Fall Shoes for Women: Loafers, Tall Boots and Mary Janes

Fall Shoes for Women: Loafers, Tall Boots and Mary Janes

Fall shoes come down to five shapes, including the soft loafer, the tall boot and Mary Janes. I picked the pairs in each that I would happily wear.

Five Shapes for Fall

Every September I make the same mistake. I panic-buy one pair of shoes and wear them into the ground by November. This year I did the homework first.

 

Below are the five shapes I keep coming back to, from a loafer you can walk in all day to a red shoe that does the talking for you. Each one comes with a few pictures that made me want it and a board of pairs I would actually buy.

 

Two Australian labels show up across the boards. St. Agni was started in Byron Bay in 2014 by Lara and Matt Fells with just three bags, and its woven leather is still what people know it for. Tony Bianco goes back to 1972, when Tony Bianco opened a small shoe factory in Hawthorn, Melbourne, with his wife Michela and five employees. His sons Anthony and Adam run it now.

The Soft Loafer

The loafer has gone soft, and I mean that as a compliment. The best ones this season are unstructured, a little slouchy, and happy with a white sock or a sheer black one. If you only buy one pair of shoes this fall, make it this. St. Agni's Bunto keeps the label's signature woven leather, and Tony Bianco's Grand is the gathered, chunkier take.

Three pictures that set the mood for the soft loafer
Numbered collage: 1. Mansur Gavriel Ruched Loafer in Oxblood; 2. Le Monde Béryl Orlando Moccasin in Taupe Suede; 3. Loeffler Randall Rachel Woven Leather Loafer in Espresso; 4. Khaite Miles Loafer in Vintage Brown; 5. Dear Frances Gio Loafer in Espresso; 6. Nisolo Leo Penny Loafer in Tobacco; 7. aeyde Arthur Apron Loafer; 8. Larroudé Margaux Loafer in Olive Croc Suede

The Tall Boot

A tall boot is the easiest way to make a skirt feel like fall. I like them close to the calf with a low or kitten heel, and in brown before black. Slouchy works too, as long as it looks like you meant it. Tony Bianco's Jordyn has a riding-boot line on a short block heel, and the Rinetta does the same height in espresso suede with a square toe.

Three pictures that set the mood for the tall boot
Numbered collage: 1. Le Monde Béryl Allegra Riding Boot in Plum; 2. Larroudé Carine Boot in Brown Leather; 3. Sarah Flint Alexandra 50 Boot; 4. Staud Wally Slouch Boot in Espresso; 5. Loeffler Randall Marley Croc-Embossed Tall Boot; 6. Khaite Clive Boot in Dark Brown; 7. Alohas Sajan Leather Boot in Black; 8. Dear Frances Loch Boot in Espresso

Mary Janes

I resisted the Mary Jane for years because it felt too sweet. Then I tried one in velvet with a straight trouser and changed my mind. Keep the strap thin and the toe soft, and add a print if you want some bite. Tony Bianco's Bobbi in espresso suede and St. Agni's Ballerina Flat, with its two crossover straps, are the ones I would wear most.

Three pictures that set the mood for mary janes
Numbered collage: 1. Mansur Gavriel Dance Mary Jane in Black; 2. Sarah Flint Perfect Mary Jane Pump 100; 3. Le Monde Béryl Ballet Mary Jane in Bordeaux; 4. Loeffler Randall Ginger Mary Jane in Leopard; 5. Loeffler Randall Ginger Mary Jane in Brown Velvet; 6. Freda Salvador Jane Mary Jane; 7. Souliers Martinez Casilda Mary Jane Pump; 8. Loeffler Randall Junia Mary Jane Flat in Zebra

Brown Suede

Suede is the texture I miss most all summer. In a warm brown it goes with denim, grey, black and every camel coat I own. This is where I would put the boot, the moccasin and the flat I plan to wear until it snows. St. Agni's coffee suede loafer, ballet boot and cylinder-heel pump could cover the whole week on their own.

Three pictures that set the mood for brown suede
Numbered collage: 1. Loeffler Randall Noelle Suede Ballet Flat in Cacao; 2. Khaite Jane Flat in Sable Suede; 3. Dear Frances Vico Mule in Caramel Suede; 4. Le Monde Béryl Camille Boot in Pepper Suede; 5. Nodaleto Dona Stretch Boot 50 in Dark Brown Suede; 6. Souliers Martinez Moka Laced Suede Flat; 7. Larroudé Hydra Shearling Moccasin in Burnt Umber; 8. aeyde Hana Knee-High Suede Boot

The Red Shoe

One red shoe changes the whole outfit. I mostly mean oxblood and bordeaux, the color of a good glass of wine, with one brighter pair for the brave. Wear it with navy, grey or all black and let it do the work. Tony Bianco's Cherry, a low-heel court in vino croco, is the easy one to start with.

Three pictures that set the mood for the red shoe
Numbered collage: 1. Dear Frances Topo Bootie in Bordeaux; 2. Le Monde Béryl Babouche Kitten Heel in Oxblood; 3. Larroudé Ines Pump in Burgundy; 4. Brother Vellies Palms Boot in Oxblood Suede; 5. Emme Parsons Veneto Pump in Burgundy Satin; 6. Souliers Martinez Mina Patent Ballerina in Burgundy; 7. Loeffler Randall Agnes Western Boot in Red; 8. Alohas Rosalind Ballet Flat in Burgundy

Where I'd Start

If I had to start from zero, I would buy the loafer and the tall boot first, then let the red shoe be the treat. If you want to keep browsing, I also put together Valentino Shoes for Women and D&G Shoes, Compared.

 

To round out the look, see GIA BORGHINI Shoes and Jimmy Choo Shoes and Bags.