There have been several styles of shoes that have proven to have staying power in my closet year after year, so today I’m partnering with Nordstrom to share four classic shoes for fall! Great shoes can be quite expensive, so if you’ve needed help figuring out which ones to prioritize, read on! These shoes aren’t going out of style anytime soon and will be worthwhile additions to your closet!
Tall Boots – Riding Boots or Classic Suede
Tall boots definitely aren’t going anywhere, and they are extremely helpful for keeping you warmer when it’s really cold. (See my past post on How I Stay Warm in the Winter While Trying to Look Cute.) There are two types of tall boots that are classic and have had staying power in my wardrobe for years. One is a pair of riding boots like the ones I’m wearing above (HERE), and the other is a pair of suede boots with a classic silhouette like THESE (I own a pair very similar to these) or THESE (I own these in black but love both the taupe and greyish ones also).
These riding boots are quite expensive, but they are very comfortable with some cushioning in the footbed and soft leather. Also, the color is fantastic! I’d been looking for a pair in this exact color for YEARS, and finally found these during this year’s NSale! Other boots are a darker brown or more muted, but this cognac is brighter, which really makes outfits pop. Again, this style is classic, so though they’re expensive, they are a purchase that will work years from now. See them HERE!
The riding boot style is on the preppier side. It pairs well with button up shirts + cardigans, striped tops, and quilted vests. However, if you don’t like preppier vibes, go for a suede boot with a simple silhouette sans buckles, like THIS or THIS. See ways I’ve worn suede boots here: Cognac Suede / Taupe Suede / Black Suede (more on Instagram, not as many on blog).
SIZING: I wear the riding boots in size 8.5 and the black suede boots in size 9–those run a tad narrow.
Shop the Outfit:
Top: Nordstrom (exact-wearing size S)
Cardigan: Nordstrom (exact in other colors) (similar)
Jeans: Nordstrom (exact-wearing size 4)
Boots: Nordstrom (exact-wearing size 8.5)
Tote: Nordstrom (exact)
Necklace: (similar)
Booties
For years people have been asking me, “I want to try a pair of booties, but I’m worried the trend will end soon. Are they going to be around next year?” Friends, I’m happy to say it’s not a trend–booties are classic, and they’re not going anywhere! On a practical level, they need to stick around. Sometimes it’s too hot for riding boots but too cold for flats. Booties are the perfect for that, and they’re a fall staple.
However, booties come in all sorts of styles (sock booties, notched or cutout, lace, etc.), and some of those styles of booties may not have as much longevity. The booties that will work year after year are the ones with a classic silhouette like the ones I’m wearing above. They are also incredibly versatile and can go with jeans, skirts, or dresses.
If you’ve been searching for booties, try these! I’ve written before on Choosing the Right Pair of Ankle Boots and talked about how boots that have a slight dip in the front elongate your leg line. Boots with that perfect dip are not always easy to come by, but this pair has them! They are decently comfortable–for having a high heel, that is. I still would add a cushioned insert, and at the end of the day they’re still not as comfortable as flats, obviously. I’ve been wearing this style for years and years, so if you want a pair that has staying power and you’re okay with heels, try these HERE.
(Also, check out my post on How to Wear Ankle Boots With Skinny Jeans for help getting that look juuuust right!)
Shop the Outfit:
Top: Nordstrom (exact-wearing size S)
Jeans: Nordstrom (exact-wearing size 4)
Scarf: Nordstrom (exact)
Boots: Nordstrom (exact-wearing size 9)
Tote: Nordstrom (exact)
Leopard Flats
Leopard flats are one of the easiest ways to punch up an outfit of all solids, like in the one above. That bit of print will elevate your entire outfit! They are also great for pattern mixing with stripes (like HERE) or gingham (like HERE). Lots of women only tried leopard flats because of PMT Challenges, and so many of them have been amazed at how often they wear them and how much they love them! They really, really are useful in your wardrobe! I love wearing them most through fall and spring, and you can see some ways I’ve worn mine HERE.
My exact pair is unavailable, but there is a very, very similar pair HERE!
Shop the Outfit:
Top: Nordstrom (similar–I wear size S or XS, similar)
Blazer: Nordstrom (similar)(similar)
Jeans: Nordstrom (exact-wearing size 6)
Flats: Nordstrom (similar)
Tote: Nordstrom (exact)
Necklace: (similar)
Loafers
I’ll caveat this by saying this is the one pair of “classics” that I only *just* started wearing. Loafers have been having a moment this year and last and are really on trend, but they have been around forever as a classic style. I’d been looking for loafers for a while, and I’m SO pleased with these! Take that with a grain of salt, since I’ve only worn them twice so far. What I can speak to is that they are CRAZY COMFORTABLE! The upper is sooo soft and flexible, and the footbed is cushioned.
These loafers run really, really huge. I’m usually size 8.5 or 9 and needed these in 8. They started out a tad tight in width for me, but being leather I knew they’d stretch out, and they did end up molding to my feet after wearing them around the house for a bit. They come in 17 colors (What??? How?!?!?) and can be found HERE!
Shop the Outfit:
Top: Nordstrom (exact-wearing size M)
Cardigan: Nordstrom (exact -wearing size XS)
Jeans: Nordstrom (exact-wearing size 4)
Scarf: Nordstrom (exact)
Shoes: Nordstrom (exact–wearing size 8; run very very large)
Bag: Nordstrom (similar)
Those are four shoes that I believe have staying power for many falls to come! Do any of these make your list? Are there any you want to try?
Huge thanks to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post!
