Shoes for Spring: A Capsule of the Only Styles You Need

Shoes can make or break an outfit in a way that’s hard to explain until you’ve experienced it firsthand. The right pair pulls everything together. The wrong pair leaves you standing in front of your closet second-guessing an outfit that was otherwise perfect. If you’re trying to figure out what shoes to wear in spring, a small, thoughtful capsule makes it much easier. Not a drawer full of options, but a collection of styles you can reach for without second-guessing. Every pair on this list earns its place because it works with multiple outfits, is comfortable enough to wear often, and holds up season after season.

I’ve been building and refining my shoe collection for years, and these are the seven styles I come back to every spring. A few are brands I’ve worn long enough to have real opinions about fit and longevity, and all of them are pieces I genuinely reach for.

The Best Shoes For Spring: 7 Timeless Styles Worth Investing In

The Ballet Flat: Margaux Fonteyn

Ballet flats are having a major moment, but the truth is they never really left. A well-made ballet flat has always been a cornerstone of French-inspired style, and the Margaux Fonteyn is my current favorite.

What makes the Fonteyn different is the slightly squared toe. It’s a subtle update to the traditional ballet flat silhouette that feels more modern without being trendy. It’s the kind of shape that will still look good years from now. In fact, the silhouette reminds me so much of my daughters ballet pointe shoes, especially the smooth leather version. Simple and timeless.

Margaux offers half sizes and multiple widths, which I think is so important. The fit is spot-on and comfortable in a way that cheap ballet flats never are, and the leather is butter soft. I find they run true to size and soften with wear, so there’s no need to size up. I wear them in a size 7.

I wear them with everything from jeans to white jeans, linen pants, midi skirts, or tailored shorts. They’re the flats I reach for when I want to look put-together while still being comfortable.

They come in both smooth and woven leather versions. I have both, but the woven pair are my most worn shoes for spring. They add just enough texture to every outfit. If you only invest in one flat this spring, this would be it.

The Flat Sandal: Margaux Flat Sandal

Yes, another Margaux style on this list. Three, if you keep reading. I own them in multiple styles for a reason: the brand gets that rare combination of style and comfort just right. And that’s what really keeps me coming back. 

The Flat Sandal is the pair I reach for when I want all-day comfort but something more refined than a simple slide. The ankle strap is what really makes it work. It feels genuinely supportive in a way that a simple slip-on sandal doesn’t, which means I can wear these all day without thinking about them.

I reach for them from May through September, and they work with everything from a linen dress to white jeans. They fit true to size, but I opted for a half size up.

The Block Heel Sandal: Margaux Paloma

The Paloma is the update to my beloved City Sandals. It’s made from the same last, so if you already own the City Sandal, the fit will feel immediately familiar. The updates are in the details. The Palmoa has a slightly slimmer, curved heel and thinner ankle straps that give it a more feminine, dressed-up feel, while still being comfortable.

This is the sandal I reach for when I want a little heel that feels easy to wear. It works with a midi dress for dinner, with tailored pants for a more polished daytime look, and with jeans when I want to feel a little more done. They run true to size, but if you’re in between sizes, I recommend sizing up. I wear these in a 7.5.

If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll notice I come back to Margaux often, and that’s intentional. It’s one of the few brands that consistently gets both comfort and proportion right. I’ve worn them for years and share more details on fit and sizing in my full review here.

The Loafer: Two Worth Knowing

I’ll be honest about something: I almost always choose a loafer over a sneaker. An ivory or tan loafer can give you the same casual, easy feel as a white sneaker but with a more polished finish. If you’re someone who gravitates toward loafers the way most people reach for sneakers, you already understand this. If you’re not there yet, this might help you change your mind.

Tory Burch Ballet Loafers

I’ve owned my Ballet loafers for at least four years and in four colors. The cream color that I have is one of the best shoe colors for spring. They are the most comfortable loafer I’ve tried, and work with everything from jeans to wide-leg pants to a midi skirt. I get asked about them every single time I wear them out.

