Leenika Belfield-Martin | Lifestyle Editor
Fall has officially arrived at Hampton. Multi-colored leaves are everywhere, and the days are shorter. Worst of all, the temperature has dropped. But, don’t fret my fellow Hampton women; you can still slay some cute shoes even if the weather isn’t so welcoming.
Mion Edwards, a senior journalism major, marketing minor from D.C. is Hampton’s resident fashionista. Edwards runs a fashion blog and has recently begun personal styling. Edwards created her blog, Styles by Mion, four years ago. It focuses on women empowerment, fashion and lifestyle.
She gets her shoe inspiration from other fashion bloggers and from Teen Vogue’s editor-in-chief, Elaine Welteroth.
“Shoes can definitely enhance the outfit. [Shoe choice] is the determining factor [as to] whether your outfit is casual [or] more refined.” Edwards said. “Jeans, a t-shirt and sneakers have a different feel than jeans, a t-shirt and pumps.”
According to Edwards, a fashionable woman needs these three shoes in her closet during the fall: a long, to-the-knee boot, a bootie and a pair of UGGs.
Long, riding boots are a timeless fall shoe. They are perfect for the weather because they cover the entire foot, as well as parts of the calf and sometimes thigh. “This type of boot is durable, and you can still be cute in it.” Edwards said.
UGGs are classic fall shoes that almost every girl, and even some guys, have in their wardrobe. The classic UGG boots can be worn with both casual and dressy outfits.
However, avoid wearing these shoes in the snow in rain, unless you get the waterproof ones.
Edwards said that her favorite trend of this season is, “booties, booties and more booties because they come in different shapes in sizes. Some have little belt around them, [while others] have stars and little accessories or some embellishment on it.”
The best part about booties is that they give the illusion of a heel without the discomfort.
Edwards said that this season’s key colors for shoes are black, forest green, gray, burgundy, and olive green. Other fall colors are tan, brown and sienna.
Shoe accents will make your outfit pop. Animal print patterns can be paired with a dark pair of jeans and a neutral-colored shirt to create a clean yet daring look.
This season, don’t be afraid to wear shoes with loud colors, such as bright red or yellow; just make sure that the other elements of your outfit are complimenting your shoes.
Popular and affordable clothing retailers, such as Forever 21 and H&M, are one-stop shops for tops, bottoms, accessories and shoes. Other shoe stores that offer student discounts include Steve Madden, TOMS, Boohoo and Missguided.
Also, Charlotte Russe has an in-store and online “Tuesday Shoesday,” offering sales on all shoes every week. Every order $50 and over is shipped free, too.
Edwards recommends the black-owned business, Pink Plastic Babes, as well.
Shoe subscription boxes are the newest way to shop shoes. ShoeDazzle sends customers a pair of shoes monthly for as low as $39.95 each.
The site even has a quick “Style Quiz” that customers can take to get a refined selection of shoes that fit their style. When customers purchase their first style, they are only charged $10.
JustFab is another shoe subscription service that is similar to ShoeDazzle. With JustFab, however, customers are offered free shipping for purchases $50 and over.
The Hampton Script 