photo courtesy of Acielle/styledumonde.com

The Spring Guide to Shoes

It makes sense that at the first sign of spring, ankles and toes show up long before shoulders and knees. Lightening your footwear load with on-trend lace-ups, heels, and mules is like hitting your wardrobe’s fast-forward button.

• SWEET & LOW

  Kitten heels are the girliest of the bunch. Double down on the sweetness with statement bows, sling-backs, and pointed toes.

• 
• MIU MIU
  Patent Leather Sling-Back Pumps Miu Miu, $690
• TIBI
  Scott Kitten Heels goop, $475
• THE ROW
  Suede and Satin Bow Mules Saks Fifth Avenue, $795

• STREET SMART

  The subtle lift that comes with a chunky sole goes a long way towards keeping feet a safe distance from funky curbs, subway floors, etc.

• 
• CLERGERIE
  Final Sandals goop, $490
• MARNI
  Slingback Contrast Sandals goop, $738
• LOEWE
  Stud-Embellished Suede Sandals Matchesfashion, $490

• POWER DRILL

  Their Mediterranean origins notwithstanding, espadrilles are the ultimate crossover shoe—and a mood-boosting departure from basic flats.

• 
• MANEBI
  La Havana Slides goop, $110
• CASTAÑER
  + Manolo Blahnik By Day
  Canvas and Raffia Pumps NET-A-PORTER, $495
• ISABEL MARANT
  Carlyce Canvas Espadrilles Isabel Marant, $240

• SLIDE SHOW

  Remixed in metallic leather and technicolor suede, these slip-ons splice the chicness of sandals with the ease of a flip-flop.

• CLERGERIE Igad Leather Sandals goop, $480
• LOEFFLER RANDALL
  Iris Metallic Slide goop, $275
• ALEXANDRE BIRMAN
  Julita Flat Sandal goop, $625
• ANCIENT GREEK SANDALS
  Alki Satin Sandals goop, $240

• PUMPED-UP KICKS

  With a healthy dose of comfort and attitude, this (mostly) neutral edit lends destroyed-at-the-knees jeans even more edge.

• 
• BALENCIAGA
  Race Runners Balenciaga, $695
• LOEFFLER RANDALL
  Scout Sneaker goop, $295
• ACNE STUDIOS
  Joriko-Printed
  Low-Top Trainers Matchesfashion, $410

• BLOCK PARTY

  A version of the stacked heel comes around every season—and for good reason: it’s versatile, sexy, and walkable no matter the height.

• 
• LOEFFLER RANDALL
  Leigh Heel goop, $395
• GUCCI
  Marmont Leather Block-Heel Sandal Bergdorf Goodman, $730
• ALEXANDRE BIRMAN
  Clarita Block Heel goop, $595

• GLOBE-TROTTER

  Function in the front, designy party in the back—this season’s mules are having their MoMa moment.

• NEOUS Masdevallia Leather and Crochet Mules NET-A-PORTER, $630
• ZARA
  Leather Slingback Shoes
  with Rounded Heel Zara, $100
• NEOUS
  Gongoria Heel Need Supply Co., $585
• GRAY MATTERS
  Mildred Egg Taupe Gray Matters, $525

• UNDER WRAPS

  Rope- and satin-strapped gladiators, as skin-baring as they are, pair just as well with trenches and knits now as they will with cutoffs and cover-ups this summer.

• STELLA MCCARTNEY White Flat Sandals goop, $475
• SAINT LAURENT
  Nu Pieds Rope and
  Leather Sandals Matchesfashion, $595
• GABRIELA HEARST
  Reeves Graphic-Print
  Wraparound Sandals Matchesfashion, $595
• VALENTINO
  Garavani Torchon
  Gladiator Sandals MyTheresa, $595