I Spent Years Avoiding This Shoe Trend—Now It’s My Go-To Summer Style

Wedges—the once-questionable early-aughts shoe—have gotten a full 2026 makeover, now showing up as chic, sculptural, and surprisingly versatile. They When I think of wedges, I immediately picture those espadrille ones that scream early 2000s mom trying to dress up a casual pick-up-the-kid-from-school outfit. It’s such a specific and nostalgic look. And because it was a heel without making you feel like your feet were on fire, I’d always just seen them as “a heel, but not really.” To me, they were just a reliable, sensible shoe. Not a fashion moment.