When people ask me if I collect anything, are shoes a fair answer? I can’t be the only one who may or may not have toooooo many pairs of shoes. With a shoe rack that’s overflowing and (several) pairs I haven’t touched in ages, I’m long overdue for a good shoe audit. And it got me thinking: How many pairs of shoes do I really need?
In the depths of my pondering, I calculated that the answer is seven. I’ve curated a capsule wardrobe that carries over from season to season, and it’s fine time that I do the same for my shoe collection. A well-rounded, versatile, and high-quality collection of shoes serves a much more efficient purpose than having pairs falling out of my closet every time I open it.
These shoes check the boxes for every possible event you could have in a year, from weddings to errand-running to braving a sleet storm. Think of these as your ultimate shoe capsule wardrobe.
1. Sneakers
You can’t deny the importance of a pair of sneakers in your wardrobe. Whether you wear yours with trousers to the office or pair them with your favorite jeans and black top for nights out, they’re the comfortable, do-it-all shoe that you turn to on repeat. It only makes sense that when you choose a pair, they should go with the majority of your wardrobe. Whether you want a classic white pair or a pair that will add some color to your outfits, these pairs will be the gift that keeps on giving.
2. Ballet Flats
Long gone are the days of the stinky, dilapidated ballet flats of the early aughts; in 2024, they’re all grown up and deserve a permanent spot in your wardrobe. It’s always a treat when something classic is also considered on-trend, and thus is the case for ballet flats. From edgy mesh versions to classic black ones, there’s a pair that’ll compliment anyone’s existing wardrobe.
3. Comfortable Heels
Even if you don’t consider yourself a heel person, it’s inevitable that your year will include events that require them. Rather than scrambling and buying a pair from Target that falls apart before I get off the dance floor of the first wedding I wear them to, I recently invested in a quality pair—and I couldn’t believe how much more comfortable they were. I opted for a neutral color that will go with every dressed-up event I have throughout the year, and my feet are celebrating fewer blisters in the coming future.
4. Flat Sandals
No summer is complete without the pair of sandals you reach for every single day. Regardless of if you prefer a strappy pair or one that you can leave by the door to slip on and go, it’s important you opt for a pair that’s comfortable enough to spend the entirety of the warmer months in. I’m happy to report that my days of paper-thin, worn-out Old Navy flip-flops are over, and that my current sandals last more than one season.
5. Loafers
From office days to an afternoon spent bopping around your city, a pair of loafers is the perfect flat shoe option for days you want to look chic, but also might hit your 10k steps before you get home. We’re partial to ones with a slight lug sole that are durable, walkable, and bring a menswear-inspired vibe to an outfit.
6. Knee-High Boots
There will always be a time and place for a pair of classic knee-high boots. Be it with a mini skirt for transitional spring weather or with wide-leg jeans draped over them for the office, they give an inherent element of sophistication to just about anything. There was a time I didn’t have a pair in my closet, and I felt the void constantly. If you opt for a timeless pair, they’re a shoe you can reach for to elevate your outfits for years to come.
7. Heeled Booties
Gen-Z has been preaching that booties are out all over TikTok, but I respectfully disagree. A pair of heeled booties is an absolute necessity in a shoe collection, no matter who you are or where you live. I’m putting the scuffed, lug-sole pair from my college days aside and opting for a sleek, heeled pair that can be worn casually or dressed-up depending on what I need that day.
