Getting to the root of the problem … footwear

Footwear… that is often the root of the problem and the area that most of my clients struggle with. Quite simply, not having the right footwear will mean your outfits often don’t work. So here is a little guide to the styles you should consider this autumn – as ever you need to make sure your lifestyle and style are at the forefront of the choices you make.

What to put on your feet

Trainers are a staple, a uniform even, but as with everything, it might not be the case that one style will do everything you need. I have 3 main styles in my wardrobe:

1. A chunkier, sporty style trainer – like a New Balance for example – and I would wear this with my leggings and occasionally a boyfriend/straight leg style jean. I wouldn’t tend to pair with a wide leg jean or trouser because it then starts to feel a bit bottom heavy and clumpy.
2. A flat form trainer – this is partly because I am short so it helps me to cheat a few extra cms!! But also practically when I wear a wide leg full length style (be that denim or trouser) I want this to work with a trainer as well as as a heeled boot. So the flatf orm trainer is the solution which means I don’t need two pairs of trousers to wear with different footwear. Just to caveat this: if you wear vertiginous heels then this won’t work!
3. A smarter leather trainer that isn’t exclusively white –  I have talked about this a lot on Instagram why I don’t think a plain white trainer is the right option but this is particularly relevant for the winter.  The rest of your outfit will likely be darker and a bright white trainer will look, at best stark, and at worst slightly at odds and unbalanced from a colour perspective. So go for a style that mixes different elements such as a Samba or a style that has a flash of leopard on it etc.

Shoes – the area that seems to be lacking in many wardrobes! Probably because of the rise of the trainer which is now totally acceptable in more or less any circumstance but actually doesn’t always do the job. So I will say it again – you do need some shoes!!! How many pairs will depend on your lifestyle but consider the following:

1. A loafer  –  a style perennial that is ideal for the office and works in a smart casual context too but definitely doesn’t feel evening-y so if you don’t have the need of one for work then this might not be the right choice. Also keep in mind this is not the best choice if you have short legs as it will do the opposite of what you need which is leg lengthening styles.
2. The ballet pump  –  another timeless option that is good for jeans or indeed the office and can work in a more going out context too.
3. The pointed flat – my shoe of choice because it works with all your bottoms and helps to elongate the legs. If it is a comfortable option you are after then I cannot recommend these Air & Grace ones highly enough as they marry comfort and style.
4. The Mary Jane  – this is a current trend on either square toed, round toed or pointed styles. Practically it can actually be quite helpful from a fit perspective but just keep in mind the strap may fight with the hem of your trouser.
5. The Court Shoe – I have very few clients for whom a heel is required but they do have a place if that is part of your office dress code. Think about easy to wear neutrals as your starting point and a more pointed suede option feels a modern choice.

Boots – we are about to enter boot season so now is the time to make sure you have your bases covered here.

1. The Casual boot –  this is your everyday workhorse so comfort is key. Choose a style that will work with the majority of the bottoms you plan to wear in the winter but know that a chunky style probably won’t do the job with full length denim or trousers and that in those instances a trainer would be a better solution or a smarter, daintier style as below.
2. The Smart boot – This is a non negotiable for me and if I was to choose one style it would be a sock boot which is close fitting and goes high up enough on the leg so you can wear with all your jeans and trouser styles and possibly also your dresses and skirts. I do have a reel coming on this next week to visually demonstrate the point so keep your eyes peeled!!
3. The knee high boot – If you wear a lot of dresses and skirts, this is where the knee high boot comes into its own as the continuous line of the boot which extends under the hemline, lengthens your legs but also makes for a more polished look. Whether you go for something close fitting or a looser style will depend on what you are pairing with it – ie a smarter dress may look better with a neater fitting boot, but a more casual one might be better with a looser style.

So hopefully this little checklist will set you on the right track for the season ahead. And if you are stuck for ideas, then I do have a footwear collection on my LTK where you can find all my try ons and recommendations/edits.

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