The “Wrong Shoe Theory” is the easiest styling trick to spice up your outfit
If you’ve been on the Internet recently, you might’ve heard something about the so-called “Wrong Shoe Theory”. But what is it? And how can it help you improve your style?
Coined by stylist and wardrobe consultant Allison Bornstein, the “wrong shoe theory” is actually quite straightforward: the styling hack consists in finishing off an outfit that feels boring or monotonous with the “wrong” shoe, aka the one that seems to go “against” the rest of the look. The result? A perfectly imperfect look full of personality.
In regards to her groundbreaking discovery, Bornstein told Vogue: “In working with clients and breaking down the style of our favourite celebrities, I realised what makes a look feel interesting and personal is the addition of accessories that feel slightly ‘off’ or mismatched with the vibe of the rest of the look.” And she couldn’t be more right.
Tibi’s Creative Director Amy Smilovich champions a similar idea in the intro to her column The Good Ick: “All things good, stylistically speaking, have that push/pull.” Both Smilovic and Bornstein are talking about the same thing: how to achieve that good friction between the elements of your day-to-day looks.
But, as we all know, an image is worth a thousand words, and learning how to implement the wrong shoe theory in your wardrobe is much easier when you have a visual reference. So, without further ado, here are ten wrong shoe outfits done right, and all the tips you need to recreate them.
1. A feminine dress with dad sneakers
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Amy Smilovich talks about achieving a push/pull effect in terms of style, and that’s exactly what supermodel Vittoria Ceretti (right) is doing here. She paired a pleated mini dress with an oversized bomber, a leather handbag, scrunched up white socks, and black Adidas Samba sneakers. In this look, the push/pull effect created by the dress vs. the shoes (and the bomber vs. the handbag) is actually double: masculine/feminine and high/low fashion.
-33%
AllSaints
Viscose/Polyester Zenia Sleeveless Asymmetric Midi Dress, Size: XS Black
£133.00
£199.00
AllSaints
-46%
Roman
Pleated Border Ribbed Knit Dress Blue
£26.00
£48.00
Roman
Fat Face
FatFace Jess Claret Velvet Skirt
£49.50
FatFace
-23%
Roman
Polka Dot High Neck Pleated Chiffon Swing Dress Blue
£50.00
£65.00
Roman
GANT
Women Pleated Skirt (34) CREAMED WHITE
£150.00
GANT
-35%
Roman
Pleat Detail Stretch Wrap Dress Blue
£36.00
£55.00
Roman
-30%
Nobody's Child
Green Cord Pleated Mini Skirt
£38.50
£55.00
Nobody's Child
If you’re looking for a way to how to style your cowboy boots, wrong shoe theory is the answer! Cowboy boots with baggy, ripped bermuda shorts is definitely so-bad-it’s-good territory, and we suggest you embrace it. If you’re feeling especially bold, try pairing your calf boots with sweat or biker shorts instead of denim shorts. I promise, in this case two wrongs do make a right!
-30%
Coperni
Denim Bermuda shorts Blue
£189.00
£270.00
Mytheresa
-16%
Roy Rogers
Denim Shorts, female, Blue, W28, Bermuda in denim
£100.05
£119.63
Miinto
-50%
Vince
Denim Bermuda shorts Black
£162.00
£325.00
Mytheresa
-25%
Mother
Cropped Jeans, female, Beige, W27, The Weekender Cropped Flared Jeans
£235.77
£314.94
Miinto
AG - Adriano Goldschmied
Ex-Boyfriend denim Bermuda shorts Blue
£225.00
Mytheresa
-15%
Haikure
Denim Shorts, female, Black, W26, Belle Mid Bermuda Shorts
£176.73
£207.93
Miinto
-48%
Liu Jo
BOTTOMWEAR - Denim shorts on YOOX.COM Blue
£42.00
£81.00
Yoox.com
-44%
Re/Done
knee length denim shorts - Blue
£177.00
£317.00
FARFETCH
Ballet flats are back and more popular than ever—but that doesn’t mean we have to style them like we did in 2008. Try playing with proportions, and pair your ballet flats with the baggiest, most boy-ish trousers you own (jeans, cargos, slacks, even sweats!): you’ll have a look that’s both edgy and chic.
