There comes a moment every summer when, although it’s as sweaty as ever, we all become acutely aware that fall is on its way. And the brown flat shoes trend that’s currently taking the fashion world by storm is proof enough: We’ve reached the autumnal part of August.
Don’t be sad that the season is coming to an end—there are plenty more pool days, road trips, and ice cream runs still to come. In fact, this might just be its best stretch, since we’re all itching to start wearing the rich colors and cozy materials associated with fall while it’s still sunny. Hence the sudden preponderance of brown shoes: Fashion insiders are ready to adopt a moodier palette, as seen en masse at Copenhagen Fashion Week. Care to join them?
Glamour’s wish list for the brown flat shoe trend
.png)
Sam Edelman Woven Ruthie Ballet Flats
.png)
Voleece Square-Toe Crisscross Ballet Flats
It’s not just editors and street style influencers adopting the trend. A-listers like Katie Holmes and Julia Roberts have recently been spotted wearing dark-brown flats for the tail end of summer, proving that it’s officially time to lock down your transitional capsule wardrobe—shoes first. Below, dig into everything you need to know to ace the emerging footwear trend, including styling tips and our current favorite pairs that are virtually guaranteed to sell out before the season’s over.
How to style the brown flat shoes trend for fall 2026
Perhaps the easiest way to style brown flat shoes, according to the stylish crowds in Copenhagen, is to take the monochromatic route. Mix shades of chocolate, tan, chestnut, and mocha for the rest of your look to complement your flats. Classics like black and cream—a richer, warmer tone than optic white—always work too. But if you want to liven your palette up a little, try adding pops of petal pink, tomato red, mustard yellow, and preppy maroon, all of which offer some eye-catching energy that’s still easy to style.
