag, it’s a baguette.”

Other haute holdalls followed in the years after, including The Balenciaga City and Chloé Paddington, both of which have just been re-released for a whole new generation of, well, It girls.

In recent years, It shoes have also marched onto the scene, capturing the same lightning-in-a-bottle mix of celebrity endorsement, cultural timing, distinctive design and scarcity.

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SOUTH COAST PLAZA

THE IT SHOES EDIT

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Miu Miu has been particularly great at turning them out, from faded boat shoes to vintage-looking penny loafers to the fall runway’s cognac leather sneakers that live somewhere between sport and dress shoe.

Alaïa has been instrumental in elevating the ballet flat to It shoe status, and just added a velvet style with the softness of a house slipper, while designer Sarah Burton’s twist on the still It Mary Jane features a Givenchy label stitched to the wide elastic strap.

But this season also marks the return of heels. The wedge had a starring role in nearly every luxury collection, with Khaite’s cool Cloak studded mule, Ferragamo’s fabulous flame red patent peep-toe, and Fendi’s powder pink peep-toe channeling boudoir glam.

Fall’s It boots are either Western (Gucci’s have romantic floral embroidery), or equestrian (Louis Vuitton’s Devon ankle style features monogrammed elastic side panels and silver cap toes).