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Build a Shoe Collection That Is Wearable and Stylish: Here Are All the Shoes I Documented in a Week
It may be overwhelming to decide what shoes to buy. I get it! Sometimes I want a sneaker that won’t go with every outfit. I always go back and forth with the purchase because I never know if it is worth it or not. What I have learned in the last few years of being a sneaker lover is to just go for it. Get that pop of color or the funky style you have been waiting for.
To prove to you that you won’t regret it, I documented all the shoes that I wear in a week. I don’t wear the most fashionable outfits every day because who has the time to put them together? I for sure don’t! So, to prove to you all that a stylish sneaker can make an outfit more fun, I broke down each shoe for you.
Monday: Hoffs
I started my week with one of my comfiest shoes. Today I was traveling, so of course I had to wear my Hoffs! At 8 am I took the Amtrack from my hometown back to where I live in Philadelphia. Since I woke up so early, I wanted my feet to feel like I was walking on a cloud. After I traveled, I went straight to my Monday morning class. Without changing or taking the shoes off because I was in the Hoffs! It was like I was wearing slippers. Throughout the day, I never felt any foot pain; I just had a pair of tired eyes from my early morning commute. That afternoon, I decided to go on a walk along the Schuylkill River. I took out my On Clouds and began my 4-mile walk. I wasn’t expecting to go that far because I assumed I would tire out easily, especially my feet, but once I got moving, I didn’t want to stop. I got home later that night and stayed home wearing only slippers for the rest of the night.
Tuesday: Birkenstocks
Now I know these aren’t sneakers, but I am an advocate for Birkenstocks. I currently own the Papillio Birkenstocks that have a small platform on the sole. I knew today was going to be a relaxing day going in and out of classes in the same building on my campus, so I wanted to reach into my dusty Birkenstocks. It is still summer, so why not embrace it! If you are into the Birkenstock style, then I recommend the Birkenstock Papillio style. They are still the classic style of the Birkenstock, but with an added element that makes them chunkier and trendier.
Wednesday: Nike Dunks
We have reached the middle of the week, and my style has not changed a bit, but today, I wore some casual dark-colored clothing because I was working in a woodshop. I didn’t want to wear anything I was worried about getting ruined, so my clothes were a little dirty and gloomy. Instead, I decided to bring some color in with my yellow Nike Dunks. These shoes I have had for a couple of months now and are one of my go-tos’s for a pop of color. They look great with denim or any blue color! If you're looking for a classic Nike shoe then I recommend the Nike Dunk Low. My next purchase will be these in the brown.
Thursday: Adidas Sambas
Another day, another reason to wear my Adidas. Today I wore my tan Sambas with my favorite pair of barrel jeans, a grey t-shirt, and a comfy, purple-colored crew neck. I had the same classes on Thursday as I did on Tuesday, so I wanted to be comfy with an extra bit of style in there. My tan Sambas have pink lace, so I went along with a purple sweatshirt to tie in the pink of the lace. I don’t have many pink clothes, so I thought purple would do the trick. Sometimes to style with color, you don’t need the matching color. Check out my last post on The Secret to Styling With Color, to get more tips and tricks.
Friday: Hoffs
Today I went to Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania with a few of my friends. I knew it was going to be a heavy walking day, so I wore my Hoffs. You may be thinking, why didn’t I wear my On Clouds if I knew it was going to be a heavy walking day? Well, I decided not to wear my On Clouds because I wasn’t in exercise clothes. The shoe must match the vibe of your outfit! Throughout the day I put my Hoffs up to the test and they scored. These shoes are SO comfy! We walked throughout the whole garden and my feet never barked.
Saturday: Adidas Gazelles:
Today I had a 6-hour shift at work! I was debating wearing my Birkenstocks again because the weather was so nice, but I thought that with all the walking and standing I was about to do, it would be better to wear my Adidas. My outfits for work are always my strongest, so I attached a picture below for some black and white outfit inspiration with Adidas Gazelles. I am currently a sales associate at Anthropologie in Rittenhouse Philadelphia, so my outfit must be trendy and stylish. Whenever I work and the weather is nice, I like to walk, so today I walked my 40 minutes to work, 6 hours at work, and then another 40 minutes home. It wasn’t until the last 20 minutes of my walk home that my feet were starting to hurt. This usually happens with my Gazelles because they are platform shoes, but I like to wear them to work because they are stylish, and they can withstand long walks and still be cute shoes.
Sunday: Hoffs
We have come to our last day of the week, and I decided to wear my Hoffs once again. Today I was going into my campus buildings to do some homework, so the outfit goal was to be comfy with a little bit of style mixed into it. I wanted to wear jeans today, but the weather app said the opposite. Too hot to wear pants so instead I put on my favorite pair of jean shorts and my cute pair of Hoffs. To add another pop of color I wore a pastel blue colored t-shirt to tie in the pastel colors of my Hoffs.
