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Find The Shoes That Speak Your Style

July 12, 2025

Find The Shoes That Speak Your Style

Judi Prue | Read in 9 minutes

Hello,

Shoes. They’ve carried us through life’s milestones — from first steps to playgrounds, dance floors to big city job interviews, school runs to muddy dog walk. Whether you own five pairs or fifty, there's no denying that shoes are more than just a functional necessity. They ground us, carry us, help us express ourselves and, when chosen well, they complete our look.

This week in The Weekend Read, we’re diving feet-first into the stylish, surprising, and sometimes uncomfortable world of shoes. We’ll look at their fascinating history and how they help to express your colour and personality. We will show you how to pick the right ones for your wardrobe and feet, and we’ll finish with a fun challenge to reboot your footwear game. Lace up, slip on or buckle up — let’s go.

A Short Stroll Through Shoe History

Long before stilettos strutted down fashion week runways, shoes were simple affairs. The earliest known pairs were little more than animal hide tied around the foot. The Egyptians favoured woven reeds and leather sandals, while the Greeks and Romans introduced straps and a bit more flair which we still wear variations of their designs today.

Medieval Europe took a turn for the theatrical with pointy-toed poulaines, and in the 17th century, King Louis XIV of France popularised high-heeled shoes with red soles, a precursor to today’s Louboutins. During the Victorian era, we laced up tightly (and fashionably uncomfortably), while the Industrial Revolution shifted footwear from handmade to mass-produced, making them more accessible to the masses.

Today, shoes are as diverse as the people who wear them. From 3D-printed prototypes to artisan-crafted footwear, shoes continue to evolve in design, function and symbolism.

Why Shoes Matter More Than You Think

Shoes are the punctuation mark of our outfit. They can full-stop a look or add a playful exclamation mark. A powerful shoe can elevate a simple outfit, while a tired or mismatched pair can throw your outfit completely off course. They signal more than style, they hint at our mood, lifestyle, priorities, and personality.

But beyond aesthetics, shoes offer structure and support, balancing the visual line of an outfit and anchoring us physically to the ground. In colour and style analysis, shoes often become the finishing touches. The perfect pair doesn’t just match your trousers — it matches you.

Footwear and the Foundations of Style

When you understand your seasonal colour palette and clothing personality, you stop making expensive footwear mistakes. The right shoes harmonise with the rest of your wardrobe, saving you time, money and a surprising amount of stress. Let’s explore both of these:

Colour Seasons and Footwear

Many of us default to black shoes, assuming they go with everything. But black only truly suits Winters. For everyone else, it's often too harsh. Here are some seasonal suggestions for shoe colours for your season.

Winters shine in bold, icy and cool shades. Think navy ankle boots, patent red pumps, burgundy loafers or even emerald trainers with sleek metallic accents. Deep, saturated tones and contrast work beautifully.

Summers, with their soft, cool palette, they shine in French navy, lavender, rose pink, powder blue and burgundy . Footwear in soft suedes, matte leathers or gentle metallics like pewter offer an elegant finish.

Springs need warmth and clarity. Coral, beige, leaf green, bright navy, turquoise and tan make Spring footwear pop. Soft leather trainers, tan sandals or pumps in clear, warm tones bring energy to outfits.

Autumns look rich and earthy. Rust, moss, kingfisher, dark brown and olive green work brilliantly. Look for textures like suede, croc-embossed leather, or chunky soles in these warm colours.

Clothing Personality and Shoe Style

Understanding your House of Colour clothing personality helps you find the right shoes you.

Dramatics lean towards bold silhouettes and high-impact footwear. Think pointy-toed stilettos, platform or biker boots and shaped heels in dramatic colours and textures. Choose footwear with added stud design, interesting buckles, zips and lacing.

Classics favour timeless designs. Mid-heeled court shoe, elegant loafers, sleek ankle boots and simple, well-made flats in versatile shades fit their polished aesthetic.

Naturals prioritise comfort and function. Soft leather trainers, slip-on loafers, desert boots and minimalist sandals like Birkenstocks work best. Think unfussy and grounded.

Gamines love quirky and youthful touches. Patent brogues, funky trainers, colourful boots or retro Mary Janes with a twist express their playful personality.

Ingenues lean towards, feminine details. Shoes with bows, scalloped edges, lacing or floral patterns look great for this style.

Romantics embrace glamour and sparkle. Velvet ballet flats, kitten heels, bejewelled trainers or strappy sandals in rich, luxurious finishes hit the mark.

When colour meets personality, you stop buying shoes that just 'that will do' and start building a shoe wardrobe that you love.

Let’s Talk Feet

Feet deserve a moment. They do a lot, and they’re not always easy to shop for. Whether you’re dealing with wide or narrow feet, swelling, fallen arches or other challenges, you deserve shoes that fit and flatter.

