Ladies shoes for every occasion

The world of shoes is often complex and confusing. I am here to help you learn the difference between your ballerinas and your gladiators, your Chelsea boots and your military boots. Stick with me and you’ll soon know all of the different types of shoes and when to wear them… because it’s not just as simple as knowing the names of shoes, you also need to know whether they are considered as smart or casual. ​
​Below I will share with you, firstly, the shoes that are usually deemed to be casual.

Ballet Flats

Let’s start with ballet shoes, or ballerina pumps. These shoes, obviously, gained their name for being very similar in style to the shoes that ballerinas wear when they are dancing. They don’t have to be pink. They could be any color in the world! Not only that, but they also don’t need to have ribbons or a bow to be classed as ballet shoes. These can be worn with any item of clothing and are very versatile. They are often paired with casual jeans.

Wedges

Next up, are wedges. No, not the kind you eat! Wedges are a type of heel that are often seen as more casual. Again, they come in a variety of styles and sizes. When someone says they are wearing wedges, they usually mean the sandal type, as pictured. Wedges are often seen as comfortable alternative to wearing heels. They can, again, be styled with most outfits but often are worn with summery clothing such as long skirts.

Canvas shoes

Canvas shoes! Ladies, these are my favorites. They come in lots of different styles and brands. They are often referred to as Converse or Vans, even if they are not branded. They are increasingly in popularity rather rapidly, as they can be worn with pretty much any outfit. Canvas shoes often come in the form of ‘low-tops’, as pictured, or ‘high-tops’ which finish above the ankle.

Flip-flops

Flip-flops are a very popular style during the summer months. Named after the sound made when you walk in them, flip-flops are the epitome of casual. They are often seen when walking around the pool or nipping to the shops. Paired with a cover up on holiday or baggy jeans, these are the perfect, simple accessory. ​

Sandals

There are a few different types of sandals, so bear with me here. Often, in order to be classed as causal, they are flat shoes with open toes and straps. Popular styles include; gladiators, where the straps mimic those worn by gladiators (I bet you didn’t expect that!), Birkenstocks, where the soles have a cork (or wooden) like effect with thick straps over the foot and your typical ‘strappy’ sandals. Sandals can be worn with any outfit, are dressier than flip-flops, but still casual. They are often styled with skirts or dresses during warmer weather.

Sneakers

Lastly, in the casual shoes arena, sneakers also known as trainers. Whilst these shoes are designed to be worn by people exercising, they are often worn at other times, due to the fact that they are considered to be the comfiest type of footwear. They are perfectly styled with work-out clothes, but are often worn with casual jeans and shorts.

The above are the main styles of casual shoes. Of course, there are loads of other variations, a quick Google search will tell you that. But these are the ones you need to know about.
Now, onto the fun stuff! The dress and fancy shoes!
Again, there are many different styles of fancy and dressier shoes. Quite a few have heels but, fortunately for people like me who walk like a newborn foal in anything above two inches, there are some flat shoes that meet the criteria too! We’ll start with flat dress shoes and then move onto heeled shoes.

Brogues

First up, brogues. Brogue shoes have recently come back into fashion. Characterized by their signature decorative perforations, they are the perfect alternative to heels as they come in a different colors and textures. Brogues usually come in black or brown, but you can definitely find them in an assortment of colors if you’re willing to shop around. Brogues look fabulous paired with a skirt and tights.

Flats

Next up, slip on shoes. Similar to ballet pumps, but usually made from thicker material, these are fantastic if you don’t want to wear heels with your smart outfit. You can pair these with anything from a pant suit, to a cute little dress. This style of shoe is my go-to for work and nights out! You can’t go wrong with a nice flat.

Pumps

Moving onto heels. There are so many different types of heels, so I’ll try to keep it simple!
The only logical place to start is with a traditional pump. Pumps are characterized by their closed toe and middling heel. They sometimes have a pointed toe and can be referred to as court shoes. They go with literally ANY dress outfit, whether that be for work or for a black-tie event. You can get them in a whole range of colors and sizes! My favorites come with comfort-soles, which make them much easier to get along with.

Strappy heels

Next, strappy heels! These can range in ‘strappy-ness’ (which is definitely the technical term!) from gladiator style, with lots of straps, to a more-simple design. They are usually recognizable because they are open-toed. They are a brilliant way to dress-up any outfit, even jeans! They look great with anything, especially long dresses.

Mary Jane heels

The final type of heel you need to know about are the classic Mary-Janes. These are similar to court shoes but are identifiable by the strap and buckle across the foot. They are a 100% classy shoe and, in my humble opinion, look amazing with fifties style clothes. But of course, you can wear them with anything!

A quick note to finish off the dress-shoe section: heels come in a variety of shapes and I just want to cover these really quickly to save any confusion. Below we have examples of the various type of heel by name.

Stilleto

Wedge

Platform

Block

​They’re the main types you should probably be aware of, so if someone tells you that they’re wearing a Mary-Jane with a stiletto heel, you’ll know exactly what to expect. So that’s it for dress/fancy shoes!

Boots

There’s one final type of shoe I think deserve a mention… boots!
Boots can be smart or casual, just to throw a spanner in the mix. They come in four types: ankle, calf, knee and thigh length. It’s pretty self-explanatory what they mean, so there’s no need to explain that further!
​Boots can also come in any of the heel types mentioned above. Typically, a heel would mean that they are dressier. However, there are always exceptions. The ones pictured on the right are thigh-high boots with a block heel.

There are four main types of boots:

Chelsea Boots

Military boots

Cowboy Boots

Dress boots

To summarize, ladies (and gentlemen), there are so many different types of shoes available out there. I hope that this blog post has given you some idea of what’s on offer!
​My final message to you is this: experiment with your fashion! Break the rules and try new things. A nice pair of shoes can completely change an outfit, as well as change the way you feel about yourself!
Thanks for reading