The fall season is here, evidenced not by the weather or the changing of the leaves but by the pumpkin wafting from the campus Starbucks, the long-awaited return of Pillsbury ghost cookies to the local Publix, the weekly Girl vs. Monster rewatches on Disney Channel on my living room TV, and, of course, the resurrection of fall fashion.
While claw clips and crewnecks have become yearlong staples, chunky sweaters and denim jackets are slowly trickling back onto campus in a collective act of optimism that colder weather is just around the corner.
And what is a fall outfit without the perfect shoe? While a Rainbow flip-flop can fix almost anything, try these shoe options this fall to step outside your comfort zone (pun intended) and give your toes a bit more coverage.
- The Classic Boot
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A mid-calf boot, available in what seems like every imaginable shade of brown, pairs perfectly with bootcut jeans, dresses, shorts, and, seemingly, college football games, as the season’s new tailgate uniform.
A nod to the Frye boot trend, these block-heel, typically square-toe boots add the perfect amount of Americana and western flair to any outfit, all while giving you just a few more inches and a surprising amount of comfort that will carry you through even the longest of college football Saturdays.
Having borrowed these boots from a friend for a recent game day, I can confirm that these shoes made me want to both hoedown and throwdown, curing any and all FOMO I had from missing out on this trend and immediately resulting in a new Amazon purchase.
- Suede Flats
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Ballet flats are back! They have even emerged in variations like the “Sneakerina.” A flat is the perfect, “throw-on-able” shoe for a college girl looking to build her business casual wardrobe or even elevate the standard top-and-jeans uniform.
As someone who works on campus, the Dr. Scholl’s flats have garnered me many a compliment from my cubicle, all while giving me just enough street cred for my walk to and from campus.
The suede texture is a go-to fall classic, as long as you check the weather before you head out the door (these shoes were not designed with Florida’s spontaneous monsoons in mind), and brown is to fall as red is to the subject of math, my ultimate match made in heaven.
- A “Grandpa” Tennis Shoe
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It appears as though our grandparents were right: sometimes, fashion really is about arch support. Amidst its football games and pumpkin patches, the fall also brings with it classes and exams, and these cushiony sneakers will take you all the way to the campus testing center and back.
New Balance offers an array of orthopedic-adjacent shoes to help you pay respect to your elders this fall and step up even your most casual campus walks. They’re equal parts sensible and stylish, and I love pairing mine with a cute, sporty ankle sock to channel my inner athlete.
- Low-Top Court Sneakers
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For when flats feel too dressy and tennis shoes too casual, a classic, low-top sneaker provides the perfect combination of structure and sportiness. In a move that will surely shock the fashion world, I love to pair a sleek court sneaker with a pair of jeans.
These shoes really do allow you to look put together without sacrificing comfort along the way. The Gola Elan sneakers are patiently waiting on my wish list.
These are my top shoes to get me from place to place in style. Hope these recommendations make it into your fall rotation.
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