For wide feet, look for square-toe shapes, soft uppers. Many high street brands, such as Next, M&S and New Look now offer wide feet options, along side speciality brands like Hotter, Vionic, Calla Shoes and Sole Bliss. These brands combine structure with stretch and offer fashionable options in wide and extra-wide fittings.

Narrow feet? Seek out lace-ups or straps to keep things secure. Ballet flats with elastic edges or loafers with padded inners help too. Brands like Pretty Ballerinas, Boden and Gabor often cater to narrower widths.

If you experience swelling or lymphoedema, look for deep, adjustable uppers or removable insoles. Cosyfeet and DB Wider Fit Shoes have fabulous options, many of which are now available in modern styles and colourful shades.

Heel pain or plantar fasciitis calls for arch support and cushioning. Brands like Vionic, FitFlop, Asics and Strive build support into their soles while still offering stylish choices. Don’t suffer for fashion — elevate it with comfort.

From Season to Season: Every Shoe Has Its Moment

Sandals are a Spring/ Summer essential. These include: flip-flops, sliders, strappy sandals, sports sandals, wedges and gladiator styles.

Boots are the backbone of Autumn/Winter wardrobes. Boot styles include: shoes, ankle, Chelsea, dessert, biker, Ugg, welly, riding, knee-high and over the knee boots. Play with texture, structure and embellishments including zips, buttons and lacing.

Trainers are no longer just for workouts, there’s a trainer for every personality. Current fashion trends embrace colour blocking, florals, metallics and embellishments including sequins, crystals, lace and ribbons. Different sole heights can be found from the very flat like Gazelle and Samba through to platform and wedge varieties.

Flats shoes work year-round and include: ballet, Mary-Jane, loafers, brogues, mules, moccasins, boat shoes, espadrilles and slip-ons. Since Covid and the move towards more comfortable clothes, flat shoes have become much more popular with all age groups.

Footwear Across the Ages

As we age, our priorities shift. What you wore in your 20s might not serve you in your 50s and that’s not a failure, it’s evolution. Whether you’re adapting to peri and menopausal feet, a new career, or just want to walk the dog without changing shoes three times, comfort becomes a style statement.

In your 30s and 40s, it might be about finding balance between trend and practicality. In your 50s, 60s and beyond, it becomes about curating a shoe wardrobe that reflects your confidence, comfort and lived-in elegance. Chunky trainers, velvet loafers, jewel-tone boots — these can all be style statements at any age.

Caring for Your Shoes So They Last

Shoes are an investment. Clean them regularly with appropriate products: suede needs brushing, leather needs polishing, and all shoes benefit from weatherproofing sprays.

Use shoe trees to keep their shape, rotate pairs to reduce wear and tear, and store them in breathable bags or clear boxes. Never underestimate the power of a good cobbler — reheeling and resoling extends life and reduces waste.

Your Five-Pair Shoe Capsule

Start simple. Build a capsule shoe wardrobe with five core pairs:

A pair of everyday trainers in your palette — comfortable, colour-friendly and versatile.
Flats or loafers for smart casual days — classic or quirky depending on your style.
Ankle boots — perfect for transitional seasons, work, and weekends.
Sandals or strappy shoes — whether minimalist or romantic, find your warm-weather staple.
Elevated heels or statement shoes — something for occasions that feels wow, not woe.

These five create endless combinations, especially when chosen in your seasonal colours.

Sustainable and Vegan Footwear

Looking for planet-friendly choices? Brands like Veja (trainers made with wild rubber), Vivaia (recycled ocean plastics), and Allbirds (natural fibres) offer sustainable options that look as good as they feel.

Vegetarian Shoes, Will’s Vegan Store and Stella McCartney are leading names in vegan design. Many high street stores now offer vegan collections. just check the label.

The Shoe Confidence Challenge

Ready to step up your style? For one week, we challenge you to choose shoes intentionally. Each day, pick a pair that expresses your clothing personality, complements your colour season, or just brings you joy.

Take a photo and post it with the hashtag #ShoeConfidenceChallenge. Reflect at the end of the week: which pairs made you feel your best? Which ones need retiring? Which colours do you wear most?

You may just realise your dream shoe wardrobe was already under your nose (or feet) all along.

Final Thoughts: Up Your Shoe Game

Shoes are more than a finishing touch. They are storytelling, support, and self-expression. With a little guidance from your colour palette, clothing personality, and the lived-in experience of your feet, you can curate a shoe wardrobe that walks the line between fabulous and functional.

So go ahead, love them, care for them, show them off. And most importantly, let them take you confidently wherever life leads.

Enjoy your weekend. Next weekend's 'The Weekend Read' is is all about 'Surviving the hot summer heat' with makeup, colour and style!

Best wishes,

Judi & Jenny xx

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