The silhouette is sleek and feminine, not the boxy heritage loafer look. It’s closer to a ballet flat with a little more structure. It’s an easy slip on style that looks very refined. If in-between sizes, I recommend sizing up. I wear 7.5.

Beckett Simonon Loafers

If you want that classic horsebit loafer look, think Gucci without the price tag, the Beckett Simonon Astrid is a great one. It has a genuine heritage feel to it, the kind that comes from clean lines and good hardware. Still feminine but more classic than the Tory Burch. They fit true to size and the quality is the kind that gets better with wear. These are a great option if you want a flat that you can also wear to the office. I wear size 7. You can save 15% with my code FASHIONHOUSEMOM15.

The Heeled Sandal: Inez Sol

The Inez Sol is a 2.2″ heeled sandal and the detail that makes it so special is the braided leather straps. It’s the kind of finishing touch that takes a sandal from simple to something you notice, and notice in a good way. I’m always looking for unique details, and these sandals are definitely unique. 

I’ve worn Inez shoes long enough to know what to expect from the brand: consistent quality, genuine comfort, and a fit that holds up. The Sol bridges the gap between a flat sandal for daytime and a heel for evenings. A slightly more relaxed heel height that still gives you lift and length without having to commit to a full heel. Wear it with a linen dress, a midi skirt, or cropped wide-leg trousers, and even jeans. They are even more gorgeous in person.

I also have a code you can use at Inez: take 15% off with TARA15. If in-between sizes, size up. I take these in a 7.5.

If you’re looking for the same sleek silhouette but in a higher heel, try the Isa sandals.

The Metallic Heel: Inez Sofia

A gold heel sounds more occasion-specific than it is. I’ve worn the Inez Sofia to weddings, yes, but also to dress up jeans for a night out. They are the perfect solution for adding something to an otherwise simple spring outfit that needed an interesting detail. It’s a year-round shoe, not just for special occasions.

The Sofia is my go-to gold heel for exactly this reason. Gold reads warm and effortless rather than formal, in a way that silver or a neutral heel sometimes doesn’t. If you’re only going to own one heel, a simple gold sandal earns its place more than almost any other option. If in-between sizes, size up, I take a 7.5.

And you can use my code for these too: 15% off with TARA15.

Spring Sneakers: When You Actually Need One

Truthfully, I’m not a sneaker person in my everyday style. For a walk with the dog, a long travel day, or a trip that involves a lot of walking, yes. But for my regular routine, I’ll choose a loafer or ballet flat over sneakers almost every time. There’s something about a well-made flat that gives you the same ease as a sneaker without sacrificing the look of the rest of your outfit.

That said, a slim sneaker has its place. When I wear one, I reach for my Adidas Sambas. They are clean, classic, and they’re so popular for a reason. They run true to size. I take these in a size 7.

If you want something that leans a little more French girl, the Veja Campo is worth looking at. The silhouette is more minimal and the brand’s aesthetic fits naturally into a French-inspired wardrobe in a way that most sneakers don’t. Plus they look great with casual dresses. 

Building Your Spring Shoe Capsule

You don’t need all seven of these shoes at once. Start with the styles that fill the biggest gaps in your closet. If you’re always reaching for flats but your only pair is worn out, the Fonteyn or Flat Sandal is the logical first investment. If you have flats covered but nothing for evenings, the Paloma or the Sofia fills that gap.

The goal is a small collection where every pair gets worn. A shoe that sits in the box because it’s uncomfortable or doesn’t go with anything isn’t an investment, it’s just an expense. And a pop of color can be fun, but it makes the most sense to add those once you have your essentials in place.

To get the most out of your shoes for spring, I’d begin with a ballet flat, a flat sandal, and one versatile heel. That combination will cover almost everything.

If you’re building out a full French-inspired spring wardrobe, my French Capsule Wardrobe for Spring post walks through the clothing pieces that work with everything on this list. And for outfit inspiration, my Classic Spring Outfits post shows exactly how to wear them.

Shop Shoes For Spring

And the outfits I wore with them: