How slippers left the comfort of home to become a status symbol

Slippers as indoor shoes have historically been a signifier of sophistication and class. Prince Albert popularised the pump style slipper for men as evening wear and the influence of continental society was present in Turkish slippers and French feathered boudoir mules. Whereas the carpet slipper will forever be associated with the likes of Coronation Street’s Ena Sharples and comic strip favourite Andy Capp. The new styles upend the traditional idea of the slipper.

Mules were the first slipper to take to the catwalk. The Gucci Princetown Mule – a fur-filled backless leather-soled shoe first appeared in the spring/summer 2016 collection, but it’s been a style mainstay ever since.

Lucy Maguire, senior trends editor for fashion industry website Vogue Business, also cites singer Justin Bieber and his clothes range Drew House as another big influence.

“Bieber wore these $5 Drew House ‘smiley face’ hotel slippers from December 2018 onwards. That was the first time I saw slippers worn outside as a fashion statement but it certainly wasn’t the last. Also around the same time, with the rise of TikTok, young people were exposed to more day-in-the-life content than ever. This shows celebrities in sweats and slippers in their homes.” Seeing people in slippers in their homes became a daily experience for everyone during 2020, even if it was in a work catch-up on Zoom rather than an influencer on TikTok. Sales shot up during 2020 and the trend for slippers that worked as shoes and shoes that felt like slippers tipped into the mainstream.

“During the pandemic, not only were slippers trending but “slipper-like” shoes such as Crocs, Birkenstocks and Uggs, as people sought comfort and style for their daily walks around the neighbourhood,” says Maguire. “These footwear brands were smart, many collaborated with celebrities or luxury labels, to create limited-edition colours and customisable elements – like Jibbitz decorative show charms in the case of Crocs – so that they’ve actually taken market share from the trainers market.”

It’s become cool to be hyper-casual and comfortable,” says Maguire. “But while some of us enjoy looking like we’ve just thrown a look together, others still have the hottest pair of slippers possible, whether they’re Bottega Veneta waffle green slippers or platform Crocs worn as slippers, full of customised Jibbitz.”

Whatever style fits your aesthetic and your budget, slippers look set to stay. Putting the bins out has never felt so fashionable.