Style icon Sienna Miller attended the much-hyped autumn/winter 2024 Chloé show at Paris Fashion Week earlier this year alongside fellow style icon model, designer and sustainability champion Liya Kebede and model Georgia May Jagger, all of whom were wearing identical open-toe wedge heels. 

The collection, the first under the creative direction of Chemena Kamali, was a resounding triumph with a beautiful, romantic collection that signalled the return of the free-spirited, bohemian aesthetic that has become a Chloé signature and was a much-loved era of Sienna Miller’s style evolution.

Wedge sandals are very much a Marmite fashion item, but following stamps of approval from both Chloé and Sienna, the queen of boho herself, we’re all in. 

Rebecca Farrar-Hockley, creative director and chief creative officer at Kurt Geiger tells us: “A wedge shoe is the perfect heeled sandal option that makes any outfit elevated, but most importantly, they’re comfortable to wear. Comfort is key to dressing and feeling confident. As well as comfort, our customer wants something versatile and the wedge makes day-to-night dressing so easy. It’s the perfect shoe for summer glamour. For spring/summer 2024, we have our signature Kensington espadrille wedge for something playful and bold to our Pia wedge for something a little lower and minimal.”

British designer Clare Waight Keller is known for her sophisticated, effortless aesthetic, which at times has straddled both minimal and bohemian styles. Her current collection for Uniqlo is chic and practical, and as well as masculine-inspired tailoring and simple separates, it also includes lightweight dresses, pleated maxi skirts and monochrome wedges.

Online retailer Net-A-Porter has seen a 75% increase in searches for wedges in the last three months not only on monochrome styles (searches for black and white styles are up 54% and 111% respectively, but they have seen a 125% increase in searches for gold wedges over the last three months). The retailer confirmed that espadrille wedges are the most popular style at the moment, having seen a 333% increase in searches in the last three months and the most searched brands include Saint Laurent, Louboutin, Chloé, Castañer, Gucci and Valentino.

High street retailers are doing great iterations of wedges for spring: Uniqlo has an effortless black and white style, Dune has an excellent low-heeled wedge sandal that is currently trending, and Marks & Spencer has a selection of styles perfect for every day or occasionwear, from neutral suede mules to cream espadrilles.

Lisa Illis, head of womenswear design at Marks & Spencer, says: “This season, wedges receive a refresh, with updated finishes and modern shapes, making them the perfect summer alternative to heels. Also delivering on comfort, they are the perfect day-to-night style. Team our chic leather wedge mules with a floaty linen midi dress for daytime adventures abroad or pair our metallic wedge espadrilles with tailored shorts and a matching waistcoat for an evening of socialising.”

Images: Getty; courtesy of brands