Today’s post was inspired by a reader request, which I am ecstatic about, because let’s be honest – any time I get asked to talk about shoes, I’m 100% down. Plus, I love getting suggestions on what you guys really want to see. I realize shoe shopping isn’t always easy. There are thousands of options to fill your shoe closet. A lot of them even fall at investment prices, and it’s hard to know what you’ll actually get good use out of. Furthermore, it can be a struggle to decide which trends to indulge in and which to leave.
To be completely honest, I thought giving you a shoe closet rundown would be a little easier. Turns out there are so many different occasions, seasons and situations in which we have to choose shoes for. It happens every day, obviously – we don’t leave the house without ’em! Plus, my shoe closet is probably a lot different than someone’s down in Texas or over in California. The weather determines what we cover our feet with more than anything.
So, I decided to break it down into some basics I believe every shoe closet should have. Then, I gave you some extras for fall & winter and spring & summer. Just in case you’re looking to expand your options a little. I am a believer that shoes truly make the outfit, but even I struggle sometimes. I’m definitely not always a pro at pairing, but I have been working to build a solid inventory with more curated options. The comprehensive list below gives you a pretty good idea of what I have on hand currently and will hopefully help you decide what may or may not be missing from your own shoe closet.
The basics
Staples to have in your closet all year round. Some of these are seasonal, so obviously your location could affect your shoe needs. I’ve created this list based on living in the Midwest where our seasons change four times a year.
- A pair of black & nude heels
- Loafers and/or mules
- Neutral ankle boots
- Medium brown riding boots
- Black or nude leather sandals
Fall + winter extras
I love having a wide variety of shoe options for fall and winter. There’s nothing better than topping off a denim & sweater outfit with a printed mule or boot. I wear my hiking boots all the time. Plus, staying warm is so important & Sorel boots are my favorite for solving that issue.
- Hiking boots with faux fur accent
- Sorel winter boots
- Heeled riding boots
- Textured or printed boot (think snake print – trending!)
- Flatforms
Spring + summer extras
One great part about buying shoes for spring & summer is you can find so many good deals. Last season, I found numerous pairs of sandals at Target on clearance. I don’t like to spend a lot of money on summer footwear because I feel the trends change quickly. So, invest in more basics & seek out cheaper statement pairs.
- White booties (trending!)
- Embellished sandals
- Pool slides
- Fun sneakers
- Neutral wedge
I would love to hear what you have in your shoe closet! Am I missing anything?
xoxo. B
I seriously used to HATE shoe shopping until only a few years ago … shoes are just not my thing! I don’t think I’m the best at knowing what shoes should go with what outfit, etc. So, that goes without saying that I pretty much stick to the basics that you shared here! I would like to add a pair of black ankle boots and those Steve Madden sandals (for California!) to my closet.
// Karly @ What Karly Said
It seriously is hard! There are so many to choose from & all the changing trends give me anxiety sometimes because I can’t keep up lol! Those Steve Madden sandals would be great in Cali!