Hear that sound? No, we’re not referring to the sounds of your stomach still digesting food after Thanksgiving. We’re talking about the subtle buzz that picks up around the start of Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. Even if you’re not sifting through the sale racks at your local Nordstrom, this time of year can be, well, a bit noisy. After all, we can become bombarded with messaging around cyber weekend sales across every inbox, making it hard to decide what’s really worth buying. On top of that, there’s the harsh reality that we don’t have an infinite budget to buy everything on our loved one’s wishlists, much less our own. Therefore, it can sometimes feel like sale season is a constant battle between choosing whether or not to skimp out on buying holiday gifts or the little bits and bobs that keep us happy.
But what if we told you that you didn’t need to choose? One of the easiest ways to get the most out of your shopping this season with a shoestring budget is to start from the ground up (quite literally). You may be unable to swing buying into every single trend this season and getting the best gifts for everyone on your list—sister, and boyfriend included—but you can surely secure a pair of stylish shoes. Hear us out: not only is investing in new footwear smart, but it won’t throw off your holiday shopping budget. Plus, the pair of shoes can make your staples stand out while still tapping into the season’s biggest trends. But if you’re dubious about the possibility of actually finding trend-forward shoes for a good deal, then you’ll want to keep scrolling. Ahead, we’ve rounded up the 6 biggest fall shoe trends that can be found marked down at Nordstrom, J.Crew, Shopbop, Reformation, Net-A-Porter, and other retailers’ Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. Prepare to make some sound for these shoe sale deals (yes, they’re that good).
Sumptuous Suede
Like clockwork, a few shoe trends always come back in style season after season—suede is undoubtedly one of them. But make no mistake, versions of this footwear trend are far more sumptuous than in the past, thanks to the textile’s adaptation into trending silhouettes and unique shades. Whether you buy this trend in the form of suede boots or ballet flats, you can’t go wrong with buying it (especially when it’s on sale).
LE MONDE BERYL
Suede Mary Jane Ballet Flats
Suede flats on sale? Say no more.
Madewell
The Justine Knee Boot
Be sure to use the code “MADEBETTER” to get 40% off these Madewell suede boots.
Reformation
Prudence Ballet Flat
Leave it to Reformation to mark down the most beautiful ballet flats we’ve ever seen.
Kenneth Cole
Marais Knee High Boot
Nothing stands the test of time quite like a pair of suede knee-high boots.
Marc Fisher LTD
Ubet Ballet Flat
The styling possibilities of these suede ballet flats are endless.
Shopbop’s Black Friday Sale offers 25% off everything, including these super-chic Staud suede booties. Just be sure to use the code “HOLIDAY” at checkout.
Animal Instincts
While suede is definitely a safe investment for the season, it may not necessarily tame our animal instincts—i.e., our cravings to take a few risks in the style department. Luckily, there’s another fall trend worth adopting this season: leopard print shoes. With animal prints playing a prevalent role in fall collections and the plethora of mark-downs on leopard-print shoes, there’s no better time to embrace this trend than the present. You can make this trend feel “tamer” for everyday life by opting for a pair of “basic” shoes in leopard print—think: mules, loafers, or knee-high boots.
Marc Fisher LTD
Rosaly Genuine Calf Hair Kitten Heel Mule
Go ahead… walk on the wild side!
Sam Edelman
Loraine Bit Loafer
Nordstom reviewers can’t stop raving about these loafers, so you know they’re a good find.
Franco Sarto
Alberta Bootie
Leopard print boots are a neutral in our books.
Schutz
Arissa Block Pumps
You can pair these pumps with a black trousers and a turtleneck for a Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy-inspired look.
Katy Perry
The Evie Mary Jane Flat
Frankly, it doesn’t get cuter than a pair of leopard print flats.
Reformation
Remy Knee Boot
The way we had to hold back grunts on the account of these boots being so good.
Brooding Burgundy
If you’ve kept up with recent trends, it should come as no surprise that there’s one specific shade that’s having a moment: burgundy. Albeit in the form of merlot, dark cherry, oxblood, or wine, we saw this color takeover not just fall ready-to-wear collections but the footwear department, too. From classic loafers to sleek slingbacks, we’ve seen this shade applied to every form of footwear—making it one of the easiest trends to incorporate into your wardrobe on your own terms.
