the sunday brief | back to basics 10 essential shoes
since i’m a big believer that accessories make or break your outfit why don’t we take a look at shoes today? even if you aren’t a shoeaholic like carrie bradshaw in sex in the city who obsessively sported the latest louboutin’s, choo’s, and prada’s there are several pairs of shoes that are essential in every woman’s closet. and don’t worry, carrie might have had a larger shoe budget than most women but take heart as there is a brand out there that fits your price point. two of my favorite brands are quite affordable – nine west and j.crew. just take a peek at what the luxury brands offer then translate that ‘look’ to fit your budget.
what’s on my top ten list? let’s take a look.
black pumps
if you only owned one pair of shoes it would have to be black pumps. they go with everything. and are the perfect partner with suits or jeans. don’t forget there are a variety of heel heights to choose from.
nude pumps – just like their hard working sister, the black pump, nude pumps go with everything. when in doubt on what shoe to wear i always reach for nude. dress them up for work or down for the weekend. didn’t i tell you they work hard for their money?
running shoes – if you are headed to the gym or just a walk around the block you will want to have a pair of comfy running shoes on hand. but they also look great with jeans. nike and new balance are my favorite brands.
sandals – come summer you will want at least one pair of sandals on hand to flaunt those gorgeous pedicured toes. plus, your tootsies can enjoy those summer breezes.
everyday boots/booties – there are so many styles to choose from. so pick the ones you love most. my favorites are combat boots and suede booties.
rain boots – a must-have for those rainy days when you don’t want to risk ruining your favorite pair of shoes. hunters are my fav’s.
knee high or over the knee boots – i love a fab pair of riding boots in brown or black. but over-the-knee boots just take your outfit to the next level.
white tennis shoes – these babies are still on-trend and comfortable. what are you waiting for? i’ve been wearing keds since i was a kid.
ballet flats – my go-to shoe for skirts or jeans. or those days when i know i’ll log in more than one mile.
pointy-toed flats – some women look at pointy-toed shoes and think they are uncomfortable. but if you choose the correct size this shouldn’t be an issue. pointy-toed flats elevate your outfit and are the perfect choice in lieu of ballet flats.
metallic shoes – if you have been following the blog for any length of time you know i’m a big fan of metallic shoes and always keep a pair or two on hand. why, you ask? because they act as a neutral and go with just about anything and everything.
all right, ladies, these are my tope 10 must-have shoes. of course, once the basics are safely tucked inside your closet that’s when you branch out and add on anything that suits your fancy.
happy sunday!
I was never a big”shoe” person UNTIL Plantar Fascilitis and Freibergs Syndrome and now I realize several things: 1. No one should wear inexpensive high heels 24/7, you have no idea of the damage being done to your feet,not to mention the ugly shoes that away, haha and 2. How much shoes really do make or in my case “break” an outfit…I can wear very few shoes…even comfort brands..Munro is about it and even then only for a few hours at a time.
I have had surgery for the PF and its much better but if I want to do long term walking i.e. on a trip or in a city shopping all day,I have to wear custom orthotics and athletic shoes which means no pretty dresses or skirts. To further complicate the matter, the orthotics are wide width so that narrows my options down to a few pair of ugly but pricey shoes…do not want to sound negative but its very discouraging. I see all of your fabulous outfits and shoes and wish I could wear them. I am posting this in hopes I can help someone else not make the mistakes I did with shoe choices in my 20s and 30s.
thanks for stopping by! xo
Why yes, I am a shoeaholic. I love shoes, but not in a Carrie Bradshaw way. I skipped that whole thing while having and raising a baby. There are no high heels in my closet, and no ridiculously expensive shoes either. I have found a wonderful consignment store, where people take their online shopping mistakes. Yay for me, because most often these mistakes are made by other people with narrow feet (unworn at a fraction of their purchase price). Woohoo!
My latest shoe crush is Poppy Barley, which come in different widths, but are out of my budget for now.
Still love Keds!
consignment shops are a great place to shop if there’s a good one! i may or may not be jealous as i have to zip down to atlanta for that sort of shopping. but good for you!
i have to check out poppy barley as that is a new brand to me. thanks for the tip.
xo
I admit it: I love shoes, and I have lots of ’em. I put insoles in all of them, because my feet have always been extremely narrow and I guess I’d say “bony”–I don’t have lots of padding on them, and so they hurt if I don’t use something to cushion my feet. Mostly, I wear flats these days, and thankfully, there are tons of gorgeous ones out there.
That said, I do love how heels look on anyone. Your recommendations are all great. Several of those you profiled are in my closet!
Terrific shoe ideas and fun video. I am a big fan of flats and have really never been a wearer of heels although I do love kitten and block heels. I hope that in the near future, you will do a similar post and video about that fabulous collection of handbags that you have. I am looking forward to the additional video days that you will be presenting. I know they take lots of work and appreciate all your efforts in making this blog so informational and fun.
awww, you just made my day, rebecca! it is a lot of work but at the same time it doesn’t feel like work at all because it’s FUN! we should have a handbags video in the near future. so stay tuned.
xo
Beth,
From one shoeaholic to another, I’m right in step with you! Cheers, Veronica http://webbonthefly.com
hi veronica! thanks for stopping by. can we ever have too many shoes?! so happy i have a faithful shoe lover right by my side.
xo