5 Everyday Shoes You'll Regret Not Buying, According to a Personal Stylist

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(Image credit: @trustmebuythis)

With all the shoes available every time we enter a store or an e-commerce site, it can be hard to know what we need or want. Someone who does know is Alex Long, a Raleigh, North Carolina–based personal stylist and the founder of Alex Long Studio, which also provides personal-shopping services and wardrobe editing to clients. "Shoes can either make a look or kill it," Long says, and recently, she told me that one of the things people never seem to have enough of is everyday shoes

Long and I could easily talk about shoes all day, so who better to advise on the everyday shoes that women need (and which might be missing from their wardrobes) than her? Keep scrolling to find out which five shoe styles she says are essential, and then shop our picks for each.

1. Sneakers

"This is a shoe that can take you through the whole day. Show your fun side with animal print, old-school Velcro, or metallic details. Sneakers are taking the place of flats. I'm on my feet all day, so I'm always in it for comfort. I'm definitely taking advantage of all the stylish sneakers out there, especially the wedge ones." — Alex Long

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(Image credit: @trustmebuythis)

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2. Mules

Mules—flat or not. Go for something nontraditional, like rich, jewel-toned velvet. Mules are great with any look. According to Long, "Marion Parke, podiatrist turned shoe designer, is not what you think. Her shoes are chic and insanely comfortable. These are definitely a must on my list."

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(Image credit: @lindatol_)

3. Statement Shoes

"Try going bold with an unexpected pop of color." — Long

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(Image credit: @jessicaminkoff)

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4. Booties

Long's bootie tip? "Choose booties that are low on the ankle for dresses and skirts or above the ankle with wide-leg cropped jeans."

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(Image credit: @alyssainthecity)

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5. Animal

"This is a great way to add texture to a look. Snake is huge right now, and leopard is the classic that's holding strong." — Long

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(Image credit: @chrissyford)

This story was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

Next: 27 Chic Ballet Flats That Will Never Go Out of Style

Allyson Payer
Senior Editor

Allyson is a senior editor for Who What Wear. She joined the company in 2014 as co-founder Katherine Power's executive assistant and over the years has written hundreds of stories for Who What Wear. Prior to her career in fashion, Allyson worked in the entertainment industry at companies such as Sony Pictures Television. Allyson is now based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She holds a BFA in theater. Her path to fashion may not have been linear, but based on the number of fashion magazines she collected as a child and young adult, it was meant to be.