Serena Bute
Slouchy Jogger - Navy Blue
£245.00
Serena Bute
Nobody's Child
Green Linen-blend Shona Trousers
£65.00
Nobody's Child
Nobody's Child
Cream Linen-blend Wide Leg Shona Trousers White
£65.00
Nobody's Child
Levi's
XL Straight Jeans - Womens - 23X29 - Blue
£110.00
Levi's
-80%
Quira
Oversized Casual Cotton Trousers with Elastic Waist size 40
£119.15
£595.76
GLAMOOD
Wrong shoe theory is all about the good tension, and good tension can be created by pairing “high” and “low” elements to create a striking outfit. Here, we’re paying the most casual item of all—the tracksuit—with shoes that are generally considered dressy and elegant, like heeled ballet pumps or kitten heels. Add a pair of rhinestoned sunglasses and a stretchy headband and you’ve got yourself the perfect Y2K look.
-64%
Maison Ullens
BOTTOMWEAR - Trousers on YOOX.COM Orange
£73.00
£204.00
Yoox.com
Diesel
side-stripe track pants - Black
£175.00
FARFETCH
The Upside
Monte side-stripe track pants - Blue
£140.00
FARFETCH
New Balance
Tapered Logo-Print Shell Track Pants Blue
£180.00
Mr Porter
Maison Margiela
elasticated-waist wide-leg track pants - Grey
£350.00
FARFETCH
AZ FACTORY
Sneaky kitten heel pumps - Gold
£413.00
FARFETCH
Senso
Teyana kitten heel sandals - White
£144.00
FARFETCH
Michael Michael Kors
Jess 60mm leather kitten-heel pumps - Pink
£190.00
FARFETCH
5. A skirt and platform Crocs
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Is it just me, or are platform Crocs kind of cool? In recent years, the plastic clog brand has come out with a number of new platform models, from the iconic mule to sandals. If you value comfort above all, jump on the platform Crocs train and style them with a sleek maxi skirt and a blazer. Instantly cool!
-2%
Crocs
Clogs, female, Black, 6 UK, Black Mega Crush Clog with Maxi Tone
£84.22
£85.95
Miinto
-20%
Crocs
Womens Crocs 208731-2Y2 CRUSH SLIDE BONE Womens Clogs Bone - Cream - Size: 6 White
£35.99
£44.99
lovethesales
-30%
Crocs
Black Triple Strap Sandals
£59.38
£84.83
Miinto
-14%
Crocs
209842-6zw Mega Crush Triple Strap Womens Sliders Pink Milk Resin - Size UK 5
£59.99
£69.99
Secret Sales
-7%
Crocs
Womens Classic Crush - Black - Size UK 3
£65.40
£70.00
Secret Sales
Crocs
Wedges, female, Beige, 6 UK, Mega Crush Sandal
£82.65
Miinto
-20%
Crocs
Womens Crocs 207521-100 CLASSIC CRUSH Womens Clogs White - Size: 7
£55.99
£69.99
lovethesales
6. Flip-flop sandals and tailored trousers
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Flip-flops and tailored trousers are shaping up to be a big trend this year, with celebrities like Elle Fanning and Zoë Kravitz sporting the look. The juxtaposition of the quintessential chill shoe and the slouchy tailored trousers makes for an effortless yet sophisticated look.
Clarks
Brinkley Reyna Standard Fit Blue
£35.00
Clarks
Clarks
Brinkley Reyna Standard Fit White
£35.00
Clarks
-25%
Moschino
LOVE Rubber Flip-Flop Sandals with Heart Detail size 38
£71.23
£94.98
GLAMOOD
Clarks
Brinkley Reyna Standard Fit Purple
£35.00
Clarks
-30%
Michael Kors
Flip Flops, female, Brown, 6 UK, Leather Thong Sandal with Gold Clamp
£105.06
£150.08
Miinto
-31%
Clarks
Brinkley Reyna Standard Fit Blue
£24.00
£35.00
Clarks
-25%
Moschino
LOVE PVC Flip-Flops EVA30 with Heart Motifs size 40
£58.28
£77.71
GLAMOOD
7. Denim shorts and heeled mules
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Styling shorts in a way that makes you feel both grown-up and put-together is not an easy feat. The best trick to make denim shorts work is to elevate them with the right choice of shoes and tops. Berlin-based content creator Tina Haase turned her shorts from summer camp vibes to city chic by styling them with a romantic tube top, an oversized blazer, a flower choker, and heeled mules.
