Edited by Leah Champagne
I think we can all agree that the shoe you choose can make or break an outfit; however, I think we can also agree that the “wrong” shoe for an outfit is highly subjective, and may not even exist. We used to think that you could never wear running shoes for style, but there are now brands like StockX, who make millions of dollars every year reselling sneakers. Similarly, cowboy boots used to be worn solely for utility by cowboys, but they are now a major part of mainstream fashion, and are sold by brands like John Fluevog for upwards of $500. Clearly, the rules of fashion are changing, and footwear is at the forefront.
This change in shoe norms is often characterized as the “Wrong Shoe Theory.” This theory follows the idea that choosing a pair of shoes that are a completely different style than your outfit adds a unique twist that allows you to express your personal style, rather than to “ruin” the outfit. This trendy fashion “faux-pas” has recently gained a lot of popularity on social media, with people feeling more comfortable to experiment with different silhouettes, shapes, and colours. Some popular renditions of this trend are cowboy boots with athletic shorts (my personal favorite), heels with a dress shirt and jeans puddling over them (so just the toe of the shoe peeks out), and chunky “dad” sneakers like New Balance 530s being paired with a dainty lace dress or skirt.
I personally really enjoy this trend; my favourite shoes are a pair of red cowboy boots I got from Facebook Marketplace, and I often pair them with a tank top and athletic shorts, as mentioned, dress pants, or boxers. I truly think that fashion is about dressing to feel good and express yourself, not “for your body type” or to fit within a certain aesthetic. And really, that’s what the “Wrong Shoe Theory” encapsulates for me – mixing aesthetics. Especially during the pandemic, fashion became about sticking to one aesthetic, or “core,” as we often call it. I am of two minds about this – on the one hand, I think having well-known aesthetics is a good baseline, especially when shopping on second hand sites like Depop or getting outfit inspiration on Pinterest. On the other hand, I think that once you find some basics that you like, mixing styles is vital to helping you find your personal style.
All of that in mind, this is just my opinion – many would argue that the “Wrong Shoe Theory” is, like many trends, not timeless. But even so, fashion, especially personal style, changes and evolves all of the time, so why not try something different? You don’t necessarily have to buy anything new – the beauty of this theory is that it’s all about rethinking the way you pair pieces, and every person’s closet is different. So, the next time you’re bored with your wardrobe, or don’t know what to wear with your jeans, maybe try on a pair of kitten heels…
Leave a Reply