How many times do you get dressed and then stress about whether your shoes work with the outfit?? I’ll bet it happens more times than we care to admit. 9 times out of 10 the issue is … you don’t have your shoe basics covered. Well today, we are taking a step in the right direction and helping you simplify your life this season by sharing shoe essentials!
While it may be easy to dismiss your shoes and accessories are unimportant, they actually can make or break your outfit! Below, I’m covering the seven pairs of shoes you need in your closet this fall to make your wardrobe fashionable and functional. Consider this your must-have shoe capsule…
Huge thank you to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
7 Must-Have Fall Shoes
#1 | Black Casual Booties
First on your must-have shoe list for fall… casual black booties. I recommend black because it is the most versatile, wearable color. Black will literally go with everything. However, if your closet has a lot more browns, tans, and beiges, and you don’t really wear black, a pair of dark brown booties can also work beautifully.
I’m wearing a pair of black Dolce Vita Chelsea booties. Chelsea booties are great because they have block heels which make them easier to walk in. This particular pair has an elongating, flattering pointed toe (but not too narrow) and a comfortable and manageable 2-inch block heel. I linked several Chelsea boot options below for your consideration if you do not already own a pair. You can wear these booties with jeans and a blazer for an elevated casual look like I did. Or style them with a dress or skirt for a chic and casual fall look. If you can find a pair of casual black booties you really love, you’ll be able to wear them with almost everything in your closet! Versatility is really the name of the shoe game.
#2 | Black Dressy Booties
Next on the must-have shoe capsule list for fall… dressy black booties. I’m wearing a pair of Veronica Beard suede booties I’ve had for years and wear every single fall and winter. The 3” stiletto heel, suede texture, and sleek pointed-toe make these booties much dressier than the last pair. They’re also very comfortable and easy to walk in *for heels*. I wouldn’t recommend anything as a shoe basic that isn’t comfortable too. I styled these booties with wide leg jeans, but I also love wearing these with dresses and skirts. The reason a dressy black bootie is so key is because you need a pair you can pull out in a pinch to wear with your dresses and skirts that will elevate the outfit vs. bring it down. The dressy black bootie will also look sleek and sophisticated with your jeans and blouse for dinners out or Friday’s at the office. If you’re looking for a more affordable dressy boot option, I linked another pair below that I have and love.
#3 | Knee High Boots
Knee-high boots are also an essential part of your shoe-drobe. I’ve had these Schutz boots for 3+ years and love pulling them out each fall. More than 3 years for a pair of boots is pretty awesome and they still look brand new! If you’re not a huge fan of heels or already have a dressier pair of knee-high boots, you might opt for flat knee-high boots or ones with a block heel instead. These styles will definitely look more casual, though, so that’s a consideration especially since these boots may be the option you reach for again and again for dresses and skirts. If you want a modern edge, look for western details, which is huge in fashion right now thanks in large part to Beyoncé going country. These boots have a cool croc-embossed texture, a flattering pointed toe, and a manageable 3.5” heel. The heel is pretty high, but these boots are super manageable to walk in *for heels*. I love styling these with dresses and skirts because they really dial up the sexy. But you could also wear them with skinny jeans for a more casual look.
If you’re wondering what shoes to wear with different jean styles, make sure you check out our super helpful guide!
#4 | Light Booties
Having a lighter pair of booties in your closet for fall is nice for those days when your outfit calls for a lighter color palette. For example, I wear a lot of ivory, creams, beige, browns, and tans. And while I love to mix brown and black together in outfits, sometimes I like to keep it all light and neutral. That’s why when I saw these ivory Marc Fisher booties during the NSale this year, I knew they would work seamlessly into my wardrobe! They have a manageable 2.5” block heel that is super easy to walk in, and they’re comfy. Brown tones would also work beautifully in your shoe capsule. Dark brown may actually be even more versatile than ivory. It’s all about what will work best with the pieces you already own as well as your color preferences. I’m wearing the booties with a pair of flare jeans and a sweater …the quintessential fall outfit! All I need now is a scarf 😉
#5 | Slingbacks
Now that we’ve covered all of the boots and booties you need for fall, let’s dive into some non-boot options! First up is a pair of slingbacks. Slingbacks have been on-trend for the past few seasons and I don’t see them going anywhere anytime soon. Which means it’s time to start incorporating them into your shoe capsule. I got these gorgeous white slingbacks by Sam Edelman during the NSale this year and love them SO much. They’re ladylike, sleek, modern, and sophisticated. They also come in black if that works better with your wardrobe. They have a teeny tiny kitten heel that’s super easy to walk in, I love the hardware on the tie that looks designer, and the slingback strap is adjustable so they won’t slip off your heels. These look quite lovely with a pair of trousers for the office but also look elegant with a dress or skirt. (On the comfort scale, these are a 6 out of 10 – 10 being the most comfortable- and do require some breaking in time.)
#6 | Light Sneakers
If you don’t already have a pair of comfortable, chic, casual sneakers in your closet in a lighter color…now’s the time! Even if you already have some and are just thinking about updating or upgrading, I found a really great, affordable pair by Dolce Vita. They come in a zillion colors, are incredibly comfortable, and I love the multi-media look. These look great styled with a cropped pair of jeans but I’ll wear these with full length jeans, casual dresses, and shorts in the summer too.
#7 | Black Sneakers
For a more elevated (pun intended) pair of sneakers, try some with a little platform! Platform sneakers are great when you want to wear a pair of jeans you normally wear with heels or when you just want a little extra height. This pair of black platform sneakers by Veronica Beard is so comfy! I love the super versatile black and white color combo that will go with everything this fall/winter. I think it’s ideal to have both a lighter pair of chic sneakers and a dark pair as well. You will definitely wear both all the time! I lstyled these VB slip-on sneakers with some cool cuffed jeans and a chic twist-front sweater but there are endless outfit options for these sneakers. If you’re looking for a more affordable and sporty pair of black sneakers for your fall shoe capsule, try the New Balance 327s.
Must-Have Fall Shoes
Let’s recap…these are the 7 pairs of versatile shoes for fall that you will wear on repeat. Which of these do you still need in your closet? Let us know in the comments below!
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