How to Wear Colorful Shoes

And the best spots in D.C. to wear them

Last Thursday night I had trouble sleeping and so I did a mental inventory of my spring and summer shoes. Does anyone else do this? I can toss and turn for hours thinking about what’s in my closet. Just me? Ok. It turns out that I’m all stocked up on the basics - black, brown, and neutral sandals, heels, etc. Done and done. Naturally then I am most interested in shopping for sandals the color of Easter eggs. If being alive for fifty years has taught me anything it’s that one can’t just willy-nilly invest in a pastel shoe without A Plan. And so I present you with the following inspirational content.

The AGL Milly Mule in Jaune ($465) has been taunting me all spring. I’ve tried them on a few times, Charlotte York style minus the creeper salesman, and I’ve styled them with a runway of outfits in my head. I love the unexpected color and tension between the inherent utilitarian vibe of a mule with the femininity and whimsy that this one exudes. When people ask what my hobbies are, this is it folks. Let’s talk about why we all need a mule to begin with. Mules are a fab spring/summer option when you aren’t feeling like being fully exposed in a sandal. It’s easy for mules to veer in the Frumpy Comfort category (I’m looking at you Birkenstock Bostons) (Which I own and love but that’s not the point) so do try to choose one that is elevated in some way. If a studded yellow/citron situation is not your jam, we have many options to choose from this season. I just ordered these from Zara ($59.90) and have tried them on in store so can vouch for them. They are nearly sold out but sizes keep popping back. And finally, the Beek Phoebe ballet mule ($240) in all the colors continues to beckon me from my instagram feed…..

Where and How

The outfit: Make the mules the star of the show here and pair them with the most understated items in your closet. I would go with my Old Navy dress from three seasons ago that I own in three colors and wear constantly all summer long. Simple white dresses available rn include this Everlane ($118) this Aritizia ($168). Pair the simple dress with a bossy canvas tote instead of a proper bag, a gigantic pair of vintage sunglasses - mine are Celine and they are so fabulous that I rarely wear any others.

The itinerary: You are spending the day just outside of D.C. in charming Old Town Alexandria. Grab coffee at Misha’s and wander through the Old Town Farmers’ Market, which is 1) fabulous and 2) the oldest farmers’ market in the country held continuously at the same site. It’s a whole scene. Go on the later side (11ish) so that the boutiques will be open when you are done tasting produce. Wander into The Hive to try on the latest Tibi shipment and to kill time until Brut opens at 3. Promise yourself that you are going to have only one tiny glass of Chablis - just a dot, as your mom would say, and fall in love with your husband again when he signals for a second round.

Tibi Wilbur Heels in Lavender: I’m not sure why this style has not been re-released as it’s a favorite of mine. I struggle with finding a summer date night heel that I can wear beyond the walk from the car to dinner and this is it. And the color - the color! Shop it on resale sites.

The outfit: I love lavender and navy and while I don’t typically dress to match the decor of my destination, it’s an added bonus when it works out. Washingtonians are not exactly known for their sartorial choices - K Street and Capitol Hill are home to business suits and khakis, lots of sad wrinkled khakis and not in an iconic J.Crew 90’s way unfortunately, as well as comfortable shoes that look like comfortable shoes. That said, there are a few restaurants and lounges where folks Get Dressed and that usually means dark colors. This slinky COS dress ($135) with a plunging neckline looks chic chic chic, as does the Parker Thatch clutch ($628). The shoes are the star but not in a weird way.

The itinerary: When your colleague says he knows the manager at Dogon and can get you in, you drop everything and hustle your bustle. This is the hottest ticket in town and lives up to the hype. You’ll take an uber because you’ve heard the cocktails are fabulous and you’ll be surprised by the warm welcome from the front of the house - there’s no Fancy Pants pretentiousness here. You’ll be people watching and clocking outfits as well as dinner plates because everything looks amazing. Afterwards, for something completely different, you’ll head to one of the campiest bars in D.C., Tiki on 18th because your husband loves it so much and he looks so cute in his Sid Mashburn loafers.

Anthropologie Silent D Seena Sneakers ($135): I am not much of a sneaker wearer but alas some events, like moving a child into her college dorm, call for them. Most of us would sensibly wear their running shoes during a dorm move in but I can’t bear the thought of not trying to look a tiny bit cute. “Are you moving into your dorm room or is our daughter moving into her dorm room,” the husband will say. I’ve been casually clocking velcro sneaker options that are everywhere and I think a blue velcro sneaker situation would be fun with any number of summer outfits. These ($75) and these ($368) also do the trick.

The outfit: Just as I will not be wearing my Hokas to move my daughter into her dorm, I won’t be in leggings or any kind of proper athletic wear. If one has to move boxes up and down the stairs of a dorm without air conditioning (for the love of God) in August (horrors) then shorts are certainly called for and I would like to be in these Ann Mashburn liberty lovelies ($75) paired with an Anine Bing tee ($75) while I’m suffering. Am I completely ridiculous? Yes, yes I am.

The itinerary: You will spend weeks making a list for Daughter 2 that includes practical items like laundry detergent, shower shoes, and prescription medication while she fusses over her dorm room aesthetic and what to wear for rush week. When the day you’ve been dreading arrives, argue with your husband over whether everything will fit in the back of the station wagon (it won’t), and spend literally hours trying to fit the contents of the station wagon into the tiny dorm room. Spend the two hour drive home in exhausted silence while Barry Manilow’s “Can’t Smile Without You” runs through your head because you have left your mini-me in Harrisonburg and it feels like losing a limb.

Post-Scripts

• The ballerina sneaker is trending and I’m intrigued but unsure. I came across these ($49) in my search for blue sneakers.

• I do not need a neutral sandal but would be buying these ($350) if I did. Spendy, but I have found Ann Mashburn sandals to be worth it.

• Just a pretty peach dress on sale ($59.50).

• I tried on this Emerson Fry gingham number ($298) this week and LOVED it - the fabric is so soft. Every summer I want to buy gingham. Then I buy gingham and never wear it. The definition of insanity.

• Nobody tells you that the wedding seasons from your twenties and thirties turn into graduation seasons once you turn 50. I have an actual graduation (including all three of my daughters) or graduation adjacent celebrations nearly every weekend in May and need things to wear and gifts and cards and all the things. I know the graduations are not about me, but they also kind of are.

Thank you so much for reading!

XOXO,

Tara

* In case it’s not obvious, I do not use affiliate links. In the words of Lloyd Dobler, “I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that.” I just like yapping about clothes.