I hope you all enjoyed my shoes of the week! I’ve got tons more hidden in my closet, so if you want another week or even a month full of shoes let me know in the comments below. Don’t forget to subscribe so you can follow along with me on my sneaker journey.
5 Must-Have Sneakers for Women That You NEED in Your Closet Now
Are you looking to start your sneaker collection? Well, you are in the right place. It can be overwhelming to find a pair of sneakers worth the money because let’s be real, they aren’t the cheapest pair of shoes you can get. The hardest part of sneaker shopping is finding out if they can outstand any activity, you put them through. Unfortunately, I can’t do anything about the prices, but hopefully, I can guide you through my trial and error to find a sneaker for you that is good-looking, cost-effective, and comfortable.
So, let’s start with…
#1: The Classic White Shoe, but with a Twist
I know most of you are going to start running towards the classic Nike White Air Force 1’s, but, those have come and gone quickly. Instead, have you investigated the brand, Veja? They offer classic white styles with a pop of color. I know most sneaker brands like Adidas and Nike have very specific branding, but one thing that these brands do that is clever, is they use their branding as a part of their sneaker design, they change the color of their logo on each pair of sneakers to match the design. Veja does the same thing; they take their classic slanted V logo and manipulate it with color and fabric textures. When brands do this, they add a certain spice to the sneaker when you are wearing a classic white shoe. Some of my favorites are the Campo Leather White California, V-10 CWL White Nautico Pekin, and Urca CWL White Leaf Cyprus.
#2: The Color You Never Knew You Needed
I’m sure you may have heard, but the Adidas Sambas are the new shoe of the year. They have taken over the Adidas brand with their classic black and white Samba, to their colorful Spezials and Gazelles. I know they are super-duper trendy right now, but I can’t lie, I am a sucker for a good pop of color. Today, I own three pairs of them, and I have to say that they are damn comfy. These shoes have pulled many people into the sneaker world, so if you’re looking for a good shoe to start your collection these shoes are a great choice. Unlike your classic white shoes, these sneakers are meant to match with an outfit. If you get a colored pair of Adidas, you want the color you buy to match with another clothing item you are wearing. I own the Handball Spezial Shoes in Collegiate Navy, Handball Spezial Shoes in Cream White, and Gazelle Bold Shoes in Core Black. Even the celebs are wearing them! Take a look at this Vouge Article, “From New Balance to Adidas, 13 Iconic Sneakers Celebrities Can’t Get Enough of.”
#3: To The High Top
When I think of a high top, I think of the Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars because they are a classic! These shoes will forever be a staple in the summer for me. The best part about them is that they are customizable. However, if you are trying to stay away from Converse and are looking for a new high top, I would check out the Nike Blazer Mid ’77. These shoes are another great option for high tops. They offer tons of variations of colors and are also customizable. If I had to choose a new pair of high tops, I would go with the Nike Blazer Mid ’77 because they are a fresh look to your classic high top while also being super comfortable. Some of the designs I have fallen in love with are the Nike Blazer Mid ’77 with the brown Nike symbol and the Nike Blazer Mid 77’ By You in pink.
#4: The Athletic Vibe
If you are more of a person who thinks a sneaker should look athletic but doesn’t need the actual support that gym rats need, then Hoff is your answer. This Spanish brand focuses on artistic-styled sneakers while also giving that classic athletic sneaker look. If you are looking for a show-stopping shoe that not many people have on the street, these are them. My mom owns two pairs of them and swears they are one of the most comfortable shoes she has worn. She wears them to work, with neutral-colored outfits so her shoe stands out. When you stumble upon this site, your eyes will not miss out on any fun colors. Sometimes it’s way too hard to choose! Take a stroll throughout the whole site and see what color combination takes your artistic side out. HOFF
#5: Okay Active Folks Let’s Get Real, We Need a Cute Training Shoe
If you don’t care about a cute exercise shoe, then I recommend checking out the article, “The Best Running Shoes for Women, Tested by a Long-Distance Runner” by Forbes, but if you are in the market for a cute active shoe, then I’ve got some great suggestions. On Cloud and Hokas are two great options for cute training shoes you can wear from the gym to the street. Depending on what your preferred activity is, both brands offer different styles of shoes that vary from what sport you are performing. They range from short runs, long runs, trail runs/walks, weightlifting, hiking, and so many more. The best part of these sneakers is the cute colors and styles they offer, so when you are breaking a sweat and begging for some deep breaths, you can look down and see a pop of color on your feet. I currently own On Cloud Cloudswift 3. I wear them for running, weightlifting, and walking around. Most practical sneakers I own! Looking forward to buying a new pair.
Now it’s your turn to build your sneaker collection. Use my suggestions as a guideline for you to begin finding the perfect pair of sneakers for your closet. If you purchase any of the shoes on this list, leave a comment with a picture of your fresh new sneakers.
Don’t forget to follow along for more SHOE-tastic sneaker recommendations! Let me know in the comments below if I mentioned any brands you love!