The “Wrong Shoe Theory” is the easiest styling trick to spice up your outfit
If you’ve been on the Internet recently, you might’ve heard something about the so-called “Wrong Shoe Theory”. But what is it? And how can it help you improve your style?
Coined by stylist and wardrobe consultant Allison Bornstein, the “wrong shoe theory” is actually quite straightforward: the styling hack consists in finishing off an outfit that feels boring or monotonous with the “wrong” shoe, aka the one that seems to go “against” the rest of the look. The result? A perfectly imperfect look full of personality.
In regards to her groundbreaking discovery, Bornstein told Vogue: “In working with clients and breaking down the style of our favourite celebrities, I realised what makes a look feel interesting and personal is the addition of accessories that feel slightly ‘off’ or mismatched with the vibe of the rest of the look.” And she couldn’t be more right.
Tibi’s Creative Director Amy Smilovich champions a similar idea in the intro to her column The Good Ick: “All things good, stylistically speaking, have that push/pull.” Both Smilovic and Bornstein are talking about the same thing: how to achieve that good friction between the elements of your day-to-day looks.
But, as we all know, an image is worth a thousand words, and learning how to implement the wrong shoe theory in your wardrobe is much easier when you have a visual reference. So, without further ado, here are ten wrong shoe outfits done right, and all the tips you need to recreate them.
1. A feminine dress with dad sneakers
Getty Images
Amy Smilovich talks about achieving a push/pull effect in terms of style, and that’s exactly what supermodel Vittoria Ceretti (right) is doing here. She paired a pleated mini dress with an oversized bomber, a leather handbag, scrunched up white socks, and black Adidas Samba sneakers. In this look, the push/pull effect created by the dress vs. the shoes (and the bomber vs. the handbag) is actually double: masculine/feminine and high/low fashion.
Ganni
Brown Pleated Minidress
$295.00
Ssense
Rokh
Black Pleated Corset Dress
$765.00
Ssense
Marques Almeida
White Cinched Pleated Dress
$590.00
Ssense
adidas
Forum 84 High Collegiate Green sneakers - unisex - Suede - 8
$144.00
FARFETCH
adidas
Sneakers Blue
$110.00
Yoox.com
If you’re looking for a way to how to style your cowboy boots, wrong shoe theory is the answer! Cowboy boots with baggy, ripped bermuda shorts is definitely so-bad-it’s-good territory, and we suggest you embrace it. If you’re feeling especially bold, try pairing your calf boots with sweat or biker shorts instead of denim shorts. I promise, in this case two wrongs do make a right!
-50%
Vince
Denim Bermuda shorts Black
$250.00
$500.00
Mytheresa
7 For All Mankind
Denim Lola Bermuda Shorts Blue
$247.00
Balardi
-51%
Diesel
Grey De-Sire Skeleton Denim Bermuda Shorts Black
$182.50
$370.00
TheDoubleF
-51%
Diesel
De-Sire Grey Denim Bermuda Shorts
$142.50
$290.00
TheDoubleF
Mother
SNACKS! High Waisted Push-Pop Shorts Nothing Else Like It Blue
$178.00
Mother Denim
adidas
Brown Humanrace Basics Shorts
$100.00
Ssense
adidas
Blue Cargo Shorts
$75.00
Ssense
Ballet flats are back and more popular than ever—but that doesn’t mean we have to style them like we did in 2008. Try playing with proportions, and pair your ballet flats with the baggiest, most boy-ish pants you own (jeans, cargos, slacks, even sweats!): you’ll have a look that’s both edgy and chic.
-20%
Alo
| 7 Crinkle Nylon Excursion Cargo Short in Espresso, Size: 2XL Brown
$78.00
$98.00
Alo Yoga
-27%
Weekend by Max Mara
Sub Beige Pants
$237.00
$324.00
Balardi
-20%
Liviana Conti
Leggings Trousers Brown
$118.00
$148.00
Bernardelli
-40%
Entire studios
Full Sweatpant Red
$104.00
$174.00
Bernardelli
-20%
Entire studios
Full Sweatpant White
$198.00
$248.00
Bernardelli
Wrong shoe theory is all about the good tension, and good tension can be created by pairing “high” and “low” elements to create a striking outfit. Here, we’re paying the most casual item of all—the tracksuit—with shoes that are generally considered dressy and elegant, like heeled ballet pumps or kitten heels. Add a pair of rhinestoned sunglasses and a stretchy headband and you’ve got yourself the perfect Y2K look.
-10%
Daily Paper Clothing
Lex tie-dye cotton track pants - women - Cotton - L - Orange
$228.00
$254.00
FARFETCH
Ganni
Pink Soft Bow Slingback Heels
$395.00
Ssense
Studio Amelia
Red Entwined 70 Heeled Sandals
$425.00
Ssense
Amy Crookes
Green & Black Mimi Heeled Sandals
$635.00
Ssense
Ganni
Orange Soft Bow Heels
$395.00
Ssense
5. A skirt and platform Crocs
Getty Images
Is it just me, or are platform Crocs kind of cool? In recent years, the plastic clog brand has come out with a number of new platform models, from the iconic mule to sandals. If you value comfort above all, jump on the platform Crocs train and style them with a sleek maxi skirt and a blazer. Instantly cool!
