Shoe guide
How to choose and wear women's shoes? The Hello Moon guide
Sneakers, ankle boots, cowboy boots, ballet flats, sandals, mules or heeled shoes: shoes can completely change the direction of an outfit.
The same dress can become more casual with sneakers, more summery with sandals or take on more character with ankle boots. With jeans or trousers, the choice of shoes also changes the proportions and overall style of the silhouette.
To choose the right women's shoes, focus mainly on size, fit, comfort, shape, height and how you intend to use them.
In this guide, Hello Moon helps you choose your shoes and pair them easily with the different pieces in your wardrobe.
How to choose the right women's shoes?
Start by thinking about how you want to use them.
For a pair intended to be worn regularly, comfort and ease of pairing will be particularly important. For a special occasion, you may instead look for a specific shape, material or height.
Next, consider the shoe size, width and shape, the heel or sole height, the material and the support it provides for the foot.
Finally, think about the clothes you want to wear your pair with. A shoe that works with several pairs of jeans, trousers, dresses or skirts will naturally have more opportunities to be worn again.
What are the different types of women's shoes?
How to wear sneakers?
Sneakers are easy to incorporate into everyday outfits.
With jeans or trousers, they generally reinforce the casual feel of the outfit. With a dress, skirt or a more dressed-up set, they instead create contrast.
The shape of the sneaker and the thickness of its sole also alter the proportions.
How to wear ankle boots?
Ankle boots can be paired with jeans or trousers, but also with a dress, skirt or shorts.
Their shape strongly influences the result: a slim ankle boot, a style with a thicker sole or an ankle boot inspired by a cowboy boot create different directions for an outfit.
How to wear boots?
Boots come higher up the leg than ankle boots.
They can be worn with a dress or skirt to play with the space between the garment and the shoe, but also with certain trousers depending on the width of their shaft.
With a short or midi dress, the height of the boot has a particularly strong effect on the proportions of the silhouette.
How to wear women's cowboy boots?
Cowboy boots have strong visual codes and can easily become one of the main pieces of an outfit.
They work particularly well with denim, but can also be paired with a dress, a skirt or shorts.
For an easy pairing, wear cowboy boots with jeans and a relatively simple top. With a more flowing dress, they create greater contrast between the styles.
How do you wear ballet flats?
Ballet flats are an easy-to-style flat option.
They can be worn with jeans, trousers, a dress or a skirt.
With straight-leg or slightly cropped jeans, they remain particularly visible. With a dress or skirt, they let you keep a flat shoe while creating a different feel from sneakers.
How do you wear loafers?
Loafers add more structure to an outfit while remaining a relatively low-profile shoe.
They can be paired with jeans, straight-leg trousers, a skirt or a dress.
Paired with jeans and a shirt, for example, they can take an everyday outfit into a more polished style.
How do you wear flat sandals?
Flat sandals are particularly suited to summer outfits when temperatures allow.
They can be paired with a dress, shorts, a skirt or flowing trousers.
Their design - delicate, more substantial, with straps or a platform - significantly changes the overall look.
How do you wear heeled sandals?
Heeled sandals add height while keeping the shoe open.
They can be worn with a dress or jumpsuit for an occasion, but also with jeans or trousers to make the outfit more polished.
The height and width of the heel directly affect comfort and stability.
How do you wear mules?
Mules are open at the back and can be flat or heeled.
They pair easily with jeans, flowing trousers, a skirt or a dress during milder periods.
Since the heel is not held in the same way as in a closed shoe, pay particular attention to your comfort when walking.
The Hello Moon perspective
At Hello Moon, we consider an outfit as a whole. Shoes play an essential role because they make it easy to transform the same piece according to the mood of the moment.A dress worn with sneakers, sandals or ankle boots does not convey the same message.
We therefore like shoes that are easy to pair, capable of complementing several outfits and naturally finding their place in an existing wardrobe.
How do you choose the right shoe size?
