5 Shoes Every Woman Should Own

I’m a big fan of capsule collections, both clothes and shoes. I live in a small apartment and I’ve never liked the idea of my clothes occupying more dedicated’space than I do. So I curate and clear out regularly and avoid buying new versions of items I already own.

I’ve never had the stereotypical female shoe obsession either. It’s quite rare the I find a pair I really can’t walk away from, to the point that I’m often genuinely in need before I find what feels right.?The silver lining of course is that I’ve always found it pretty easy to keep my footwear collection streamlined.

But whether you’re shoe obsessed or not, there are a few essential styles that should form the bedrock of your footwear collection. It’s a mix of practical and pretty, but all will look equally chic when worn in the right context.

A black?ankle boot

There’s something effortlessly stylish about the ease of a black ankle boot, be it paired with a dress or jeans. I love the contrast of the embellished heels of these Uterque boots with the utilitarian feel of an?otherwise traditional Chelsea boot. These are the perfect example of an updated classic.

A fabulous pair of flats

Tod’s is one of my favourite shoe brands. The quality of materials and’design is so good. I think these are the perfect pair of flats, not too chunky, but not insubstantial like some ballet flats can be. These look professional enough for the office and cool enough for weekend wear. I also love the textured effect of the lizard design.

A metallic pair of heels

I think the shape of these Zara shoes is so modern. They’re feminine without being overtly girly. They’ll take you from desk to dinner, which is important over the next couple of months, and they look incredibly comfortable – dress shoes don’t have to have a spindly heel.

A fashion trainer

Although I adore a simple white trainer in summer, they become less easy to pull off in winter, especially if you wear cropped trousers a lot as I do. That bit of bare ankle?between the hem of the pants and the top of the trainers looks sexy and chic in summer, but in winter it just looks a little frost bitten. Not cool. I think a grey trainer and grey socks is the way to go when the weather cools down. There’s a continuity there that makes fashion sense and it will keep your look coherent. The mix of textures of these Massimo trainers is right on trend.

Something in animal print

A subtle injection of animal print to an outfit can look incredibly chic and it’s a great way of mixing prints within one look. A pop?of animal print will work with stripes, florals and checks. These Zara mules are fantastic. The mix of snakeskin and crocodile-effects add extra interest, while the shape of the shoes themselves feels very contemporary.?I always think?animal print?can work really well worn with red (although I know it sounds a little trashy). But a?black shoe can really deaden the impact of red.?These mules would look fantastic with a raspberry red skirt.