I’m not proud to say that I, personally, have not yet stepped out of the house in uncoordinated footwear, but my colleague, Vogue market editor Anny Choi, chose two The Row loafers today, one in black and one in ivory. “At first, I felt really awkward leaving my apartment,” she says. “My neighbor and I were waiting for the elevator together and she looked down at my shoes and said, ‘Oh, how fun!’ I felt a little self-conscious, but then, as I walked to the subway, I remembered that no one really looks at your feet. And also, who cares!” As Choi entered our office, a chorus of editors swarmed around her to discuss her footwear choice. Needless to say, you can expect other Vogue staffers to be striding around in mismatched shoes soon.
Granted, our office is a little more open to fashion risks than most. For everyday wear, Choi recommends mismatching classic shoes as a way to heighten your everyday basics. “I think it’s a fun way to elevate a simple outfit, like all-black or jeans with a white shirt. Plus, a lot of people already own two pairs of shoes they love, like Converse or Dr. Martens. If they define your personality, why not mix and match?”
With that ethos in mind, here are eight pairs of shoes worth doubling up on.