The right shoe size should keep the foot securely in place without excessive compression.
Once you have put on the shoes, walk around for a few minutes and pay particular attention to the space available for your toes, the width around the forefoot, heel support and any pressure points.
The indicated size is a reference point, but the fit may vary depending on the model's shape.
When the product page contains a specific size recommendation, use it to guide your choice.
How can you tell if shoes are too small?
A shoe may be too small when the toes are strongly compressed, when you feel significant pressure points or when walking quickly becomes uncomfortable.
However, be careful not to confuse length with width: a shoe may be the right length while being too narrow for your foot.
Always try on both shoes and walk in them before assessing the fit.
How can you tell if shoes are too large?
A shoe may be too large when the foot slides excessively inside or when support becomes insufficient while walking.
However, how they fit depends on the type of shoe: an open mule and a closed ankle boot do not support the foot in the same way.
Always assess the size while taking the model's construction into account.
Should you go up a size for ankle boots?
Not always.
First, check the guidance provided for the model and take into account the socks you plan to wear.
A thick pair of socks naturally takes up more space than a thin pair. Ideally, try on your ankle boots in conditions similar to those in which you will actually wear them.
How do you choose comfortable shoes?
Comfort depends on several factors: the shoe's shape, width, sole, material, support and, where applicable, heel height.
A comfortable shoe should allow you to walk without excessive compression or instability.
For a pair intended to be worn for several hours, don't just check the size: walk in them and pay attention to how your toes, heel and forefoot feel.
Hello Moon's advice
Don't assess a pair solely in front of the mirror.Try on both shoes and walk around for a few minutes. Turn, sit down, then stand up to check that your foot remains properly supported and that no area is creating excessive pressure.
For boots or ankle boots, also try them with the type of socks you will actually wear.
How do you choose the right heel height?
Choose the heel height according to your comfort, stability and how long you plan to wear the shoes.
A higher heel changes the position of the foot and the way you walk more significantly.
The width of the heel also matters: two shoes with a similar height can feel very different depending on how they are constructed.
If you plan to walk or stand for a long time, test the pair in conditions as close as possible to how you will actually use it.
Stiletto, block or wedge heel: what is the difference?
- A stiletto heel has a relatively small support surface.
- A block heel has a wider base.
- A wedge heel distributes the height differently because more of the sole is raised.
However, comfort does not depend solely on the type of heel: its height, the shape of the shoe and the way you walk also matter.
Flat shoes or heeled shoes: which should you choose?
Flat shoes are suitable when you want little or no additional height.
Heeled shoes alter the posture and proportions of the outfit more significantly.
However, there is no need to reserve flat shoes for casual outfits and heels for dressy occasions.
Ballet flats can complement an elegant outfit, while some heeled shoes work very well with jeans.
What shoes should you wear with jeans?
Jeans can be paired with virtually every major type of shoe.
- With ankle boots, you can easily create an outfit suited to cooler weather.
- With ballet flats or loafers, the bottom of the jeans and the shoe remain more visible.
- With sandals or mules, the jeans can create a more summery outfit.
- With cowboy boots, the shoe becomes more of a statement element of the outfit.
The cut of the jeans is also important: straight, slim, flare or wide-leg styles do not fall in the same way over the shoe.
Discover our guide to women's jeans.
What shoes should you wear with wide-leg jeans?
With wide-leg jeans, pay particular attention to the length of the trousers.
Trainers, ballet flats, ankle boots or heeled shoes can all work, but they do not place the bottom of the jeans at the same height.
So make sure the jeans do not drag on the ground with the pair you choose.
What shoes should you wear with flare jeans?
With flare jeans, the height of the shoe has a significant influence on how the trousers drape.
Ankle boots, heels or styles with a thicker sole can add height, while a flat shoe will create a different result.
The key is to check the length of the jeans once you have put on the shoes.
What shoes should you wear with a dress?
