The 5 Shoes I’ve Worn Forever & Will Continue to Wear Forever

Project 365, Day 119/365

Shoes are something I don’t have too big of an issue with investing in. And let me tell you why. Good quality shoes can be taken to a cobbler and re-soled, stretched, fixed. While I occasionally buy a cheaper seasonal sandal or slide or heel at say, Target, I tend to stick to classics for my pricier pieces. All five shoes below are tried and true. Things I’ve had for years, and will likely have for even more years. They’re all in very good shape, incredibly comfortable, classically stylish and wear-with-basically-anything neutral…yes, even the burgundy sneaker.

So, I figured you may be interested in my five keep-for-basically-ever shoes I wear on rotation, with almost everything. They’re the kind of grab-first pieces you want in your closet. When I’m faced with the option to wear a cute pair of platform espadrilles or my Soludos Venetian Mule, I typically grab the mule…because I know I can walk miles in them and not be in pain. If I had a “shoe capsule” it would probably be these, to be honest (but don’t tell all my other shoes that, they might get jealous).

Let’s take a looksie (and also, it’s no coincidence that nearly every shoe here is something I wore in the initial photos I took when launching this blog…):

Nisolo Huaraches

My huaraches are essentially what I wear all spring and summer. The Almond leather color is perfect with my Puerto Rican skin tone, but they have lots of colors if you want to do a nude that’s closer to your tan level. I’ve worn these INTO THE GROUND for over two years now and they’re still in very good shape and likely have several more years in them. Plus, Nisolo has spectacular brand ethos that I can confidently put my money behind, and that always feels really good.

Birkenstock Arizona Birko-Flor Sandal

My Birkenstock journey was complicated. I used to think these were the ugliest shoe and couldn’t understand how they were “stylish” for “cool” people. But then I moved to Los Angeles, and uh, there’s some kind of brainwashing that happens when you get here that convinces you there is simply no other shoe besides the Birkenstock. Maybe it’s the smog and all the crystals floating around? Regardless, when I finally took the plunge, I hated them. They were SO uncomfortable, I couldn’t find the right size, and I was convinced I had made a terrible mistake. But then I kept wearing them…and wearing them, and now they are perfectly formed to my foot and fit like a glove. I keep them by my front door and slip them on anytime I’m running out.

Reebok Classic Nylon Sneakers

I stumbled upon this old-school sneaker kind of by accident. I was driving along one day, and then I spotted a woman in mustard yellow retro-looking sneakers and I was determined to find them. I’m honestly not quite sure what brand of sneakers her’s were, because I was a bit far away, but in my search, I landed on these in burgundy (which now I can’t find a link to, sorry). They were so affordable (something like $30) that I picked them up in black as well. Someone will need to hold me back from collecting them in every color…including mustard yellow.

Madewell The Regan Boot

I hemmed and hawed over purchasing these for something like two years. Dropping about $200 on a pair of boots wasn’t something I tended to do on a whim, but then I caught a very good sale one day and decided to take the plunge. Boy am I glad I did. They have a heel but don’t wear like a heel in terms of discomfort. They feel every bit as high quality as the price tag would denote, and the more I wear them, the better they get. That’s kind of when you know you’re on to something…something that gets better and better with use, not the other way around. I have these in black, but may one day pick them up in the camel leather, as well.

Soludos Venetian Mule

I can’t remember how much I’ve talked about my love of the brand Soludos, but let me correct that: I love the brand Soludos. I have a handful of their shoes, but their Venetian Mule is by far my favorite (I also have the Venetian Loafer but I’m not sure they sell those anymore sadly). The pair I have are a leopard print pony hair (something I consider a neutral), but eventually over time, I may very well get some of the solid leather hues. They are SUPER comfortable, have a bit of a heel which is a nice lift for someone who is 5’3″ in the morning upon waking before gravity shrinks me down a half inch, and truly fit like a glove. I sized down from my normal 8 and they are perfect.

Anyone else have “pry these out of my dead cold hands” shoes to share? I’m always up for some more…

See you tomorrow, FOAS.