The wedge espadrille is officially the it shoe of spring/summer 2025. After years quietly sitting at the back of the closet with a "grandma shoe" reputation, the platform espadrille is back — and Katie Holmes just made it impossible to ignore.
Ballet flats have had their moment. And while they are not disappearing overnight, a new contender is stepping in to claim the season. The wedge espadrille, long dismissed as something your grandmother might have worn to the market, is staging one of fashion's most satisfying comebacks. Comfortable, versatile, and carrying a surprisingly rich history, this shoe is about to be everywhere.
The wedge espadrille has a longer history than you think
The espadrille itself has been around for centuries. Originating in Catalonia and the Basque Country in Spain, this woven-sole shoe was a working-class staple worn along the coastline and in rural communities for generations. The connection to the sea and the Mediterranean lifestyle gave it an effortless, sun-soaked quality that never really went away.
From the Spanish coast to the fashion capitals
The leap from regional footwear to global fashion icon happened gradually. By the 1950s, the wedge espadrille had become a genuine style symbol. Jacqueline Kennedy and Brigitte Bardot both embraced it, lending the shoe a glamour that felt completely natural rather than forced. It became the shoe of beach towns and summer terraces, of women who dressed beautifully without overthinking it.
Yves Saint Laurent later cemented its fashion credentials by creating his iconic wedge model, featuring a straw heel and ribbons that lace up the ankle. That silhouette became a reference point, something designers and wearers still look back to. Even Marilyn Monroe was associated with the style, which says everything about the cultural weight this shoe carried during its golden era.
Historical records trace elevated espadrille-style footwear back to the King of Aragon, suggesting the wedge sole has aristocratic roots that predate its 20th-century fashion moment by centuries.
Katie Holmes just reignited the trend
After spending a few years firmly in the "dated" category, the wedge espadrille is back — and it has a high-profile advocate. Katie Holmes was recently spotted wearing a pair from Franco Sarto, a brand known for its accessible, well-made footwear. The detail that caught everyone's attention: the price. The pair she wore comes in at under 60 euros, which immediately makes the trend feel democratic and achievable.
Holmes has long been considered a reliable barometer for wearable, real-life style. She is not a red carpet maximalist. Her choices tend to translate directly into what women actually want to wear on a Tuesday afternoon or a Saturday at the farmers market. When she picks up a shoe, it moves.
Why this shoe works right now
The timing makes sense. There is a visible appetite for footwear that combines a slight heel with genuine comfort, something that dresses up an outfit without punishing your feet by 3pm. The wedge espadrille delivers exactly that. The platform sole distributes weight evenly, making it far more walkable than a stiletto at the same height. And the natural materials, woven jute, canvas, leather straps, fit perfectly into the broader fashion shift toward textures that feel organic and grounded.
Brands like Castañer and Escadrille have been keeping the flame alive for years, maintaining the craft and the aesthetic while the trend cycled through its dormant phase. Now, with mainstream attention returning, their place as reference points is confirmed.
the price of Katie Holmes’ Franco Sarto wedge espadrilles
How to wear the wedge espadrille in 2025
The beauty of this shoe is its range. It works at the beach, obviously, but it also works in the city, with a linen dress, wide-leg trousers, or even a tailored blazer and jeans combination. The key is leaning into the natural, slightly relaxed quality of the shoe rather than fighting it. Pair it with overly polished, structured pieces and it looks awkward. Let it breathe, and it elevates everything around it.
The silhouettes that work best
Midi skirts are a natural partner. So are cropped trousers that let the ankle strap and the woven sole read clearly. Loose, flowing fabrics in neutral tones, cream, sand, terracotta, play well with the espadrille's material palette. And if you want to complete the look from head to toe, a striped manicure in spring shades is exactly the kind of detail that ties a warm-weather outfit together.
The ankle-tie version, the one that echoes the Saint Laurent original, is the most directional choice for 2025. It reads as intentional without looking costumey. But a simple slip-on wedge espadrille in a neutral canvas works just as well for everyday wear.
If you are investing in one pair this season, prioritize a neutral colorway — natural jute, white canvas, or tan leather straps. These work across the widest range of outfits and will not date by August.
Coco Chanel once said that elegance is refusal. The wedge espadrille, in its best iterations, embodies that idea. It refuses to try too hard. And right now, that is exactly what fashion is asking for. The shoe that spent years being called a relic has quietly become the most relevant thing you can put on your feet this spring. And with accessible options like the Franco Sarto pair Katie Holmes chose, there is no reason to wait. The trend is here, and it is not asking permission.
