Shoesday Tuesday- Back to School!

It's that time of year again- schools are back in session all over the world. Julie and Julianna are friends of mine came to visit this weekend. A mother and daughter I've known for years- one's a teacher, the other soon to be a senior in high school. Do you know what we did all day Sunday? We shopped for school clothes for them! It was a fabulous way to spend the day and they both ended up with some pretty nice things. One of the most important things you should invest in at the start of the school year is a great pair of shoes to get you through the year. Comfort and style should both be taken into consideration, but versatility is also important. Choose a neutral, classic shoe that will work with lots of different outfits and you can't go wrong.

For the men, I recommend these interesting oxfords:

Fly London Len Oxford, Endless, $159.47

First of all, these shoes are beautiful. Second, they are on sale- 45% off the full price! Third, they are available in four colors- all of which are fabulous neutrals to have- Olive (pictured above), brown, black and camel. All but the camel have a rough texture to the leather. I'm a fan of the off-set lacing- it adds visual interest and a bit of youth to what can be an otherwise stuffy and dated shoe.

Another great shoe option for men are these great ankle boots:

Rocket Dog Algonquin Wrinkled Leather Boot, Endless, $106.95

I wish these boots were available in a darker brown and a black because they really are great. The pre-wrinkled leather gives them a perfectly worn look, so that even though you're breaking out the new shoes for the first day of school, it doesn't necessarily look that way.

Don't worry, ladies- I haven't forgotten you. I know that you need stylish, comfortable and versatile shoes, too. Teachers tend to be on their feet a lot, so it's important to find shoes that fit properly and offer good support. I'm partial to ballet-style flats, with enough of a heel or wedge to offer good support. Like these:

Hush Puppies Sonnet Slip-on, Endless, $68.95

Availble in black, brown and bright red, these are a great "every day" shoe choice. Another great shoe style for every day is loafers. I like sleek ones with a cute tassel, like these:

Steven by Steve Madden Mistaa Slip-on Loafer, Endless, $80.52-129.95

If you're a fan of the oxford shoe, I think these will be a good choice for you. Available in the black with red tassels pictured above as well as four other color combinations, there is a pair for every day of the week. Just like a lace-up oxford, these shoes are at their best when paired with a feminine silhouette and/or fabric. A pair of tights lets you wear them through winter as well!

Of course there are lots of other things to shop for at the start of the school year- notebooks, pencils, textbooks, graphing calculators- but I like to focus on the fashionable shopping items! Have a great Tuesday, everyone!