Choosing the right shoes makes it easy to change the style of a dress.
- Des sneakers make the outfit more casual.
- Des sandals naturally complement a summer outfit.
- Des ballet flats allow you to keep the shoe flat.
- Des ankle boots or cowboy boots create more contrast and can, in particular, help transition certain dresses into the in-between seasons.
- Des heels can give the outfit a dressier direction.
Also consider the dress length: whether short, midi or long, it does not interact with the shoe height in the same way.
Discover our guide dedicated to women's dresses.
What shoes should you wear with a long dress?
A long dress can be paired with sandals, sneakers, ballet flats, ankle boots or heels.
The main consideration is the length.
Try on the dress with the shoes to check that its hem does not drag excessively on the floor and that you can walk comfortably.
What shoes should you wear with a midi dress?
A midi dress generally leaves more of the shoe visible than a long dress.
Ballet flats, sandals, ankle boots, cowboy boots or heels can therefore produce very different results.
Choose mainly according to the season, the occasion and the direction you want to give the dress.
How should you wear cowboy boots with a dress?
Cowboy boots create a particularly visible contrast with a dress.
With a short dress, the boot remains highly visible in the silhouette.
With a midi or long dress, it appears more as you move.
One approach is to let cowboy boots be the main Western element of the outfit. You can also echo this aesthetic in other details if you want to emphasize it.
What shoes should you wear with a skirt?
With a short skirt, the shoe remains particularly visible and strongly contributes to the silhouette.
With a midi skirt, pay attention to the meeting point between the skirt length and the shoe height.
With a long skirt, the shoe is sometimes less visible but still influences the drape and overall length of the outfit.
Ballet flats, ankle boots, cowboy boots, sandals or heels can all work depending on the desired result.
Discover our guide to skirts.
What shoes should you wear with wide-leg trousers?
With wide-leg trousers, mainly check the trouser length once the shoes are on.
Flat shoes and heeled shoes change the distance between the bottom of the trousers and the ground.
If you regularly alternate between several shoe heights, choose a trouser length that works with your most frequent combinations.
What shoes should you wear with fluid trousers?
Sandals, mules, ballet flats, or heeled shoes can easily be paired with fluid trousers.
The height of the shoe nevertheless affects how the trousers drape.
Before choosing your pair, therefore make sure that the trousers do not trail on the ground and that you can walk comfortably.
What shoes should you wear with shorts?
With shorts, much of the leg and shoe remains visible.
Sandals or mules make it possible to create a summery outfit.
Ballet flats give a different direction while remaining a flat shoe.
Ankle boots or cowboy boots create more contrast and can extend the use of shorts during certain transitional seasons.
What shoes should you wear with a jumpsuit?
The choice mainly depends on the jumpsuit's cut and length.
A jumpsuit can be paired with sandals, mules, or heeled shoes.
With a romper, more of the shoe remains visible, so sandals, ballet flats, or ankle boots can significantly change the result.
Discover our guide to matching sets and jumpsuits.
What shoes should you wear to a ceremony?
For a ceremony, choose shoes suited not only to your outfit but also to the event's actual conditions.
Take into account how long you will need to wear them, how much walking you expect to do, and the type of ground.
Heeled sandals can work with a dress or jumpsuit, but a ballet flat or another flat shoe can also complement a dressy outfit.
Comfort becomes particularly important for a pair intended to be worn for several hours.
How to wear ballet flats with jeans?
Ballet flats work particularly well with jeans that leave enough of the shoe visible.
Straight-leg or slightly cropped jeans, for example, keep the ballet flat visible.
With wider-leg jeans, simply make sure that the bottom of the jeans does not excessively cover the shoe or trail on the ground.
How to wear leopard shoes?
A leopard shoe can become the main pattern of the outfit.
For a simple combination, wear it with relatively plain clothing: denim, black, beige, brown, or other tones already present in your wardrobe.
