Friday, December 26, 2014

GUIDE: STYLE STAPLES, SHOES

Every wardrobe needs a few staples. Staples are items that work with lots of different outfits and really hold your style together. I will write a post about clothing style staples later, but for now I really just want to talk about shoes. You do not need to own all of these, but owning a few will certainly help you achieve your desired look.

CREEPERS
Creepers are very distinct looking shoes. They tend to look a bit like loafers, with the flat part at the top of your foot being made from a contrasting material. These shoes are usually "statement shoes" and can often be the focal point of a whole outfit. I have seen platform creepers, white creepers with plaid toes, black creepers with leopard print toes, white creepers with big black crosses on the toes, you name it. These are very sexy shoes.

DOC MARTENS
Doc Martens are some very tough boots. They are originally German work boots, but goths and punks alike just love them for their stylish look and durability. The original Doc Martens were black leather with rubber soles, though with a resurgence in popularity since the 80's, they now come in black, vinyl, hot pink, plaid, floral and everything in between.

COMBAT BOOTS
Combat boots are one of the most iconic goth items, and out of all of the shoes listed here, are probably some of the easiest to obtain. Combat boots are usually black surplus military boots, and can come from any wartime era. Combat boots sometimes have military nicknames like jungle boots, jump boots or mickey mouse boots (though mickey mouse boots are for cold weather). Check your local thrift shops or military surplus stores for some cheap combat boots.

MARY JANES
Mary Janes are high heeled dress shoes. They are a wonderful pair of shoes to have in your closet because they look very classy and match almost every outfit. They have a thin strap that goes across the top of your foot and buckles on the outside. They come in a variety of colors, including black, red and white vinyl, suede, glitter and imitation leather. This is one item that I would recommend purchasing from a Halloween store.

CHUCK TAYLORS
Chucks are an extremely popular and very recognizable style of shoes. Even non-goths are likely to own a pair of these comfy canvas hi-tops. They come in every color and pattern imaginable, including platforms, knee highs, high heels, black, neon, graffiti and crossword puzzle prints, and plain white that you can add your own designs to.

Whether you own one or all of these goth style staples, these shoes are definitely sure to add some extra kick to your look.