You’ll be amazed at how little shoes you need for college.
I must confess, I am a shoe lover. It seemed impossible to come up with just five pairs of shoes for this list! After a lot of thought, I’ve narrowed down what I and you need.
This is a college shoe capsule wardrobe. These five styles will cover every situation in college, from classes to parties to interviews.
What should you bring to college with you? See our comprehensive guide on everything you should bring to college.
You may be tempted to buy more shoes but you won’t need them if you already have these five pairs. Here are five pairs of shoes that every college girl should have in her closet.
Everyday Class Shoes
Products: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Lift Hi-Tops by Free People, Princess Polly Loafers, New Balance Sneakers 574 – Bloomingdale’s. Birkenstock Sandals, Urban Outfitters. TOMS Flat Mules, Nordstrom. Birkenstock Clogs, Birkenstock. Nike Air Force 1.
When shopping for everyday shoes, keep these three things in mind:
- Comfort : Your main concern when walking to or from class should be comfort. ).
- Versatility Choose a shoe which goes with the majority of your clothing. The most versatile colors and prints are black, white and neutral tones.
- Weather : Your shoes must be able to adapt to the weather conditions of your school. If your area experiences polar opposites in weather, you may need to adapt this rule.
Casual Sneakers is my number one shoe choice. They are comfortable, go with any outfit, and work in all seasons and weather. It’s impossible to go wrong when wearing sneakers for walking across campus. They are also the go to shoe if you’re not sure what else to wear.
Casual sneaker styles that are great include the classic Nike Air Force 1, Converse Chuck Taylor high tops and low tops (the pair pictured above has a chunky platform for a stylish touch), Superga Cotu shoes, Veja sneakers and New Balance lifestyle sneakers.
Flat slides, mules, and flat sandals will help you get to class on time. slip on shoes are the perfect solution for those who have snoozed their alarm a few times too many and can’t tie up their laces. TOMS flat mules have a stylish and versatile look. Birkenstock Arizona sandals offer a classic and comfortable design.
The Boston clogs from Birkenstock are the hottest fashion item this year (you’ve probably seen them on Instagram, and on Emma Chamberlain or Kendall Jenner’s feet) and they’re perfect for wearing every day. These clogs are perfect for everyday wear and go with anything from sweatpants to jeans. They’re easy to slip on and look great. You can also wear them all year long by adding socks to them when the weather gets colder.
Loafers, in particular chunky pairs, are another trend that is currently popular. They have treaded or -lug soles, which make them more durable and suitable for walking around campus. These shoes look great with any outfit and can be worn with or without socks. I would recommend choosing a pair of classic black shoes with sleek metal details to give you a stylish yet classic vibe.
combat bootare also a great option for everyday shoes. They are durable and can be worn in rainy and sunny weather. These boots have an edgy look that will spice your outfits, but they are still a timeless classic.
Day Out Shoes
Product: White Flatform Espadrilles-Forever 21, Black Strappy Block Heel Sandals-Macy’s.
You’ll want to have a pair of shoes you can wear outside of school for events that take place during the day.
Consider lightweight fabrics and neutral colours. Also, choose heels you can wear comfortably. Although I love bright colors and fun styles (Bottega green and Barbiecore pink are currently at the top), neutral huesare the best option, especially if you’re trying to reduce the number of shoesyou’re taking to college.
The majority of clothing will be in these colors. You can choose trendy accents such as woven detailing or metal studding.
While I am always comfortable, there’s nothing wrong with a little height. Just don’t go overboard, as daytime events in college tend to be casual and involve more walking. Heels between two and three inchesare ideal for daytime wear. They give you the perfect height boost, without making it difficult to walk.
I like wedges over block heels because it’s hard to balance in stilettos. These heels are comfortable and go with anything from dresses to skirts. Flatforms is another comfortable option. These espadrilles have a low platform heel with a braided base and simple straps.
When it comes to the fall and winter season, ankle bootswith a block or wedge heel that is low to medium are your best choice.
This suede pair has a wedge heel that is just under 3 inches long. It can be dressed down or up. Dress them up or down with tights and a skirt. What’s the best thing about these booties, you ask? These booties are water-resistant so you won’t need to worry about them getting ruined in the rain while you’re out for brunch!
Professional/Work Shoes
Black Ankle Strap Heels – Lulus. Black Pointy Toe Pumps at J.Crew Factory. Black Pointy Toe Flats at Rothy’s.
You may find that your chosen career path will require you at some point to conduct an interview , either for a internship or potential new job. While the pandemic led to remote work, interviews over Skype or Zoom (where you could wear a professional shirt on top with sweatpants and fuzzy sock on the bottom), meetings and work in person are now starting to return. This means that you will need a pair of professional shoes.
You’ll also need to consider the culture of the company and the type of job you are applying for. Even if the workplace is casual, you will want to make an impression by wearing a polished look, which includes classy footwear.
closed toe pumps can be a good choice for a dressier appearance, which is often found in conservative industries with strict dress codes. You don’t want to stumble or trip on your way to work, so choose a pair that you feel confident walking in. For this reason, I suggest that you keep the heel height between two and three inches. However, you can decide what is best for you.
If heels are not your style, you can opt for loafers or flats. As I have mentioned, this is a big fashion trend of the season. To be safe, choose loafers that have a sole design that’s not overly chunky. It’s hard to go wrong with a loafer that looks classic and fits into any office.
flats is another option. They are sleeker and more comfortable. You can also choose a pair that has a pointed-toe to give them a professional, polished look. Try flats such as Rothys. They are lightweight and 100% machine washable (so you can keep your shoes looking new for longer! ).
It’s important to remember that less is more in a work environment.
Fancy Occasions Shoes
Product: Pink Platforms, Red Lace Up Heels, White Ankle Booties, Princess Polly, Snake Print Heels, DSW. Black Ankle Strap Sandals, Miss Lola. Beige Strappy Heels, Steve Madden. White Ankle Strap Heels, Lulus.
You’ll wear them only a few times a semester. You’ll need them, especiallyif joining a sorority. Did someone mention formalseason?
You can wear anything in this category. Whatever you like and what makes you feel fierce when you go out to night! Low heels are also an option, as well as high heels. You can even choose to wear no heels. wedges and block heelsalongside flared heel and platforms are my favorites types of heels. They’re easier to dance in than stilettos.
This is a great time to try out the platform shoes trend. They look stunning in vibrant colors and textures like Velvet or Patent leather. These pink velvet platform shoes, for example, would be a great way to make a statement and add a pop of color to your outfit. If you only have the budget for one pair of shoes, I would recommend either black or beige. They are both versatile colors.
I also like ankle strap heels, and lacing-up heels because they help keep your feet in place. With mules, your feet may accidentally slip out. I know this because it has happened to my feet on the dancefloor, and that’s not good.
You’ll want to wear heels boots in the winter if it gets really cold. over the knee boots in faux leather with a block heel, a pointed toe and a block-heeled ankle bootie are also stylish. Closed toe pumps can also be worn.
Party Shoes
Black Chelsea Boots from H&M. Black Low-Top Sneakers by Vans. Brown Lug Sole Boots by Princess Polly.
It is the category that everyone ignores. Your party shoes must be able to handle any type of disaster. These shoes are not the same as fancy occasion footwear. These shoes are for parties like house parties, tailgates and yard events. They are also great for social events that take place outside or on sticky floors.
Parties require the shoe-version of the iPhone case that is indestructible. Since you should expect that your shoes will be subjected to some minor mishaps, I would advise rather than spending a lot of cash on them. There are plenty of inexpensive party shoes you can buy that won’t make you feel guilty about ruining them. All of the shoes listed in this section cost less than $80.
What are some other tips to choose your party shoes?
- Choose brown or black shoes. They won’t show wear and tear as much (i.e. They don’t look as dirty as you think they are and go with everything in your wardrobe.
- Select a material which is durable, and most importantly liquid proof. Rubber and faux leather are the best choices because they won’t get damaged as easily as leather or suede and can handle muddy and grassy conditions. Avoid light-colored canvas, which tends to get dirty easily. Leave the white sneakers behind.
- To protect your toes, choose closed toe shoes such as boots or ankle booties. It can be painful. It’s also gross.
This is why I choose a pair basic faux leather booties with a block heel for my party shoes. These shoes are cheap, go with most of my outfits and don’t show any wear and tear despite being stepped on and spilled upon. When they get dirty, a wet cloth or soft cloth will do the trick.
Bonus: Inclement Weather Shoes
Products: Mini Uggs from Nordstrom, Brown Winter Boots by Sorel and Shearling-Lined Combat Boots at Zappos.
We can all agree that walking in the snow or rain to class is a terrible idea. You can be in for a rocky walk in the winter. I recommend investing in shoes designed to withstand inclement weather.
This will depend on where you go to school. If it is sunny and warm for most of the time, then you probably won’t need snow boots. You are lucky! You could choose some cute and comfy sandals with shearling lining as your “winter shoes” or a pair fuzzy slippers to wear in your dorm.
There are many cute strong rubber ankle boot options/strong> that will complement your outfits, such asclassic Hunter You can choose from a variety of rubber boot options to complement your outfits.
Keep your feet warm and dry during snowy weather with boots with a warm interior lining. You can keep your feet warm even if you don’t need snow boots. Shearling-lined Dr. Martens boots or Ugg Ultra Mini boots are both great options. Martens combat boots with faux fur lining or the trendy Ugg Ultra Mini boot.
There are many shoes that can be grouped together in these categories. For example, fancy shoes and professional footwear. If downsizing will increase your bank balance and save you space in your wardrobe, then I am all for it.
With these five essential college girl shoes you will be prepared for the majority of occasions during college. Other shoes are a bonus.
What other shoes do you recommend for college girls?
What is your favorite pair for college? How many pairs do you own? Do you have shoes that fall into more than one category? Tell us what you think!
