Baddie shoes: the pairs that finish every outfit

people look at shoes. a great outfit with tired shoes is just a good outfit. a plain outfit with the right shoes is a LOOK.

you don't need twenty pairs. you need about five, clean, and the ability to walk in all of them 💅

the five pairs

1. platform heels. the platform under the front of your foot makes the real angle less steep, so a tall platform heel is easier to walk in than a skinny heel of the same height. black or nude-to-you. nights out, birthdays, clubs.
2. knee-high boots. heeled or lug sole. with mini skirts, dresses, jeans tucked in. the most useful pair you'll own, especially if your winter is real.
3. pointed pumps or slingbacks. black or nude. they turn jeans into an outfit. the old money and mob wife staple.
4. clean white sneakers. leather low-tops, kept actually white. with sets, cargos, sweatsuits and dresses.
5. barely-there sandals. thin straps, a slim heel or flat. summer, dates, anything with a slip skirt.

add chunky platform boots if you're alt, cowboy boots if you're country-adjacent, and loafers if you're old money.

how to walk in heels

• start with a block heel or a platform. not a stiletto, i love you but no.
• heel first, then toe, with a slightly shorter step than you'd take in flats.
• shoulders back, eyes forward. looking at your feet throws off your balance.
• practise at home on hard floors, then on an errand, before a night out.
• break them in. wear new heels around the house with thick socks for a few evenings.
• gel inserts under the ball of your foot and heel grips at the back fix most of the pain.

keep them clean

• white sneakers: a damp magic eraser on the soles, sneaker cleaner and a soft brush on the uppers, laces washed separately.
• leather: wipe after wearing, condition a few times a season, polish your pumps.
• suede: a suede brush and eraser. spray with a protector before you wear them the first time.
• heel tips: get them replaced at a cobbler the second you hear metal clicking. it's cheap and it saves the shoe.

matching shoes to the outfit

• corset top and baggy jeans: pointed pumps or platform heels. the heel fixes the proportion.
• bodycon dress: strappy sandals or pumps.
• two-piece set or sweatsuit: clean white sneakers.
• mini skirt: knee-high boots.
• one colour head to toe: match the shoes to the outfit for a long line, or go black.

the outfit formulas are here.

FAQ

what shoes do baddies wear?

platform heels, knee-high boots, pointed pumps or slingbacks, clean white leather sneakers and strappy barely-there sandals, kept clean and matched to the outfit.

are platform heels easier to walk in?

usually, yes. the platform under the front of your foot makes the heel less steep, so a platform heel feels lower than a regular heel of the same height.

how do i stop heels from hurting?

break them in at home, add gel inserts under the ball of your foot and grips at the heel, start with block heels or platforms, and make sure they fit in length and width.

how do i keep white sneakers white?

wipe the soles with a damp magic eraser, clean the uppers with sneaker cleaner and a soft brush, wash the laces, and clean them every week you wear them.