flats: as they have been for several years now, flats (and especially ballet flats) are everywhere for spring. and the good news is, they're incredibly easy to score for prices well under our $100 limit.
first things first, what's not to love about these ballet flat espadrilles by banana republic? incredibly comfy, removable ankle wrap, completely darling toile pattern? they're about as perfect as it gets for a true spring winner, especially with their $78 pricetag.
these cuties just scream warm weather to me, but they're a great carryover shoe - they'll be perfect with jeans now, and great with cute little spring skirts in april. the peeptoe, the d'orsay style....they're so feminine, i can hardly stand it! only $62, by jeffrey campbell - and nordstrom is giving you free shipping on all shoes during march.
when it comes to flats, nothing's more classic than a ballet flat. and i have a couple of beauties for you. it was love at first sight when i laid eyes on these gorgeous champagne ballet flats by shellys london, which is something like the UK's answer to nine west. i love the little toe cap, and they have just enough shimmer to stand out, even though the color's incredibly neutral. i predict these will be your go-to pair for the entire season, and for $50, you can't ask for much more than that!
and, speaking of ballet flats, it's hard to go wrong with a classic pair in red patent...for under $20. these are such a bright, happy color that they're bound to carry over to your summer wardrobe as well. something tells me you won't get years of use from these beauties, but hey, if you're looking for an on-trend piece without spending a lot, these are the way to go!
wedges: a classic espadrille wedge just screams warm weather, but i think wedges are the ultimate spring shoe even if they're not made of rope :) after all, how are you going to attend that fabulous garden party/wedding/barbecue in heels? you'll spend the whole day sinking into the grass!
where to begin? how about with these adorable espadrille peep toe wedges from banana republic? i have the same shoe, in a flat style, from last summer, and i have to tell you they got more wear than any other summer shoe i owned last year - and i think the low wedge heel makes these even more wearable than last year's version. they also sold out faster than any other pair, so pick them up now for $68 :) they're available in all sorts of darling colors, but my favorite is this chocolate polka-dot pattern. floaty white blouse, linen pants, and these? classic chic.
these are just so girly and fun, they had to make the list. plus, you know i love a good target bargain, and these ankle strap rope wedges by isaac mizrahi are definitely the best of the bunch from target this spring. only $29 - which makes them pretty hard to argue with! they'll be perfect with the cute little spring skirt of your choice, and they're bound to match darn near anything.
okay, i'm probably stretching when i class these with the wedges, but i can't technically call them flats, now can i? these snakeskin peep toe flats by are by all black, a shoe designer i have a bit of a crush on right now. best of all, they're nearly 50% off right now at urban outfitters, bringing them in at a very comfy $79! available in 3 colors, but i just adore them in yellow - the color, the itty-bitty wooden wedge...just perfect.
flip-flops: i had to leave my favorite category for last. as much as i adore my cutesy spring shoes, the truth is that my favorite day every year is the first day it's okay to wear flip-flops outside without looking like a moron. so i'm thrilled to report that the day is finally here!
while my classic flip-flop staples are my jcrew capris and my havaianas, i'm thinking of adding these to my spring lineup. the color, the studs, the little bow...they just make me smile! the only thing i'm not crazy about is the price...$98 for flip-flops is a lot, i admit. but if past performance is any indication, i'll be wearing these babies at least twice a week between now and october...that's a pretty great "cost per wear" purchase, if you ask me.
you might think i've lost my mind here, but i'm a little bit in love with these rope thongs by a company called gurkees - they're supposed to be just amazingly comfortable, and hey, they're $26. they come in a few colors (traditional 'rope' color, pink, and a brown/tan combo), but i think they're most fashion-forward (if there is such a thing when it comes to flip-flops) in this fun canary yellow. they'd be just the thing for a beach vacation: comfortable, beach-friendly, and cute.
these vineyard sandals are another new favorite of mine. leather sole, and the grosgrain ribbon is lined in leather as well - so these will be a really durable choice for summer, unlike many other options out there. plus, how can you not love that darling raspberry ribbon? $48 at your friendly neighborhood jcrew.whew! my work here is done...if you can't find something you love here, well, you might just be as hard to please as i am. but if that's you, drop a comment....i have other picks that didn't make the post :) like, for example, these.....and these....and......
