Everyone I Know Has These 5 Casual Shoe Styles in Their Closets

Okay, I’m just going to state the obvious here. Sartorially speaking, you simply can’t beat the classics. You know what I’m talking about—those timeless items that will never go "out” and more or less act as the foundational elements in our closets. While I’ve covered some of these pieces recently, I thought I’d spend the next few moments chatting about the specific casual shoe styles that could be considered "essential” given their versatile nature.

While I had my own thoughts on a list of said silhouettes, I thought I’d crowdsource intel from my friends and family to uncover the simple and classic shoes they swear by and couldn’t live without to create their daily looks. In the end, I whittled down the assortment to five specific shoe styles that seemed to be the most popular.

With that in mind, keep scrolling to check out the casual shoes basically everyone I know has in their closets—as showcased on some of my favorite fashion people. You’ll also find additional shopping inspiration if you’re interested in freshening up your shoe game. 

1. Strappy Black Sandals

The number one style basically everyone had in their wardrobes? A pair of strappy black sandals. Whether flat or heeled, this silhouette is about as versatile as it gets and can easily be dressed up or down.

2. Loafers

A pair of classic loafers is basically no-fail. They're comfortable thanks to the flat nature and can add instant polish to any look.

3. White Sneakers

In the sneaker realm, white sneakers reigned supreme. No surprise here—these kicks team flawlessly with any causal 'fit.

4. Flat Sandals

For summer specifically, standard flat sandals (especially those featuring two wider straps) took the spot as an It casual shoe silhouette.

5. Neutral Mules

The beauty of mules (either heeled or flat) is that they can elevate a more formal ensemble but also amp up the sophistication in a denim look.

Next, shop affordable summer sandals.