It’s time to put away your winter boots and freshen up your wardrobe with spring shoes for women. But what shoes are best for the season?
If you’re stumped on what to wear on your feet between winter and summer, you’re not alone.
From years of working as a professional stylist in the fashion industry and styling clients one-on-one, we know it can be confusing. The winter dress code is simple enough: keep your feet warm and covered. Summer is easy too: keep your footwear light and go open-toe when possible.
But what do you do during those in-between seasons?
We asked our styling team for their top advice and product recommendations for women’s spring shoes. So sit back, relax, and read how to bring your footwear into full bloom.
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What To Look For When Buying Women’s Spring Shoes
The best women’s spring shoes should do two things: they should match your lifestyle and your dress code.
They should make getting ready in the morning a breeze and act as the finishing touches to a fantastic outfit.
The key to accomplishing this is ensuring what’s on your shopping list or in your closet matches your needs.
Ask yourself:
- What occasions do I need shoes for during the spring?
- Do I need something for the weekends, special occasions, and work?
- What’s my work dress code?
- How do I need to dress for weekends and events?
Make a list of what shoes you need for these different scenarios and what features your ideal shoes should have. Once you answer these questions, then you can get into more specific details about what makes a spring shoe.
In our opinion:
- Go for lighter colors.
An easy way to transition pieces from a capsule wardrobe from winter to spring is with lighter colors.
During the winter, you’re much more likely to reach for dark greys, black, brown, and navy blues. But as the weather warms and the sun returns, fashion color palettes also brighten up.
- Add some texture.
Spring and summer as the prime times to add texture to your shoes. Materials like suede for example don’t do well in snow or wintry rainy days. But, once those grey days are behind you, bring on the texture!
What Shoes Should Women Wear in Spring?
The five shoes women should wear in the spring are:
- Lighter-colored sneakers
- Fun loafers
- Open-toe heels
- Ballet flats
- Upscale sandals
Read on to find out why these are the best spring shoes for women and what products we recommend.
1. Lighter Colored Sneakers
Product by Veja, shop here.
As we mentioned before, spring is the perfect opportunity to lighten up your look. For this, you can’t go wrong with white sneakers.
In fact, spring is pretty much THE season for white sneakers.
A pair like these low tops can instantly liven up a navy blue dress. Or look effortlessly cool with ankle jeans and a lightweight cashmere sweater.
On top of looking great with power casual and casual outfits, Veja’s shoes are also great for the earth. They’re sustainable and made with organic and upcycled materials to reduce environmental impact.
And, unlike fast fashion brands, Veja is B Corp Certified. This means it’s met one of the most rigorous social and environmental standards for businesses worldwide.
Doing good and looking good? It’s a win-win.
2. Fun Loafers
Product by Vince Camuto, shop here.
If you rely on boots during the chillier seasons, you’re probably looking for a spring-friendly stand-in.
For a closed-toe option that looks polished, loafers take the cake.
These shoes work well with any dress code from casual, to business casual to formal. The trick is to find a pair with personality so you don’t feel too stuffy or old school.
Try reaching for a pair with metallic details or a shiny metallic finish. Metallics go with any color palette year-round while still adding fun to your ensemble.
Partner these Vince Camuto point-toe loafers with light-grey plaid trousers and an effortless white tee. Or add a pop of color with a red belted jumpsuit.
3. Open-toe Heels
Product by Reiss, shop here.
No need to keep your toes cooped up– let your feet breathe!
With the arrival of spring comes the return of open-toe shoes. To keep your footwear looking elevated, go for a pair of chic heels.
We’ve chosen this brown, asymmetrical strappy heel from Reiss. The brown color makes it a breeze to transition to summer and fall. Plus, the versatile neutral color will go with core colors and accent hues alike.
While these make for an excellent evening shoe, they’re also the perfect footwear for the office. Wear these with a midi skirt and blouse. Prefer pants? Match these with a monochromatic pantsuit.
4. Ballet Flats
Product by Jimmy Choo, shop here.
Ballet flats are a girl’s best friend. They’re comfortable, easy to slip on and off, and just the thing for any dress code.
Elevate your spring flats with a trend-aware touch like a strap over the foot. We’ve seen this detail everywhere and love how it subtly adds to the shoe.
This is a fun trend that’s easy to incorporate into a closet that follows our NLW Style System. Wear with classic trousers and a button-down, or a pastel top and jeans.
5. Upscale Sandals
Product by Larroudé, shop here.
Of course, our list of the best spring shoes for women wouldn’t be complete without a pair of sandals.
First, let’s get one thing out of the way: sandals don’t go with every dress code. These are strictly for no dress code or casual dress code situations.
However, just because sandals have a definitively relaxed vibe doesn’t mean they have to be sloppy.
Take these hardware strappy sandals from Larroudé for example. These are not the same as a pair of gas station flip-flops you grab on your way to the beach.
The fun hardware cut-outs make these shoes more interesting while the neutral color and polished leather reads as put together.
We recommend always trying on sandals before buying. They tend to have less support than a traditional shoe. If you have any arch issues, go for a wider toe box, a higher arch, and even an elevated heel.
Lastly, don’t overbuy sandals. You only need one dark and one light-colored pair for most scenarios.
Take the Next Step
There you have it, the NLW-approved guide to spring shoes women should wear. Want more hands-on recommendations on how to prep your wardrobe for spring? Apply for Next Level Wardrobe’s Women’s Styling Services. Our experienced stylists are ready to elevate your image and change how you shop.
