In our look at spring outfit essentials last March, I made note of the seasonal transition to riding boots, loafers, and sneakers. As much as we all love stylish, heavy winter boots, it’s always nice to change out for something lighter come spring.
We’re not quite at that point again yet, but the season will be here before we know it, and with holiday sales underway and post-holiday shopping to look forward to, it’s a good time to get an early jump on some spring items. With that in mind, let’s look ahead to some spring footwear to go ahead and stock up on!
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Sandals and Flats
Adidas Slides
Popular in the early ’90s (my sister still has hers!), these casual wonders still haven’t gone out of style. Granted, they’re not your average office wear, but they’re perfect for casual lounging around the house, or for when you need to run outside and putting on “real” shoes is just too much work. If you live somewhere warm, you can even get away with these ever-stylish slides meeting friends for lunch. The traditional Adidas slides come in black and white, but nowadays there are a ton of colour combos to choose from.
Leather Slides & Mules
Leather slides and mules are the more refined version of the Adidas slides. Add these to a pair of wide legged pants in a contrasting colour to finish your spring outfit.
Lace-Up Sandals
Lace-up sandals can take different forms –– but here, we’re talking about the laces (or thin leather straps) that tie up just a few inches above the ankle. They’re perfect additions with the thin, flowing fabrics that make up so many spring outfits, and they can be dressed up or down, within reason.
Ballet Flats & Loafers
Ballet flats and loafers are stylish and comfortable spring shoe options if you hate heels. I always keep a couple different pairs in my office to change into in a hurry. From casual to glam, ballet flats come in so many options for any occasion, while loafers are the office chic option that never goes out of style.
Casual Sneakers
Chucks
On the sneaker front, you simply can’t go wrong with Chuck Taylors. The classic off-white variety is pretty much always available, as are the black-and-white alternatives. Additionally, SoleSavy reports how Converse has brought back its Carhartt WIP collection of Chuck 70s, making it a virtual certainty that they’ll be trendy come spring. Whatever your specific choice though, the bottom line is that old-school Chucks are always “in” for men and women alike.
New Balance
These cozy sneakers are often referred to as “dad shoes,” but New Balance has models for women as well, and some of them pack as much comfort and style as you’ll find in an athletic shoe. The New Balance 680 V6 is one of our picks for best women’s sneakers of 2021 –– particularly in its light aluminum and magnetic blue colourway. You can shop both men’s and women’s New Balance shoes on Amazon!
Koio
Koio sneakers are well known for being informal sneaker-meets-dress-shoe hybrids, which means they can be worn in any kind of setting. They tend to have darker colours such as browns or muted blacks, making it easy to find something that will match your favourite outfit. Simply put, if you’re looking for more of a fashion-forward sneaker, Koios are for you this coming spring season.
Pumps and Platforms
Mary Janes
A pair of classic Mary Janes can pair up with any outfit, regardless of whether you’re headed to the office or to brunch. They often offer conservative 5-8cm heels, along with higher platform options, and show just the tiniest bit of toe while also offering stability thanks to the front strap. Mary Janes are excellent everyday options for women on the go (though you may want to take a look through BHG’s cleaning tips, because if you’re like us you might just wind up wearing these out quite a bit!).
Clogs
Do you enjoy towering over your friends? If so, then clogs are for you! Kidding aside, this chunky all-around heel comes in a wide variety of materials and fabrics and they offer an excellent way to add some height if you have a favourite pair of pants that are just a tad too long. They also come in closed- or open-toe varieties, meaning you can tailor them to different styles. We can’t speak to specifics for 2022 just yet, but some of the best clogs in 2021 came from the likes of Dansko, Fabrizio Viti, and Gucci.
Ankle Boots
For areas that are still quite cool in spring, ankle boots are a great way to look stylish while keeping your tootsies warm and covered.
I hope that this list gets you ready to start planning your spring outfits –– with all of those pastel colours, floral patterns, flowing materials that are sure to take over stores in due time. Starting with the right footwear will get you ready for the season, and you can’t go wrong with the options above.
