Jazz Shoes! How to Wear Autumn’s Coolest Footwear Trend

Have you heard about the latest jazz shoe craze?

After several seasons dominated by ballet pumps and Mary Janes, fashion has found another flat shoe to obsess over. This time it is the jazz shoe: slim, soft, lace-up and just a little bit quirky.

Originally inspired by dance shoes, today’s jazz flats sit somewhere between a ballet pump, a Derby shoe and a very slim trainer. They have the easy comfort of a flat shoe but the laces and slightly sharper shape give them a bit more attitude.

British Vogue has declared lace-up jazz flats an autumn It-shoe, while ELLE has been looking at how to style jazz shoes for the new season. Once made popular during the 2010s Indie Sleaze days, Jazz shoes are now firmly back on the fashion radar, with jazz-style lace-ups now appearing across designer collections, street style and celebrity wardrobes too. (Think Lily-Rose Depp, Kaia Gerber and  Olivia Rodrigo).

Jazz shoes are very much 'IN' for Autumn 2026, and we rather like them!

What Are Jazz Shoes?

Traditional jazz shoes were designed for dancers, with a soft, flexible shape that fitted closely to the foot. The fashion version takes that low-profile silhouette and turns it into something altogether more wearable outside the dance studio.

Think soft uppers, flat soles, a neat lace-up front and a slim shape. You may also see similar styles described as lace-up flats, soft Derby shoes or Oxfords.

They feel more substantial than a ballet pump, less formal than a brogue and rather more interesting than another pair of trainers.

Harper’s Bazaar has described jazz shoes as the latest progression of fashion’s ongoing love affair with dance-inspired footwear, following the return of ballet flats and other ballet-inspired styles. 

Why Jazz Shoes Work So Well for Autumn

This is one of those trends that is actually rather practical.

The closed toe makes jazz shoes an easy move into autumn, while their slim shape still feels light enough for those awkward transitional weeks when you are not quite ready for boots.

They are also incredibly easy to dress up or down. Wear them with jeans and a jumper during the day, add them to tailored trousers for work, or use them to give a dress or skirt a slightly less predictable finish.

That versatility is a big part of their appeal. Vogue describes them as the halfway point between a ballet flat and a slimline trainer, while current street-style looks pair jazz shoes with everything from tailoring and denim to skirts and trenches.

How to Wear Jazz Shoes

One of the nicest things about jazz shoes is that you really don’t need to reinvent your wardrobe to wear them.

With jeans

This is probably the easiest place to start.

Our own photographs show just how well the slim shape works with denim. Straight-leg, relaxed and slightly cropped jeans all leave enough of the shoe visible to show off the lace-up detail.

A pair of jazz flats, jeans and a soft jumper is about as simple as an autumn outfit gets, but the shoes make the whole thing look a little more considered.

With cropped or tailored trousers

Jazz shoes work particularly well when the trouser finishes around the ankle, allowing that lovely low silhouette to be seen.

For work, try them with tailored trousers, a simple shirt or fine knit and a blazer. ELLE has highlighted jazz shoes with tailoring as one of the key ways to wear the trend this autumn, including blazers, wide-leg trousers and more relaxed cropped shapes. 

With skirts and dresses

The slightly boyish lace-up shape is also rather good with something softer.

Try jazz shoes with a midi skirt and knit, or with a simple dress and tights once the temperature drops. They stop a feminine outfit feeling too sweet and give you a comfortable alternative to heels.

Current street-style coverage has also been pairing jazz flats with knee-length skirts, minis and tights for autumn.

With colour

You certainly don’t have to stick to black.

In fact, this is where Mandarina’s take on the jazz shoe really comes into its own. Marine blue, rich Fig and soft Slate give you all the versatility of a flat lace-up shoe without looking remotely boring.

Wear the colour as the focus of an otherwise simple outfit, or do things the Mandarina way and add even more colour.

Fun Lace-Up Jazz Shoes in Marine Blue

Our Marine blue suede jazz shoes are for anyone who thinks a sensible flat shoe should still make you smile.

The bright Marine blue suede is finished with contrasting black laces and a black patent heel tab, giving them a crisp, slightly graphic look.

They look particularly good with denim, as you can see in our photographs, but that beautiful blue would also work brilliantly against black, navy and neutral autumn layers.

Made in Spain especially for Mandarina, they have a real suede upper, leather lining, cushioned insole and non-slip rubber sole. The square toe and little 1.5cm block heel keep the shape smart without compromising on comfort.

Fun Lace-Up Jazz Shoes in Fig

Fig is the richer, moodier option and absolutely perfect for autumn.

This pair of deep burgundy suede jazz shoes has black laces and a contrasting heel detail, giving it enough definition to stand out without being difficult to wear.

Pair them with dark denim, black trousers or autumnal neutrals, or let the Fig colour sit alongside other rich seasonal shades.

Again, these are made from real suede, leather lined and lightly cushioned, with an adjustable lace-up front and non-slip rubber sole.

Fun Lace-Up Jazz Shoes in Slate

If you prefer your colour a little quieter, Slate may well be the one.

The soft airforce grey-blue suede has contrasting black laces, making this pair very easy to slot into an existing wardrobe.

Our photographs show them with both denim and darker cropped trousers, which sums up exactly why this colour works so well. They are understated without disappearing, and the blue-grey suede gives them much more interest than a standard black flat.

Like the Marine and Fig styles, the Slate suede jazz shoes are made in Spain with a real suede upper, leather lining, cushioned insole and practical non-slip sole.

Are Jazz Shoes Just a Passing Trend?

Fashion always moves on, but this particular shoe has a few things working in its favour.

The shape may be having a very fashionable moment, but jazz shoes are essentially simple, flat lace-up shoes. There are no enormous platforms, exaggerated heels or difficult proportions to date them quickly.

They also fit neatly into a much wider move towards slim, low-profile shoes, including ballet pumps, soft loafers and flatter lace-ups. Who What Wear has highlighted the Jazz Shoe trends throughout autumn 2026, while British Vogue has also noted the broader return of smart lace-up shoes this season. 

So yes, they are fashionable. But they are also comfortable, practical and remarkably easy to wear, which gives them a very good chance of sticking around.

Ready to Join the Jazz Shoe Craze?

If you love a flat shoe but fancy something a little different from another ballet pump, loafer or trainer, this could be your new favourite.

Choose rich Fig, cool Slate or brilliantly bold Marine blue and wear them with whatever you already love.

After all, the best trends are the ones that actually make getting dressed easier.

Be Mandarina. Buy Mandarina.