-30%
Clarks
Howard Cap Standard Fit Black
£49.00
£70.00
Clarks
-30%
New Balance
Womens 327 in Grey Suede/Mesh, size 3.5 Narrow
£70.00
£100.00
New Balance
Clarks
Wallabee Standard Fit Brown
£135.00
Clarks
-30%
New Balance
Mens 237 in Green/White Suede/Mesh, size 10.5
£63.00
£90.00
New Balance
-31%
Clarks
Hollyhock Walk Standard Fit White
£52.00
£75.00
Clarks
New Balance
Mens 327 in Black/White Suede/Mesh, size 10.5
£100.00
New Balance
-30%
Clarks
Craft Arlo Limit Brogue Standard Fit Black
£66.50
£95.00
Clarks
-30%
Swarovski
Glasses, unisex, Black, 53 MM, Sk2051 Vista Frame
£97.44
£139.20
Miinto
8. A suit and a pair of clogs
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On the other hand, a tailored suit often feels too grown-up, and a little stuffy. To make your suit less business and more casual, try pairing it with a pair of clogs for that good high/low tension that makes an outfit immediately unique.
Alegria
Seville Leather Womens Clogs Shoes - Oiled Brown - Size:UK 6.5
£24.42
Legend Footwear
-50%
Scholl
ICONIC Brown
£54.00
£108.00
Yoox.com
Kurt Geiger
Clogs, female, Brown, 6 UK, Mansion Clog
£147.03
Miinto
-85%
Scholl
ICONIC Black
£22.00
£151.00
Yoox.com
-50%
Scholl
ICONIC Yellow
£69.00
£138.00
Yoox.com
UGG
Esmee Clog Brown
£156.60
Miinto
-83%
Scholl
FOOTWEAR - Mules & Clogs on YOOX.COM Brown
£15.00
£90.00
Yoox.com
Is your social media feed full of influencers wearing Salomon and ASICS shoes? For that you have to blame gorpcore, one of the biggest trends of the year. Gorpcore embraces utilitarian and sportswear pieces—from trekking shoes, to running sunglasses, to Goretex windbreakers—and turns them into fashionable and trendy items.
But if camping-chic isn’t for you, here’s another, more romantic way to style your gorpcore shoes: pair them with a tulle skirt, colour-block stockings, and an oversized graphic top.
-30%
Clarks
Howard Cap Standard Fit Black
£49.00
£70.00
Clarks
-30%
New Balance
Womens 327 in Grey Suede/Mesh, size 3.5 Narrow
£70.00
£100.00
New Balance
Clarks
Wallabee Standard Fit Brown
£135.00
Clarks
-30%
New Balance
Mens 237 in Green/White Suede/Mesh, size 10.5
£63.00
£90.00
New Balance
-31%
Clarks
Hollyhock Walk Standard Fit White
£52.00
£75.00
Clarks
New Balance
Mens 327 in Black/White Suede/Mesh, size 10.5
£100.00
New Balance
-30%
Clarks
Craft Arlo Limit Brogue Standard Fit Black
£66.50
£95.00
Clarks
-30%
Swarovski
Glasses, unisex, Black, 53 MM, Sk2051 Vista Frame
£97.44
£139.20
Miinto
When Solange does something, we can’t do anything but take notes! For her LA loft feature in Apartamento Magazine, the star wore a rugby shirt, sweat shorts, and the ubiquitous Miu Miu ballet flats.
Sports jerseys and ballet flats are two of the biggest trends right now, and when styled together they lead to super cool combinations: style them with a pair of mini shorts and you’ve got yourself an it-girl-worthy daytime look.
-39%
adidas Originals
Real Madrid Third Authentic Jersey Blue
£91.00
£150.00
Labels
-5%
adidas
Sock Cali T-Shirt Black
£61.77
£65.25
Miinto
-20%
adidas
adidas Performance Mens San Diego FC 25/26 Home Authentic Jersey - Blue - Size X-Small
£103.90
£129.90
Secret Sales
