Buying shoes can be hard. We’ve all done the painful tasks of measuring our feet, trying on countless pairs, and then not knowing whether the shoe we’ve picked will work out for us in the long run. I’m here to tell you the four staple shoes you should have in your wardrobe and the brands you can’t go wrong with!
1. A Good Boot
A good pair of boots is probably one of the most important pairs of shoes you’ll ever own. There are so many different styles of boots, whether it be winter boots, going-out boots, chill boots, or hiking boots. That’s already four different pairs! Who has the money (or the patience) to shop for all that? I sure didn’t, which is why after doing my research, I settled on a pair of Blundstones. I got my Blundstones in 2017, and they’re still kicking today in 2022. When I bought them they came with an extra pair of insoles and I only just had to change them a couple of months ago.
I wear my Blundstones everywhere, and over the years, they’ve definitely become the shoes I wear the most. They have traction and are thick, so they work as winter boots. They’re black, sleek, and tough, so I can wear them out to the bar. They’re comfortable, so I can wear them walking or hiking and they match everything I own! They’re perfect for any occasion which is why I recommend Blundstones for your Good Boot.
2. A Good Running Shoe
Whether or not you’re an athlete or you run marathons in your free time, everyone needs one good pair of running shoes. If you run out of money on your bus card and you need to walk to the grocery store, if you’re doing a workout on the elliptical, or even a hike in the summer, you’ll need something that will support your feet and last you a while. I wore out my last pair of running shoes last year, so when I was looking for new ones, I looked to Nike. While Nike can be on the more expensive side, I’ve found that they are definitely worth the investment.
Nike has tons of great colours that can make your outfit still look fun and hip, and not like a middle-aged dad on the soccer field sidelines. I went with the Nike Air Max 96 (when they went on sale) because they’re in style, they match everything I own, and they’re super comfortable. They almost motivated me to start running! (Almost…)
3. A Good Sandal
I recently received a pair of Doc Marten Sandals as a birthday present, so I might be biased when saying this, but I think they’re the best pair of shoes I’ve ever owned! They have a slight platform, which makes them super soft and comfortable. They also didn’t take nearly as long to break in as Doc boots, and the straps keep them snug on my feet, no matter what I’m doing. They also worked great that one time I had to run home from the club … (we won’t talk about that).
I would absolutely recommend the Docs sandals to anyone and everyone I meet (and I have) because they’re cute, trendy, comfortable, and work great for pretty much anything you need to do.
4. A Good slip-on
Now, you might be asking me, isn’t a slip-on the same as a sandal? Well, you’d be mostly right, but while I recommend the Doc Marten sandals because of their ability to look sweet and summery while still keeping your feet locked in, a slip-on is a super easy shoe that you could wear to the beach or simply throw on when you have to bring the garbage out.
The pair of slip-ons I chose to invest in years ago are Birkenstocks. I got my first pair ever as a hand-me-down from my best friend. The soles were totally worn down, and they were slightly too big, but I still wore those babies for another three years. After they completely broke, I received my very own pair! The beauty of these shoes is that while they give you major blisters for the first couple of weeks, after the pain ends you have a shoe that is perfectly molded to your foot and will stick by you wherever you go. When I used to go to summer camp, the only pairs of shoes I brought were running shoes and my Birks. They were great for the early morning walks to the pond, for the beach, or for running to the bathroom in the middle of the night.
Having a good slip-on means you’ll never worry about getting out the door fast, because your Birks will be sitting there, ready for you to simply slip them on and head on your way! They’re my favourite when it’s 11 pm and my roommates and I just remembered it’s garbage night. At that point, I do not want to tie a single shoelace – and my Birks are always there to save the day.
At the end of the day, choose the shoes that you like! Buying shoes can be, and should be, lots of fun. I will admit I have a lot more than four pairs of shoes in my closet and lots more brands than just the ones I’ve listed. But these are the four I wear the absolute most, and while you don’t have to pick the same brands I did, these four types of shoes are the staples that I recommend everyone have in their wardrobe.