The wedge espadrille — once dismissed as a frumpy "grandma shoe" — is officially the it shoe of spring and summer 2025. Spotted on Katie Holmes and validated by street style enthusiasts worldwide, this straw-heeled classic is trading its dusty reputation for a front-row seat in the season's most coveted wardrobes.
Ballet flats have had their moment. But spring 2025 belongs to a different kind of shoe — one with a storied past, a woven straw sole, and ribbons that tie delicately around the ankle. The wedge espadrille is back, and this time, it's not asking for permission.
For a few seasons, this silhouette sat quietly at the back of the closet, written off by trend forecasters and fashion editors alike. Too casual, too retro, too reminiscent of a beach holiday in the early 2000s. But fashion, as Coco Chanel once suggested, is always cyclical. And what goes out of style with a sigh tends to return with a statement.
The wedge espadrille has a history worth knowing
From Catalonia to the global catwalk
The espadrille's roots run deep — and surprisingly royal. Originating in Spain, with particular ties to Catalonia and the Pays Basque, this woven-sole shoe has been worn for centuries. Historical accounts even link it to the King of Aragon, making it one of the oldest footwear styles still in active circulation. Long before it became a beach staple, it was a practical, regional craft.
The compensated wedge version, with its stacked straw heel, gained its fashion credentials much later. Yves Saint Laurent is widely credited with elevating the wedge into a design statement, transforming a humble artisanal shoe into something aspirational. By the 1950s, the silhouette had found its most glamorous ambassadors: Marilyn Monroe wore wedges with the ease of someone who understood that height and comfort didn't have to be enemies. Jacqueline Kennedy and Brigitte Bardot were spotted in them at the seaside, cementing the wedge espadrille's association with effortless, sun-drenched elegance.
Decades of reinvention
That golden era faded, as golden eras do. The wedge espadrille spent several decades oscillating between niche summer staple and genuine fashion punchline. The "grandma shoe" label stuck — unfairly, but persistently. And yet, the shoe never fully disappeared. It lingered in the collections of heritage brands like Castañer, quietly waiting.
The espadrille is one of the oldest shoe styles still in production. Its woven jute sole has remained virtually unchanged for centuries, making it as much a craft tradition as a fashion item.
Katie Holmes just made the wedge espadrille the shoe of the season
Celebrity endorsement doesn't always move the needle. But when Katie Holmes steps out in a pair, the fashion conversation shifts. The actress and style icon was recently spotted wearing a pair by Franco Sarto — a brand accessible enough to feel democratic, aspirational enough to feel intentional. The price point is part of the appeal: under 60 euros for a pair that carries serious trend credibility.
Holmes didn't style them ironically. She wore them the way you wear something you genuinely love — with the kind of quiet confidence that resonates far more than a red carpet moment. Concrètement, this is the type of street style sighting that triggers search spikes and sell-outs.
And she's not alone. Across Instagram and fashion weeks, the wedge espadrille has been appearing on the feet of what the French call "modeuses aguerries" — women who know exactly what they're doing with a trend. The rehabilitation is complete. The shoe formerly known as frumpy is now the shoe everyone wants.
This mirrors a broader pattern in fashion right now, where retro silhouettes are reclaiming their status — the "grandma shoe" narrative is becoming a badge of honor rather than an insult.
Where to find the right pair this spring
Investment pieces and accessible alternatives
The wedge espadrille exists across every price bracket in 2025, which is part of why this trend has such staying power. At the high end, Saint Laurent offers versions that honor the shoe's elevated heritage — sharp, luxurious, and uncompromising. Castañer, the Spanish brand that has been making espadrilles for generations, remains the benchmark for authenticity. Escadrille also features prominently among the recommended labels for those seeking a balance between craftsmanship and wearability.
But the democratic appeal of this trend is real. Major retailers and high street chains have moved quickly to produce their own interpretations, and the Franco Sarto pair favored by Katie Holmes — available for less than 60 euros — proves that the look doesn't require a significant investment.
The one rule that matters
There is one condition for wearing this trend correctly: the heel must be compensated. A flat espadrille, however charming, reads differently. The stacked straw wedge is the element that transforms the shoe from casual summer footwear into a genuine fashion statement. The height is modest enough to be practical — this is not a stiletto situation — but present enough to elongate the silhouette and signal intentionality.
To wear the wedge espadrille trend correctly in spring 2025, opt for a compensated (wedge) heel — not a flat sole. The straw heel and ankle-tie ribbons are the defining details of the season’s it shoe.
The wedge espadrille works from beach to city pavement
One of the strongest arguments for investing in a pair this season is versatility. The wedge espadrille was historically associated with the seaside — and that context remains valid. Bardot wore hers on the Côte d'Azur. Kennedy packed hers for coastal retreats. The shoe and salt air have always made sense together.
But 2025's version of this shoe lives equally well in urban settings. Paired with a linen dress or wide-leg trousers on city streets, the wedge espadrille brings a relaxed sophistication that neither sneakers nor heels can quite replicate. It occupies a specific register — dressed up enough to feel considered, comfortable enough to actually wear all day.
And if you're building a spring wardrobe around this shoe, the pairing possibilities are wide. Printed dresses and flowing skirts are natural companions. So are cropped trousers and relaxed blazers. The ankle-tie ribbon adds a tactile, almost artisanal detail that elevates even the simplest outfit.
The wedge espadrille's return isn't a nostalgia trip. It's a genuine recalibration of what "cool" looks like in spring 2025 — and it turns out, it looks like woven straw, a modest heel, and ribbons tied just above the ankle.
