The Only 8 Pairs of Shoes You Need To Own At Low, Medium, High Price Points
by The Candidly Team
Shoes may be the last thing we throw on, but they hold the quiet power to make or break everything else we’re wearing. Because of that, some of us create entire outfits around them. And some of us forget they exist altogether until the minute we’re rushing out the door with 18 bags/ coats/ keys hanging from our bodies.
Like a handbag, shoes can be our wildest indulgence, a small investment into a wearable piece of art. But most of the time, we find ourselves wishing we had something easy and foolproof that effortlessly elevates our look. A perfect pair of staple shoes that are gorgeous and chic, but also very, very comfortable and just an all-around pleasure to wear.
Well, we are quite happy to report that, after some very deep digging, we have found these essential shoes. In every category. At every price point. We only hope seeing them brings you the kind of joy/relief they brought us when we discovered them.
1. THE CHIC SNEAKER
There are few things you will wear more than a white sneaker. A good one holds all the understated elegance of a ballet flat. They work with everything from our best jeans to a midi dress, so we can look like one of those carefree, cool people who don’t need a fancy shoe to look effortlessly chic, while secretly being our most comfortable at all times.
2. THE PERFECT PUMP
Excellent heels seem to constantly elude and evade us. Either we find a pair that stops us in our tracks for their sheer beauty then literally stops us in our tracks, because our poor feet are dying. Or we sacrifice form for function. Yet, each of these pairs is so special precisely because not only are they a cut-above on gorgeousness, but they feel like heaven to wear.
3. The Knee High Boot
Honestly, is there anything easier than slipping on a knee-high boot to make you look instantly chic? The downside is having even an ounce of discomfort, particularly when squeezing our calf into something tight that has absolutely no give. This is why we have chosen sleek, spacious boots that are completely stunning but that we actually want to wear/ can slip on with ease.
4. The Ankle Boot
When did an ankle boot magically become the most versatile (and therefore, important) shoe in our closet? We get it though. They’re chic and easy, and they go with everything. Plus they keep our feet gloriously warm and are bliss to walk in. They do all of this while still making us seem like we tried very hard to look put together. They are, in short, a God-send of a shoe. And so we selected the best of the best.
5. THE SANDALS
Nothing screams warm, lovely, picnic weather like a sandal. They’re strappy and romantic. They make anything we wear 10x prettier. And although there are many ways to go with a sandal - from a graceful flip to a striking heel - we chose these three pairs for their ability to yes, look phenomenal with everything we’re wearing this spring, but also because of their deeeeeeep understanding that we need our feet to feel supported and comfy every single second of every day.
6. The Classic Ballet Flat
Is there anything more stereotypically elegant than a ballet flat? Yes. A ballet flat that doesn’t leave us keeling over and tending to blisters, because quite frankly, they were not these ballet flats. Here we share 3 of our favorites, but we actually made a list of 15 that we’re pretty wild about.
7. The Comfy Slip On
A good slip on, be it a loafer or some other sort of staple flat, are the shoes we feel seen by. They’re at once practical, pairing excellently with our collection of wide leg pants and finest jeans, but they’re also luxe and comfortable and eeeeeeasy. I mean, they’re so desirable, we invented a whole category around them.
8. The Party Shoe
Is there any piece of footwear that sparks more joy than a party shoe? It’s the shoe that allows us to lean fully into sequined sophistication or to be a bit more bold and daring and playful. But, in addition to being striking, a good party shoe needs to be something we can wear all night without killing our feet. Enter these 3 glorious shoes…
The lug-sole might be the most brilliant thing to happen to a boot in our lifetime. It’s taking something already comfy and making it 15x comfier. It adds actual arch support and a blocky aesthetic that works magic to balance an outfit. You can wear this pair with anything and even soften them up with a pleated skirt. Case in point.
An UGG boot remains a cozy classic that has yet to be defeated. If you live anywhere that gets even mildly chilly, these will be your most prized possession.
Supremely comfy, chic, and cloud-adjacent.
This is the most universal, elegant flip flop. They come in every shade of nude and happen to be part of the most flattering outfit we’ve seen assembled.
The shoe we live in when we are home, which is all the time. So it may as well be the softest thing we’ve ever slipped onto our feet.
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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