The Scrunch Shoe Trend Is the Coolest Way to Update Your Late-Summer Wardrobe

3 min read

I’ve been looking for a few ways to liven up my end-of-summer wardrobe as of late, and shoes are always my first stop. As a fashion writer, I naturally turned to the latest footwear trends for inspiration, and one particularly chic style keeps drawing me back: the scrunch shoe. Defined by its gathered, elasticated edge, the detail is giving ballet flats, loafers, and heels a playful, fresh update—with plenty of tempting styles to shop this season.

Shop the Best Scrunch Shoes in 2026

The scrunch shoe first found its footing as a flat, rising to popularity in the early 2000s (there’s a good chance your mom owned a pair!) thanks to cult styles like Lanvin’s elastic-trim Ballerina Pump. Dreamed up by the house’s late creative director Alber Elbaz and reintroduced in 2023, the soft, malleable silhouette quickly became a defining shoe of the moment. Two decades after its initial launch, the gathered style is back in the spotlight, fueled by Y2K nostalgia and fashion’s renewed embrace of easy, feminine dressing.

In my humble opinion, a scrunch shoe, in some form, is a must-have in every woman’s closet. Designed to mold securely to the foot, it’s a chic, comfortable choice for days spent on the move. And luckily for us, they now come in every iteration imaginable, from bold hues and classic neutrals to bow-adorned ballet flats and edgy stilettos. Below, shop the pairs I’m eyeing now, plus tried-and-true favorites beloved by my fellow editors.

After perusing endless ballerina styles, I’m already envisioning how I’d wear them. Picture garnet ballet flats with vintage jeans and a puff-sleeve cardigan for something romantic; a classic black pair with a sweeping maxi skirt and crisp cotton button-up for a desk-to-dinner look; or a soft satin style with eveningwear as a comfier alternative to your go-to heel.

A chic update to the classic heel, the scrunch pump offers a comfortable fit for desk-to-dinner days, with several recent launches worth eyeing now. Gucci’s sultry Vittoria Pump in patent leather debuted as part of the house’s spring/summer 2026 collection, while Margaux released its stylish Roma 40 heel earlier this year.

Senior fashion commerce editor Dale Arden Chong adores the Margaux style in particular: “This is the perfect little heel; the leather is incredibly soft, and while they don’t roll up, they do fold down nicely and fit into my work bag when I need to wear something else for my daily commute! I love these peeking out from under my pants or with a cropped style that’ll show them off.” Shop the Roma 40 and more luxe scrunch styles below.

If you’re not typically a loafer girl, the scrunch silhouette might just win you over. Unlike a more rigid style, the gathered back gives the classic shape a softer feel while still looking polished, meaning you can pair it with everything from office attire to jeans and a tee. In my search, I came across designer standouts like Miu Miu’s charming Ruches Loafer and Prada’s timeless Shuffle Loafer, along with more elevated leather pairs and stylish suede options to scoop up ahead of fall.

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