You can also pick up a color from the pattern in an accessory or another piece to create a visual link.
An animal print does not necessarily need to be repeated: used only on the shoes, it can simply serve as a visual accent.
What shoe color should you choose?
For a pair you want to wear regularly, think about the dominant colors in your wardrobe.
Black, brown, camel, beige, or taupe shoes can work with many palettes depending on their shade.
A colorful or printed pair can instead become the element that draws attention.
Before choosing, ask yourself how many of the trousers, jeans, dresses, and skirts already in your wardrobe you will actually be able to wear it with.
For more guidance on color combinations, see our color analysis guide.
What shoes should you wear each season?
What shoes should you wear in spring?
In spring, sneakers, ballet flats, loafers, lightweight ankle boots, or certain sandals can be worn depending on the temperature and weather.
What shoes should you wear in summer?
Sandals and mules are particularly suitable for summer temperatures.
Depending on the occasion, you can choose flat or heeled styles.
For a pair intended for long walks, pay particular attention to foot support and comfort.
What shoes should you wear in autumn?
Ankle boots and cowboy boots pair easily with autumn outfits.
They can be paired with jeans, trousers, a skirt, or a dress.
However, the material and weather conditions should be taken into account before choosing a pair.
What shoes should you wear in winter?
In winter, opt for shoes suited to the temperatures and conditions you will actually be exposed to.
Boots and ankle boots offer more coverage, but their level of protection depends on their material and construction.
Therefore, check the model's specifications rather than relying solely on its appearance.
How should you care for your shoes?
Care depends on the shoe's material and construction.
A pair made of textile, synthetic material, suede, or faux suede does not necessarily require the same care.
Before using a cleaning or protective product, always check the recommendations appropriate for the model's material.
In case of moisture, also follow the care and drying instructions provided for the pair.
Frequently asked questions about women's shoes
How can you tell whether a pair of shoes is the right size?
Your foot should be held securely without excessive pressure. Walk in both shoes and pay particular attention to the forefoot, heel, and any pressure points.
Should you go up a size for boots?
Not necessarily. Check the model's details and consider the thickness of the socks you want to wear.
Which shoes should you wear when walking a lot?
Above all, choose a pair suited to your foot and how you intend to use it, offering sufficient support while remaining comfortable for the amount of walking planned.
How do you choose comfortable high heels?
The right size is essential, but also consider the shoe's shape, foot support, height, and heel width.
Can ankle boots be worn with a dress?
Yes. Ankle boots are ideal for creating contrast with a dress and can make it easier to wear it from one season to the next.
Can cowboy boots be worn with jeans?
Yes. Cowboy boots work particularly well with denim. Simply check how the width of the jeans meets the width of the boot.
Can cowboy boots be worn all year round?
It depends on the style, its material, and the weather conditions. From a styling perspective, they can be paired with jeans, a dress, a skirt, or shorts.
How do you choose between ballet flats and loafers?
Ballet flats generally offer a visually lighter line, while loafers often have a more structured construction. Choose primarily according to the style you are looking for and your comfort.
Which shoes should you buy to wear often?
Look for a comfortable pair that works with several items in your wardrobe.
Before buying, imagine at least three different outfits that you could realistically wear them with.
Find your next Hello Moon pair
Sneakers, ankle boots, cowboy boots, ballet flats, sandals, mules, or high heels: each pair can change the way an outfit is perceived and worn.
To choose your shoes wisely, focus mainly on the size, fit, comfort, shape, height, and the clothes you want to pair them with.
A good pair is first and foremost a pair suited to your daily life, in which you can walk comfortably and that you will want to wear again with several outfits.
To take it further
You can also discover our guides dedicated to dresses, jeans, trousers, skirts, shorts, matching sets and jumpsuits, blazers, sweaters and cardigans, jackets and coats, shirts and blouses, tops and T-shirts, and accessories.
Also discover our size guide, colour analysis guide, and guide to materials and care.
