How to pick and shop for shoes?

Shoe shopping is always fun! But it can also take hours before you find the perfect pair especially when you don’t have a specific shopping list. Don’t fret! Bauble’s fashion experts are here to guide you on how to pick the right shoes every time!

What to consider

Think first about what is physically comfortable for you, meets your needs, and works for your lifestyle, then think about what gaps you need to fill or the shortcomings of your current collection. 

Now think outside the box in terms of colors or designs that would fit these needs. Black or brown might do the trick but you can work a bold color or metallic into your collection pretty easily by considering the overall style and color palette of your wardrobe.  Think of something that would work with a lot of stuff you wear and really pop.

If you’ve ever been into the idea of statement shoes, you might’ve noticed they’re not always the easiest to wear. A better way could be focusing on versatility. Like sticking to shoes in black or neutral tones that go with most outfits, especially if your wardrobe leans that way. And don’t forget to think about the usual weather where you live—practical shoes can still look good!

Pairing and Outfit Check

If you are about to buy a new pair of shoes, we recommend trying to construct at least 5 different outfits with your top options in your head to determine how versatile they really are. The more outfit options you can come up with, the better!

 Look into their function, for example, if they’re for a holiday party dress, great- what else will they go with and how often will they be used? Is there an option that would serve more purposes or be used more?

A pair like Bauble’s Eclipse Heels are a perfect example of versatile shoes, it’s simple enough to be used in more than 1 occasion, and matched with more than 5 outfits 

If you want to keep a more stylish but still functional pair, is to have something like Bauble’s Stiletto Pumps, it’s kitten heels in neutral shades with an interesting play on textures and contrasts so it has the personality to keep everyone on their toes!

Remember that it has to be reasonably durable, you want to be able to wear it for a few years before it starts really breaking down

Quality Checklist

Try to buy what you feel is missing from my wardrobe. So if you consistently feel like you need a pair of neutral colored ankle boots, then you can start looking for that. Try not to browse stores without narrowing your actual needs, because you’re likely to end up with something that you won’t know what to do with. 

Once you’ve narrowed down your needs to a general idea (nude ankle boots/black flats/dressy heels/etc.), then think about the practicalities like how much you’ll be walking and how much money you’re willing to spend on it.

If you do want to splurge and have a special pair or two, we highly recommend Bauble’s Summer Glow Heels and Embroidered Flower Boots for events and occasions where you want to shine brighter and feel amazing!

Final Thoughts

If it helps, make a mental checklist based on what you know you want and don’t want. You can continue asking yourself the questions mentioned above and see how many yes and no answers you get. 

Keep in mind questions like:

• Do I have a similar pair at home?

• Are they comfortable? 

• Can I wear them to more than 1 occasion/daily event?

• Will they match more than 5 outfits?

• Are they affordable based on my set budget? 

• Will I actually realistically wear them or are they just cute/for one or two occasions?

• Can they be used for more than 1 season?

• Is the material durable?

And voila! You have a no-brainer method for decision-making on shoe shopping!