Shopping vintage is second-nature to many of us these days. It makes sense: not only is it possible to track down rare fashion treasures—like vintage heels—that none of your friends have, you can also buy them at a fraction of the original price.
But while archival It-bags have reached the mainstream, vintage shoes is one category that’s still often overlooked. That’s likely down to an element of the ick factor and concern over wear and tear – although, of course, there are countless shoe restoration services out there. Luckily, that sentiment is beginning to change – thanks to the likes of Bella Hadid, who was spotted at Cannes ’24 wearing a pair of highly sought-after pink Prada kitten heels.
In 2025, Vestiaire Collective reported that searches for vintage heels had gone up 37 per cent year on year, citing Dior, Gucci and Prada as the three most popular brands to buy pre-loved. Since then, we’ve witnessed the Chanel-ification of the fashion conversation that has followed Matthieu Blazy’s debut show in Paris in October that year. Rapturously received by critics, his designs are also—crucially—going down a storm with customers: editors stood in line for Blazy’s Chanel shoes when they dropped in boutiques during Paris Fashion Week.
All of this has had a knock-on effect for vintage shoppers, too – British Vogue’s senior commerce writer Alice Cary tells me that, “in an effort to wean myself off wearing trainers 24/7”, and having already snagged a pair of pre-loved Old Céline almond pumps for £5 at a consignment store in Japan, she’s currently trawling for a colourful vintage heel “inspired by Matthieu Blazy’s cult Chanel styles” for the summer.
Then there’s 2026’s other big fashion story: the Love Story effect. The Disney+ show introduced a new generation to the eternally aspirational wardrobe of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy – from her buttery blonde highlights down to her minimalist Manolo heels. Anyone seeking to emulate the New York PR’s ’90s style could do worse than to start with a scroll of eBay or Vestiaire Collective – resale sites have a wealth of pre-loved black Manolo Blahnik pumps to choose from.
Below, see the best vintage heels to invest in now.
Chanel pumps
A first quarter defined by “intense shopper demand and peak cultural visibility” put Chanel firmly at the top of Lyst’s hottest brand index when it was issued at the end of April, and British Vogue has already noted how Blazy’s prim and proper footwear has helped to inform the defining shoe shape of 2026. If budget prohibits you from investing in the latest collections, then a pre-loved classic Chanel shoe is a sensible (not to mention sustainable) alternative.
