Save, Spend, Splurge: 2016 Favorite Spring Shoes


Anyone who knows me, knows that I'm all about shoes. I check the trends, but if I don't like them, I ignore them. I don't let anyone tell me what I should or shouldn't wear. Please yourselves, ladies! Life is too short to be worried about what other people think!

That said, we all have a budget or a price range that we're comfortable spending on shoes. For me, that price range is usually well below my means. Why? Well, the main reason is that I like a deal, so I shop around to get more for my money. And that's not to say that I don't buy good brands or even some designer brands - I just shop for deals. If I splurge, it's on something that will stand the test of time - like classic pumps. If I go for something super-trendy, I don't mind buying it at Target or Payless because it only needs to last one season.

But today I'm here to talk about some of the spring shoes styles that are trending for 2016, and of course, I'm sharing the ones I like! I've gathered a save, spend, and splurge version of each, so there's something for every budget. Keep in mind that for this post, when I say "splurge", I'm just talking about the $85-$160 range. We're not going crazy with the super-expensive options!

infographic with 12 pairs of spring shoes


Lace-up Flats/Ghillies
If you've seen some of my recent posts here or on Instagram, you know that I'm a huge fan of the lace-up flats or ghillies. Soooo cute!! I have a couple of pairs, but my favorite pair is actually one of the ones listed below - the Anne Klein Ottila (in the center). They are so cute, and soooo comfy!! Lace-ups are just so versatile - you can wear them with anything and they're adorable. I always get lots of compliments when I wear mine. Tip: Don't wear them if you're going shoe shopping because it's a pain to take them off and on!

three pairs of Lace-up flats

Save: Payless Fiona Pointed Row Ghillie (available in nude & black) sale price $29.99 (and is currently buy one get one 50% off). If you have the Payless app on your phone, you can usually use a coupon code on top of the BOGO deal to save even more. (no longer available)

Spend: Anne Klein Ottila Lace-Up Flats (available in tan, black, and cobalt) $49.95. Look for a coupon code and/or sign up for DSW emails and to be a Rewards member. I had a $20 off $49 coupon that I used when I bought mine, so I only paid $29.95 - and these are the comfiest shoes ever! (no longer available)

Splurge: Kendall + Kylie Sage Pointy Toe Ghillie Flat (available in blush & black suede, and black leather) $139.95. These are cute, but I'll be honest - I don't like them as well as the Anne Klein pair! (no longer available)


Espadrille Wedges
Espadrille wedges are always popular in the summer, and I don't see this ever changing. They were popular 30 years ago, and they're still going strong. You can find them in just about any style, any heel height, and from super casual to business casual. I really don't think you can do an espadrille wedge any more formal than business casual (JMO). I don't personally own any of those pictured below, but I do have a similar canvas and jute pair from Nine West that are fabulous. (Picked those babies up at an end-of-season sale for just $14!)

three pairs of espadrille wedges

Save: Target Ella Espadrille Sandals (available in tan & black) $29.99 - love these! I would've bought these in a heartbeat if they had my size at my local store! I tried on a half size smaller and they were really cute and comfy - just a little too short. I may end up ordering online. (wedge options at Target)

Spend: Michael Antonio Galah Wedge Sandals (available in natural, black, & whiskey) $59 (wedge options at Zappos)

Splurge: Michael Kors Darci Wedge Sandal (available in Luggage or Optic White Vachetta) $145 (other Michael Kors wedge options at Zappos!)


Slides
Let me just tell you up front that I am not a person who likes a lot of embellishments on my shoes. I love a statement necklace, sparkly earrings, or a sequin-encrusted dress - but please don't give me a bunch of sparklies on my shoes. However, when I saw the slides from Target (pictured on the left) and the Nine West sandals at DSW (center), I thought they were so cute! I would totally wear either one!

three pairs of flat sandals

Save: Target Merona Catalina Slide Sandals (available in numerous colors/prints) $22.99 - my favorite is the multi-colored shown in the picture above. I tried them on in the store, and they run pretty true to size. I was hoping they'd have a BOGO sale, but even at full price, they're a great deal. (no longer available but here are other slide options at Target!)

Spend: Nine West Adobo Flat Sandal (available in tan/red & black/navy ) $49.95 - I think these are really so cute! I tried these on in the store, too. My foot is a little wide, so if there is a band where this one is, and it's placed too high or if it's too thin, it looks weird on my foot. Luckily, on this particular sandal, the band is good. I tried these on with skinny jeans and they look adorable! (no longer available, but here are other slide options at DSW!)

Splurge: Matisse Cosmo Slide (black) $85 - I'll admit I don't like this option as well as the other two, but I had a difficult time finding something similar in the "splurge" range. Plus, the footbed on these doesn't as comfy as the others. (No longer available, but here is a link to other slides at Zappo's!)


d'Orsay Flats
One of my long-time favorite styles of shoes, whether they're flats or pumps, is the d'orsay. I love the cutaway on the sides - I think it's just so feminine! I don't own any of the specific shoes shown below (yet!), but I do own several different pairs of d'Orsay flats. Love them!

three pairs of d'Orsay flats

Save: Merona Celine Ballet Flats $22.99 (black, coral, denim, navy/white stripe, black/natural print) - I love the navy stripes! I've tried these on, and they do seem to run true to size. I didn't buy them yet - I was trying to wait for a sale (and hoping they don't sell out of my size in my favorite style in the meantime) but even at full price, they're a steal! (No longer available, but here are some other d'orsay flats at Target!)

Spend: 14th & Union Sabine 2 d'Orsay Flat $39.97 (black & white stripe) - These are similar to the "save" version, and also cute, but I think I still prefer the ones from Target! (No longer available, but here are some cute options!)

Splurge: J.Crew Sloan Plaid d'Orsay Flats $158 (blue-black plaid; 30% off with TIMETOSHOP) -  I have to admit that I think these are to die for - how cute is that bow? But even at 30% off, they're still $110.60. Since they're not a shoe I can wear with a lot of things, I'll have to pass at that price. Maybe I'll get lucky and find them on clearance at the outlet (yes, please!).

And that's my favorite spring shoe roundup for 2016! I've already pulled all of my spring/summer shoes out of storage and started to go through them to see what fits (I've lost enough weight over the past couple of years that many of my shoes are now too big - which makes me very, very sad), what is outdated, what needs repairs, what I'm tired of, and what just needs to be tossed. I'll replace those I get rid of with a few new styles.

What's on your list of "need to have" shoes for spring?


Kim
0 Comments

No comments:

Post a Comment

I love reading your comments!!