Jeffrey Campbell
Quatre Pointed Toe Pump
I could have sworn pumps these were designer!
Calvin Klein
Farrel Penny Loafer
Honestly, it doesn’t get more rich-looking than a pair of dark red loafers.
DOLCE VITA
Glamor Boots in Wine Stella
Calling all shoe fanatics: Dolce Vita is offering 30% off all their footwear. Use the code “BLACKFRIDAY” at checkout.
These pointed flats will add a posh touch to all your ensembles.
Want Les Essentiels
Holton Smooth Leather Slingback Heels
Reformation
Gaelle Knee Boot
Reformation is really trying to get us to spend all our money with their cyber sale—we’re not mad about it.
Off to the Races
Sneakerheads will be happy to know that there’s one trending style they can find on sale this season—ahem, race-inspired kicks. Inspired by the popularity of Formula One, these trendy sneakers are characterized by their low-top silhouette with a rounded toe shape often made from luxe suede or colorful leather. It’s not necessarily as “pragmatic” as a pair of white sneakers per se, but it’s one you’ll want to run to buy (while it’s still marked down).
Puma never fails the assignment.
Jeffrey Campbell
Toned Sneaker
Wait, these kicks did not need to go that hard.
rag & bone
Retro Runner Slim Sneaker
Olive green is the perfect alternative neutral, if you’re tired of wearing all-white, gray, or black sneakers.
The stitching on these sneakers has us in shambles.
NIKE
Cortez Leather and Suede-Trimmed Shell Sneakers
Although these Nike sneakers come in white and cream, we’re impartial to the yellow pair.
Reebok
Classic Leather Reefresh Sneakers
These will surely get worn well after the holiday season is over.
Slouchers Anonymous
Every season, there’s one unexpected shoe trend that emerges out of nowhere—currently, it’s slouchy boots. While fall runway collections focused more on boots featuring structured shapes and extra-long boot shafts, the style set has taken this formerly “anonymous” style and brought it back into the spotlight. Whether in the form of slouchy suede booties that barely graze the mid-calf or tall leather knee-high boots that can be pushed down the legs, there’s no shortage of ways we’ve seen the style set embracing this boot trend. With so many retailers offering the boot trend on sale right now, it’s only a matter of time before the style entirely leaves the shadows to become the boot of choice this season.
Steve Madden
Brinwood Slouchy Bootie
Just when you thought slouchy boots couldn’t get better, Steve Madden created this super-affordable suede pair.
Reformation
Rosie Mid Shaft Boot
Another great find from Reformation’s cyber weekend sale!
Vince Camuto
Blaira Pointed Toe Bootie
Nine West
Primer Slouch Pointed Toe Boots
The chocolate brown color of these boots is too chic to handle.
ISABEL MARANT
Ryska Suede Ankle Boots
Now’s your chance to finally get your hands on a pair of Isabel Marant boots while they’re marked down.
BCBGMAXAZRIA
Braxton Slouch Boot
Rest assured, these slouchy boots will become a staple in your wardrobe.
Luxe Loafers
Drumroll, please… the final footwear trend you can find across numerous Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales this year is loafers. While this particular footwear has been a fan favorite for quite some time, its frequent presence on the runway and real life can not be ignored. Of course, the more recent iterations of this trend are a bit fancier—e.g., loafers feature luxe hardware, supple leather, or unique colors—but their innate timelessness makes them a solid investment for this season (and beyond).
Open Edit
Collier Penny Loafer
Yet again, Nordstrom’s sale section doesn’t disappoint.
Veronica Beard
Penny Loafers
You can gift these two-tone loafers to a sibling, mother, or yourself!
Mango
Gray Leather Loafers
PSA: You don’t want to miss Mango’s cyber weekend sale, as they’ve got some great deals on trend-forward footwear.
Tory Burch
Eleanor Loafer
There’s no smarter way to adopt two separate trends, than scooping up these burgundy loafers whilst they’re on sale.
Victoria Beckham
Watch Chain Classic Loafers
The hardware on these loafers has us in a chokehold.
J.Crew
Penny Loafers in Spazzolato Leather
Consider this your final sign that you can find some of the most current shoe trends on sale—you just have to know where to look!