"As someone who’s been a fashion editor for over four years, my brain usually feels like a rolodex of what’s happening in the industry at any given time: the “aesthetic” that’s going viral on TikTok, the micro-trend that’s about to take over, the shoes I need to write about before they’re sold out. I have my personal style down pat, but sometimes, all this knowledge can be the opposite of helpful and lead to a bit of decision fatigue instead.
If it isn’t going to make me feel like I’m wrapped up in a warm hug, I’m not wearing it.
I learned long ago that hopping on the bandwagon of every trend—despite it being my literal job to now about them—wasn’t conducive to style that felt like me. I make a conscious effort to only add or remove things from my closet based on how I truly feel about them, rather than what social media or seasonal trends deem “out.” So when I realized what was once a wardrobe staple for me had become completely obsolete in my outfits, I knew that it was coming from a place deep inside me that was yearning to branch out. The shoe that got the boot? My black booties (pun intended).
Social media has likely told you that wearing a pair of black booties is like having a neon sign over your head that says “I’m a millennial,” and while I don’t agree with this—just wear what you want, I’m begging you—over the past year or so, my booties have felt a bit… lackluster. I’d put together an outfit I love, only to finish it with booties that felt like didn’t make the statement I look for in my footwear. Don’t get me wrong: I haven’t gotten rid of my black booties, but lately, they’ve been put on pause in exchange for these three styles of shoes.
1. Loafers
Loafers have a reputation for being synonymous with workwear, but I’ve taken the opposite approach to them by adding pairs that feature metallics and prints to my closet. My silver loafers have become my most-worn shoes by a mile, and I love the effect the metallic gives to my outfits so much that I recently added a gold pair to my arsenal, too. I find a pair with a traditional sole to be pretty foolproof, and love the put-together effect they give all silhouettes of denim (even those tough-to-style barrel legs).
2. Colorful Sneakers
If you ran into me six out of seven days a week, I’d be wearing a pair of sneakers. My love is partially because of being a walker (if where I’m headed is less than two miles away, you can catch me walking there), but it’s also because I find them to perfectly compliment my casual-cool style. While I once had half-a-dozen white pairs in my closet, I’ve since swapped them for colorful options that I’m unable to stop reaching for. My friends joke that I have half of an Adidas store in my closet (this is true), but I’d take a colorful shoe over a neutral any day of the week. My current favorite color combination? Pairing my light blue Adidas Spezials with shades of burgundy.
Ballet flats have transitioned from being a controversial trend to such a staple that it’s hard to imagine a time when they weren’t a part of my life. I own about five pairs that I alternate between year-round, and find that there’s quite literally nothing they can’t do (except perhaps survive a snowy Chicago day—but I forgive them for this). Wearing a sweater and mini skirt? Ballet flats. Wearing jeans and a denim button-up? Ballet flats. As with all my footwear, I personally gravitate toward pairs with bold accents—of which there are many on the market right now—and thank them for being the closet workhorse I didn’t know I needed.
Madeline Galassi, Senior Fashion & Beauty Editor
Madeline Galassi is the Fashion & Beauty Editor at The Everygirl, where she oversees the fashion and beauty categories of the site. She brainstorms, writes, and edits stories across a broad range of topics including trend reports, product reviews, celebrity style, and more. She’s always keeping a pulse on the latest trends to create timely, exciting content for our readers.