In the winter months (for me, at least), shoe colors can be a bit of an afterthought. Day after day, I just reach for black leather boots or gray sneakers, but that all changes in spring. When temperatures start rising back up and my arms reemerge from the layers of fabric they’ve been hiding under for months, I relish not having to worry about slipping on ice patches and can instead worry about which shoes look best with my outfit.
That said, I don’t think owning a million pairs of spring shoes is necessary. In fact, you’ll be more than prepared for spring with just 5 highly versatile shoe colors. And as you’ll see below, I didn’t include black shoes as they kind of go without saying. The five shoe colors I did choose to focus on include some neutrals and some more outside-the-box colors that are surprisingly easy-to-wear with easy, breezy spring clothes. So if you’re as ready to shop for spring footwear as I am, keep scrolling to do just that.
Tan shoes are the ultimate spring neutral—even more so than black shoes, which can be a bit heavy with typical spring hues. When in doubt, you can’t go wrong with this color, and you’ll probably wear tan shoes more than any others in your closet.
If you’re scratching your head about pink shoes being a staple, hear me out. Pink is one of those colors that pairs beautifully with so many other colors, from blue to brown. I own a few pairs of pink shoes and am always hesitant about buying them, but then I end up wearing them much more often than I thought I would.
White shoes were once a trend but now they’re a wardrobe essential, especially for spring and summer. There truly isn’t a clothing color they don’t complement, so my advice is to stock up on white flats, heels, and sneakers.
Multi-colored shoes are fun because they go with nothing and therefore they go with everything. If you’re a print-mixing novice, a great place to start is with a pair of fun multi-color shoes—take my word for it.
I get that navy isn’t the most exciting shoe color on the planet, but I encourage you to consider swapping your black shoes out from navy come spring. They feel a little fresher and more unexpected and provide a nice contrast to spring pastels (and are a lovely complement to denim, as you can see).
Next up, the 7 shoe trends that will define 2021.