The buying season for autumn 2026 is now largely complete. As the next season approaches, retailers are shifting their focus to adjustments and additional buying opportunities. The in-season period provides a chance to respond to rapidly changing demand, new trends and unexpected bestsellers. Which styles remain commercially reliable? Where is demand shifting? What price points ensure a good sell-through rate? FashionUnited spoke with several Dutch retailers and trend experts about the key footwear trends and market developments.
Autumn 2026 trends through the eyes of Coef
Coef is a Dutch fashion retailer with seven stores across the Netherlands. FashionUnited spoke with a buyer at the company, Yahya Öztürk.
At Coef, the vintage running segment remains the biggest draw, with tech-inspired retro models currently selling extremely well. “Think of the 1906 model from New Balance and the Kayano 14s from Asics,” Öztürk told FashionUnited. The retailer expects this trend to peak in summer 2026. According to the buying team, a clear shift towards a more formal silhouette is emerging for autumn. Loafers, dress boots and moc-toe lace-ups are gaining ground, but with lightweight, sneaker-like soles for comfort. “The Kleman Padror is a perfect example of this,” said Öztürk.
In the womenswear collection, the return of the boot is particularly noticeable. This segment is remarkably trend-sensitive. Female consumers quickly adopt a trend but abandon it just as fast, whereas men remain loyal to a current style for longer.
Physical stores remain central to Coef
Physical stores remain the cornerstone of the strategy, although e-commerce plays a significant role for scarce products. Coef sees an online peak for hard-to-find models due to its national reach and targeted searches by article number or specific colourway. The buying focus is now shifting heavily towards price and sell-through rate. The optimal price point is around 170 to 180 euros; models priced above 200 euros demonstrably sell more slowly. Colour is also a determining factor for success. When a style can be bought in multiple versions, one distinct colourway—currently variants with brown or earth tones—often accounts for the majority of sales.
Comfort is a fundamental requirement in the selection process, evident in the emphasis on sole construction and wearability. Sustainability is approached through longevity and long-term relevance rather than explicitly ‘vegan’ or experimental materials, which are less popular in footwear, according to Öztürk. The collection structure for autumn 2026 also shows how fast the market has become. Approximately 20 percent consists of carry-over styles from previous seasons, compared to 80 percent new models. Classic styles are giving way to continuous innovation, driven by social media, which makes consumers seek out the latest models and colourways more quickly.
