I thought it would be a good idea to look at trans-seasonal footwear for today's post. I have a lot of shoes; I feel I am well qualified to talk about this subject as I have spent many years frantically trying to source the perfect shoe collection. I'm certainly nowhere near there, but I have found that there are certain styles which will work harder than others and be a multi use staple in your shoedrobe for years to come. Case in point: I have a pair of black pointed courts which I have worn for years, I have a pair of wedge trainers (!) which I have worn maybe twice. Some shoes just bring more, and to have a concise list of those is something I've tried to do here.
As it happens, these styles are all from Betty London, which is one of my favourite under the radar brands. I really don't know why these shoes aren't more widely available; they are incredibly well made, high quality and also extremely affordable. I have a pair of chelsea boots and several pairs of ballet shoes by the brand and they count among my most worn footwear.
I also seem to have gravitated to all black shoes, which may seem a little boring but actually, a well made and high quality shoe finishes off an outfit better than a garishly coloured pair ever could, in my opinion. I love the little details that set the shoes apart; it could be an extra buckle, a tassel or a block heel but all these small design details sets them apart from simply being a functional piece of footwear. Which conversely they all are as well; no teetering heels or wobbly wedges here, just intrinsically stylish shoes that will elevate and add an chic element to any look.
To wit, then, the key components for a perfect shoedrobe would include the following, as shown:
-The espadrille. What could be more perfect to team with a high summer denim short and breton stripe, or a springtime cuffed jean and slouchy sweater? The slimline rope wedge adds a touch of Parisienne chic to your daily look, and who doesn't love a bit of that?
-The mannish loafer. Again with a skinny jean or 7/8 trouser, or even a mini and tights, this shoe grounds a girlie look and gives it an edge. I like the sumptuous suede of this pair and the tassel which makes it a little more interesting than the average smoking slipper.
-The ballerina. Say no more, the black ballerina is the absolute linchpin of my shoedrobe. I wear them with everything, from skinny jeans, to peg trousers, to mini dresses with bare legs in the summertime for a hint of Hepburn gamine. They are comfortable and practical whilst maintaining a feminine edge.
-The black ankle boot. Again, another stalwart in my shoedrobe, be it a chelsea boot or a kicky ankle number, a black boot looks great with skinnies or to edge up a dress and is perfect to wear when the weather aint all that, which is unfortunately fairly often in the UK. This pair in particular made my wishlist thanks to the simple shape and small block heel.
-The pointed court. A classic, the LBD of the shoe world, works with boyfriend jeans, a cocktail dress, any outfit you'd care to throw at it, it will take on and make elegant and sophisticated. If you buy one shoe to add to your collection that you don't already have, make it a black court. You won't regret it.
-A simple sandal. For spring into summer, nothing is as nice as being able to get a pedicure and get your toes out of hibernation. The perfect showcase? A simple, chunky strapped sandal, with a slight heel, which makes the transition much easier than via a flimsy flip flop. The heel adds smartness but it's an all-day appropriate height and the thick straps in the darker shade mean it will be a great basic for everyday.
I realise that I've missed a couple of styles from my list, I think I would have been better off with a sports shoe in there too, such as a converse or superga, but it's not an exhaustive list and I think it is a good starting point to use to look at your shoe collection and identify where the gaps are! That's the thing about shoes; there's always room for a new pair!
XO Amie
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