Regardless of how fashion savvy you are, you can’t deny the power of some good shoes. You could wear jeans and a tee every single day, and changing up your shoe choices makes it a whole new outfit. However, we obviously don’t have all the money in the world to buy all the best shoes on the market (and trust us, there are so many this year!). We weigh our priorities, think of a few outfit ideas, and decide what pairs we absolutely have to have (and which we can skip).
This fall, we played that same game, and these are the ones we actually chose to add to our collections. We’re going into why we love them, how they fit into our closets, and our favorite outfit pairings.
I just cant help myself... I'm in love with these knee high snakeskin boots. The it-boot of the season is just as slouchy as it is structured, and hits right below the knee. This gorgeous pair combines two trends of the season (knee-high boots and snakeskin!) and is more affordable than any other pair I've found. You'll see me wearing these with skinny jeans and sweater dresses until spring.
I bought these shoes for the office in October and totally love them! I’m dabbling with leopard print so I love that these look on trend without being too showy. They also fit and feel like slippers so they have been the perfect shoes to slide into after my walk to work in the November Chicago snow.
These are by far some of my favorite boots I've ever owned — so much so that I ended up buying them in black after I received my snakeskin ones from the Nordstrom sale. I'm constantly on the search for booties that are tight enough around my ankles, and these are high and tight, so I can wear them with any pair of jeans (and they look amazing with skirts too). The heel is higher than my usual go-tos but hasn't bothered me whatsoever. I'd go as far as saying these are the perfect boot (bonus: they're sustainable!).
I bought these combat boots this fall in preparation for Chicago winters and I’m so glad that I did! During crisp autumn days and early city snowfall, these bad boys have provided me protection from cold feet, rain, and slush and have allowed me to make every sweater-jeans-scarf combo look extra trendy with minimal effort. 10/10 recommend investing in a pair if you haven’t already!
I had this whole fall wardrobe thing planned out in my head filled with long maxi dresses, chunky sweaters, plaid skirts, and lots of boots. Seriously. All. The. Boots. As these things usually go, my style didn’t change overnight. New year, same me, as always. So, before I went head-first into the knee-high boot trend, I grabbed these from Target to test if I’d actually wear them. These are the perfect heel height for my walk to the bus to get to the office, but they still look nice for dinner and drinks after work.
I’ve been wanting a pair of boots for fall and winter that’s somewhere between a bootie and a snow boot — so when I saw these I thought they were PERFECT and I had to get them. I’m obsessed with the unique color and the cool casual style. Catch me in these all winter long!
When it comes to cold-weather shoes, I'm not one for creativity. I want my shoes to get me from Point A to Point B while looking cute — nothing more, nothing less. I bought these booties from Old Navy last year in tan, but knew I needed them in black this year too. They hold up well in the weather, look cute with either dresses or jeans, and the price tag can't be beat. I love that they're not trendy (and therefore won't be "out" by February) but are cute enough to feel good in. If you need a basic waterproof option for everyday life, this is it!
When it comes to fall shoes, I always need to have a staple classic black Chlesea boot in my closet. Cole Haan has been my go-to company for these for the past 6 years. Although they can get to be on the pricier side, the quality is unparalleled (I’ve literally worn the same pair for 4 years, and just in year 4 noticed that they were starting to scuff a bit). These newer versions of the ones I’ve worn all those years finally arrived at Nordstrom, and naturally, I rushed to add it to my cart. I especially love how the bottom part is brown and with a short heel, and these can be styled with all sorts of outfits with their neutral and versatile color and shape. They work great with skirts, dresses, pants, and leggings, and for a whole range of occasions!
Last year, I was walking to work with the wind in my hair, blissfully feeling like a chic ass lady when the woman in front of me on the sidewalk stopped, turned, and literally said, "please pass me, you sound like a Clydesdale." Needless to say, I felt awkward stomping around in my high heeled booties after that. BUT NEVER FEAR. I have conquered my phobia with these minimal lovelies. They are ultra flattering (not to mention comfortable) and make me feel like a million dollars or the coolest Clydesdale horse in the world. Take that, random woman.
I’m all for an animal print shoe! I actually got the heel version of these boots but they’re no longer available so I’m sharing the next best ones. These booties would look so good with some leather leggings and an oversized, neutral sweater for a night out with the girls or date night! These can also easily be worn all year round, which I will definitely be doing!
After taking a dive in a brown snow slush, it was time to finally retire my beloved Tretorn sneakers. And by retire, I mean still kept to wear but they no longer passed for "fashion sneakers". Damn you white cloth sneakers. Then after repeatedly seeing our cofounder Danielle in the Veja sneakers, I was #influenced and purchased them. The shape is more elevated than my previous pair, so I like how chic they look with everything from dresses to boyfriend jeans. Plus, the leather means they are more durable and easier to keep pristine. After a few days of wearing them in, these are perfect.
