A few days ago I talked with Abby Vitale from Lilac Blonde, a sneaker and clothing boutique for women. Abby has tried on more shoes than anyone I know, and she changed how I think about outfits.
Most of us pick shoes last. Abby’s customers often start with them.
Shoes Count More Than You Think
If you know the 7-point rule, every piece in your outfit gets points. Basic pieces get 1 point, statement pieces get 2, and a balanced outfit lands around 7.
Shoes count too. Simple sneakers add 1 point, but a bold pair adds 2 and can carry the whole outfit.
At Lilac Blonde, customers usually go one of two ways. Some pick a simple shoe so the outfit can stand out. Others pick a loud shoe and keep the rest of the outfit simple.
Start With a Pair That Goes With Everything
If you’re new to sneakers, start simple. The black or white Adidas Samba goes with almost anything, and so does the brown and white Handball Spezial. Abby has worn her pair over 200 times.
For something sportier, the On Cloudtilt looks great with jeans.
Know Your Real Size
This one surprised me. I thought if one Adidas fits you, they all do. Turns out two models from the same brand can fit completely differently.
So before buying online, check the reviews or the size notes.
Then Have Fun With It
Once you have your basics, add a statement pair. Think of a purple Adidas with flowers on it. You won’t wear it every day, but you can build whole outfits around it.
Women also tend to shop for full outfits, not single pieces. Before buying a pair, they already know what they’ll wear with it.
That’s exactly why we built Ask My Wardrobe. You can try on a new pair with clothes you already own and see if the outfit works before you buy.