As much as I love my Jacquemus moon shoes, what I forever reach for the most is chunkier sneaker, and it’s because good proportions rule all.
A shoe with real sole weight at the bottom grounds an outfit. It balances wide-leg trousers, makes a midi skirt feel intentional, and stops a short hem from looking like you forgot the bottom half of your look. The slim ballet flat is beautiful, but it asks a lot of whatever is above it. The chunky sneaker does the heavy lifting for you.
The styling logic is simple: the more volume above, the more shoe you need below. Wide-leg denim with a thin flat disappears. The same jean with a New Balance 2002 or a Saucony Progrid and suddenly the whole thing has structure. It’s not about the shoe being loud though, most of the best chunky sneakers are actually pretty quiet in terms of colour, it’s about the silhouette having a base.
For fall specifically, this is the formula I keep coming back to every single year: one chunky sneaker + one simple piece above. I absolutely love an oversized sweater or button down with tiny bottoms, and a THICK shoe. A dad runner with a midi skirt and nothing else going on. The shoe creates the interest so the rest of the outfit doesn’t have to. And the bonus that nobody really talks about: a shoe with a proper sole is the difference between your legs looking like they end at the ankle and looking like they extend all the way to the floor.
Our picks right now:
Saucony ProGrid omni G (for a little more pop, and the ability to get in a real good hot girl walk)
June Ambrose x Naturalizer Trecca (all four colours are SO good, and bonus points for easy slip-on)
New Balance 9060 (a forever classic)