Capsule Wardrobe

The 7 Shoe Styles Everyone Should Have In Their Closet

written by BELLA GIL

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Source: @dolcevita
Source: @dolcevita

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.

shoe capsule wardrobe
adidas
Samba OG Shoes

19 colors available

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shoe capsule wardrobe
adidas
Gazelle Bold Sneakers

11 colors available

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shoe capsule wardrobe
Veja
Campo Leather Sneakers
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shoe capsule wardrobe
New Balance
327 Sneakers
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2. Ballet Flats

https://www.instagram.com/p/Czutt89Lwx1/?img_index=1

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.

shoe capsule wardrobe
Everlane
The Day Ballet Flats

6 colors available

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shoe capsule wardrobe
Bernardo Footwear
Square Toe Ballet Flats

7 colors available

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shoe capsule wardrobe
Rothy’s
The Square Mary Jane Flats

8 colors available

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shoe capsule wardrobe
Dolce Vita
Patent Leather Mary Janes

5 colors available

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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.

shoe capsule wardrobe
Larroude
Ines Pumps

6 colors available

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shoe capsule wardrobe
Sam Edelman
Bianka Slingback Pumps

16 colors available

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shoe capsule wardrobe
Jeffrey Campbell
Estella Slingback Pumps

5 colors available

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shoe capsule wardrobe
Sam Edelman
Kia Strappy Sandals

5 colors available

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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.

shoe capsule wardrobe
Dolce Vita
Starla Strapped Sandals

7 colors available

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shoe capsule wardrobe
Schutz
Enola Woven Strap Sandals

3 colors available

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shoe capsule wardrobe
Sam Edelman
Bay Cutout Sandals

15 colors available

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shoe capsule wardrobe
Tory Burch
Classic Flip Flops

9 colors available

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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.

shoe capsule wardrobe
G.H.Bass
Whitney Super Lug Weejuns Loafers

3 colors available

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shoe capsule wardrobe
J.Crew
Winona Lug-Sole Penny Loafers

4 colors available

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shoe capsule wardrobe
Sam Edelman
Loraine Bit Loafers

25 colors available

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shoe capsule wardrobe
COACH
Leah Loafers

4 colors available

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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.

shoe capsule wardrobe
Vince Camuto
Sangeti Boots

5 colors available

Wide-calf available

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shoe capsule wardrobe
Schutz
Maryana Pointed Toe Boots

5 colors available

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shoe capsule wardrobe
Franco Sarto
Informa West Knee High Boots

4 colors available

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shoe capsule wardrobe
Jeffrey Campbell
Sincerely Knee High Boots

3 colors available

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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.

shoe capsule wardrobe
Franco Sarto
Gracelyn Zip Boots

4 colors available

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shoe capsule wardrobe
Everlane
The Banana Heel Boots

3 colors available

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shoe capsule wardrobe
Vagabond Shoemakers
Hedda Booties
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shoe capsule wardrobe
ALOHAS
Austin Boots
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