Shopping For : Spring Shoes

It has been a long road to get to spring shoes this year, filled with winter boots, thick socks and covered legs in order to keep your toes in tact. I especially look forward to warm weather since I like the footwear for those seasons so much more.

 I hate wearing tights to begin with, but by the end of the winter pulling on black tights just seems downright torturous. The same can be said for boots. April rolls around and the boots I loved all winter begin to resemble straitjackets for my feet.

But we have made it to May and the warm weather again! As I've mentioned in a few of my posts, I tend to shop both high-end and low-end for my clothing, loving some Old Navy pieces as much as I love designer items. But shoes are one of the categories I don't like to skimp on. I think faux leather looks like, well, faux leather. I'd rather spend a little more money and get some nicer shoes than cheaper ones. It's easy to pass off low-end clothing as higher-end, but with shoes you aren't fooling anybody.

The beauty of a nice pair of shoes is that it can transform your entire outfit. You could be wearing a plain white tee shirt and basic skinny jeans then slip into some amazing shoes and suddenly your outfit went from simple to stylish. While I do have a few pairs of crazier shoes, for the most part I stick to neutrals that I can get a lot of wear out of. I know that I will wear black, nude and brown shoes often, so I don't worry about investing in shoes in those colors. 

I have been adding probably too many shoes to my wardrobe this spring [insert 'speak no evil' monkey emoji here], but all have been thoughtful and deliberate. My biggest addiction has been espadrilles, I just love them soo much. They are comfortable, casual, easy to walk a lot in, come in an array of colors, fabrics and designs...I digress. But of the new spring shoes I have purchased they are all pairs I can wear to work, in my free time and with many outfits, ie. they are very versatile.

When deciding how to transition your wardrobe for a new season, I suggest picking at least one pair of shoes to purchase that is fashion-forward but neutral. By pairing these shoes with your existing wardrobe you look instantly current and on-trend, and the neutral color means you can wear it often with many items. Definitely important when dropping some decent money on shoes. 

I've round up a few of my favorite picks for this spring below. All fashion-forward and unique but neutral enough to wear all the time. Anyone have a favorite shoe this season I should know about?

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Wear Now, Wear Later : Leather Espadrilles

I fell hard for espadrilles last year and my love affair with them has continued on strong into this spring. I recently picked up Soludos Oui/Non smoking slippers (as seen in this post and currently on sale) and found myself wearing them constantly. As much as I love the blue chambray and cheeky french words, I needed a more basic pair of espadrilles that I could wear all the time and with everything. To fulfill my espadrille needs I turned again to Soludos and picked up their Leather Platform Smoking Slipper. 

Originally torn between the tan and the black, I end up settling on the black. Simple and sleek, these shoes walk the line between casual Vans sneaker and beachy sandal, making them perfect for everyday wear. Since adding them to my wardrobe I have had these shoes in constant rotation, wearing them to walk to work, casually with ripped boyfriend jeans and even pairing them with a springy dress. As the perfect shoe for spring and transitioning into summer, these Soludos are my most recent pick for Wear Now, Wear Later.

An amazing multi-tasking piece, these espadrilles pair just as well with casual separates as they do with a cute romper. Temperatures are still a little chilly, so keep cozy while you transition into summer with a sweater on top and soft shorts on the bottom. When the hot summer weather sets in, keep your espadrilles in rotation by pairing them with this printed romper and sunglasses, perfect for a day of brunching or lounging outside.

Did I also mention that these shoes are amazingly comfortable? Anything I can comfortably wear commuting and still feel stylish in is a major win. For the amount of times and ways to wear them, they may just be the best $99 I’ve spent this season. I highly recommend this basic staple as something you won’t soon regret! And who doesn’t need a new pair of black shoes anyway?

Key Piece : Soludos Leather Smoking Slipper

1. Enza Costa Sweater

3. Quay Sunglasses

2. Paige Tatum Shorts

4. Mansur Gavriel

5. Cupcakes and Cashmere Jaxon Romper

6. Rebecca Minkoff Love Bag

7.Valley Wolfgang Sunglasses

8. Rag & bone Straw Panama Hat

Spring Stripes

This weekend we had my most favorite weather ever in NYC - cool enough to bring a jacket but warm enough in the sun that you don’t really need it. My parents were visiting this weekend so I was out and about all day Saturday. The nice weather was perfect for light layers, so I opted for a few of my favorite casual pieces - white jeans, striped tee and army jacket.