-30%
Faithfull The Brand
floral-print short skirt - women - Elastane/Polyamide - 8 - Multicolour
$178.00
$254.00
FARFETCH
Crocs
Black Croslite⢠Classic Crush Ankle Boots
$95.00
Balardi
Helmut Lang
Brown Slip Midi Skirt
$375.00
Ssense
AllSaints
Aurelia Draped Asymmetric Hem Skirt Black
$135.00
AllSaints
Samsøe & Samsøe
slip satin midi skirt - women - Viscose - S - Purple
$153.00
FARFETCH
Crocs
Brooklyn Buckle Low Wedge Womens Shoes Khaki : 4 M
$59.95
Zappos
6. Flip-flop sandals and tailored pants
Getty Images
Flip-flops and tailored pants are shaping up to be a big trend this year, with celebrities like Elle Fanning and Zoë Kravitz sporting the look. The juxtaposition of the quintessential chill shoe and the slouchy tailored pants makes for an effortless yet sophisticated look.
-40%
Camperlab
Hastalavista sandals - women - Leather - 40 - Orange
$205.00
$340.00
FARFETCH
Alo
| High-Waist Sweatpant Trouser in Black, Size: Small
$148.00
Alo Yoga
-59%
Blanca Vita
Blanca Vita Cropped Tailored Trousers Green
$166.00
$406.00
Balardi
-20%
Labo.art
LABO. ART Velvet Paride Trousers Green
$203.00
$254.00
Bernardelli
-48%
F.it
F.It Tailored Trousers With Pressed Crease Blue
$183.00
$350.00
Balardi
D.exterior
D. EXTERIOR Vanise Lux Trousers
$236.00
Bernardelli
-59%
Blanca Vita
Blanca Vita Passiflora Tailored Trousers Blue
$198.00
$488.00
Balardi
Twin-Set
Wide Leg Trousers Black
$210.00
Bernardelli
7. Denim shorts and heeled mules
Getty Images
Styling shorts in a way that makes you feel both grown-up and put-together is not an easy feat. The best trick to make denim shorts work is to elevate them with the right choice of shoes and tops. Berlin-based content creator Tina Haase turned her shorts from summer camp vibes to city chic by styling them with a romantic tube top, an oversized blazer, a flower choker, and heeled mules.
-50%
Ksubi
longline distressed denim shorts - women - Cotton - 25 - Blue
$256.00
$509.00
FARFETCH
-30%
Goldbergh
Hilja leather ski mittens White
$238.00
$340.00
Mytheresa
-20%
Polo Ralph Lauren
Cotton-blend baseball cap Beige
$108.00
$135.00
Mytheresa
Vuori Clothing
V1 Coach Jacket | Black | Medium
$178.00
Vuori
-30%
Goldbergh
Bird faux fur bucket hat Pink
$125.00
$179.00
Mytheresa
Alo
| Performance Off-Duty Cap in Espresso/Espresso Brown
$68.00
Alo Yoga
-50%
Loewe
Inflated square sunglasses Black
$208.00
$416.00
Mytheresa
8. A suit and a pair of clogs
Getty Images
On the other hand, a tailored suit often feels too grown-up, and a little stuffy. To make your suit less business and more casual, try pairing it with a pair of clogs for that good high/low tension that makes an outfit immediately unique.
-46%
Miista
Mules & Clogs Black
$206.00
$384.00
Yoox
Birkenstock
Tokio Suede Buckle-fastening Sneakers Beige
$184.00
Eraldo
-47%
Clarks
Mules & Clogs Black
$128.00
$242.00
Yoox
-55%
Pollini
Mules & Clogs Pink
$123.00
$275.00
Yoox
-38%
Dansko
Mules & Clogs Silver
$189.00
$303.00
Yoox
-78%
Z.o.e.
Z. O.E. Mules & Clogs Green
$44.00
$204.00
Yoox
-64%
Sophia Webster
Mules & Clogs Pink
$247.00
$691.00
Yoox
-45%
Geox
Mules & Clogs Beige
$91.00
$165.00
Yoox
Is your social media feed full of influencers wearing Salomon and ASICS shoes? For that you have to blame gorpcore, one of the biggest trends of the year. Gorpcore embraces utilitarian and sportswear pieces—from trekking shoes, to running sunglasses, to Goretex windbreakers—and turns them into fashionable and trendy items.
But if camping-chic isn’t for you, here’s another, more romantic way to style your gorpcore shoes: pair them with a tulle skirt, colour-block stockings, and an oversized graphic top.
-30%
Goldbergh
Hilja leather ski mittens White
$238.00
$340.00
Mytheresa
-20%
Polo Ralph Lauren
Cotton-blend baseball cap Beige
$108.00
$135.00
Mytheresa
Vuori Clothing
V1 Coach Jacket | Black | Medium
$178.00
Vuori
-30%
Goldbergh
Bird faux fur bucket hat Pink
$125.00
$179.00
Mytheresa
Alo
| Performance Off-Duty Cap in Espresso/Espresso Brown
$68.00
Alo Yoga
-50%
Loewe
Inflated square sunglasses Black
$208.00
$416.00
Mytheresa
When Solange does something, we can’t do anything but take notes! For her LA loft feature in Apartamento Magazine, the star wore a rugby shirt, sweat shorts, and the ubiquitous Miu Miu ballet flats.
Sports jerseys and ballet flats are two of the biggest trends right now, and when styled together they lead to super cool combinations: style them with a pair of mini shorts and you’ve got yourself an it-girl-worthy daytime look.
Djab
Mens Multi-logo soccer jersey Red
$59.00
Simons
-40%
adidas
Women s Germany Reconstructed Bringback Jersey Power Green
$55.00
$92.00
Slam Jam
Djab
Mens Multi-logo soccer jersey Green
$59.00
Simons
Djab
Mens Multi-logo soccer jersey White
$59.00
Simons
-45%
Obey
Mens Blurred soccer jersey
$59.95
$110.00
Simons
Woodbird
Mens Two-tone soccer jersey Green
$120.00
Simons
Djab
Mens Multi-logo soccer jersey Black
$59.00
Simons
adidas
Mens AFA soccer jersey White
$120.00
Simons
