JA 2's, briefly: it is a house signature that has been redrawn several times, and most of what people recognise is the proportion rather than the mark itself. The short version usually matters less than how the thing is used now. Most house signatures were practical marks before they were status ones. A moulded footbed takes about a week to break in and then lasts years. The groups below run from the decision that matters most to the ones you make afterwards.

What decides this is strap placement, footbed and heel height. Everything else is preference. Two from the first group show the range: Cinq À Sept's Peyton Crochet Suede Boot at $323, and splendid.com's Josh Laser Cut Tall Suede Boot in Black at $219. The first is the considered buy; the second is the one to start with. A strap across the widest part of the foot is what stops slipping, not a tighter buckle. A moulded footbed takes about a week to break in and then lasts years. A higher price mostly buys materials and finishing, and occasionally it buys nothing at all.

A flat sandal reads dressier with a longer hem. From the second group, shopdoen.com's ANTIGONE SANDAL -- AMANDE NAPPA ($268) is the one that earns its place, because it works in more than one context without being restyled. The third group is smaller and deliberately narrower, sandals, for the decisions you make after the main one. None of this needs the whole group. One piece from each is usually enough.

There are 20 pieces here from 17 brands, $40 to $395, all in stock when this was written. We would not buy all of them, and neither should you. Sperry's Mary Jane CVO Sneaker at $40 is the low-risk way in, and simonmillerusa.com's Sol Wood Sandal In Natural at $395 only makes sense if this is a category you already use constantly. On ja 2's specifically: the difference between the top and the bottom of this list is real but smaller than the price gap suggests. Nothing here is included because it is famous, and price is not used as a proxy for quality anywhere on this page. If you take one thing away: one considered purchase beats three hedged ones.