Hi friends. How are we all doing? Do we need a check-in? Are we all finding ways to feel socially fulfilled whilst remaining a cool six feet from humans with whom we don’t share a residence? We’re holding it together exceptionally well over here, thanks in large part to this belated Christmas gift from my aunt that couldn’t have arrived at a better time.

Shoes To Snap Up Now: Em’s Fav Sneakers, Heels, Booties & Mules In The Nordstrom Surprise Sale

And, of course, the sneaky little sale that Nordstrom sprung on us all today is a welcome distraction, too. I went online to quickly peruse which of my closet staples might be discounted for the occasion and was happy to find that not one but 10 (!!!) of my most-worn shoes are marked down. Honestly, I could probably strip my shoe wardrobe down to just these 10 pairs of shoes and be more than set for almost every occasion. Lots of versatile sneaks, a pair of surprisingly comfy dress heels, booties, booties, booties and sleek mules that are as easy to reach for as flip flops but just a bit more chic. 

Oh, and a few of my other most-worn items, including that white t-shirt I won’t shut up about, are on sale, too, so I’m dropping links to those below. 

1) Adidas Stan Smiths

No surprise here; I’ve owned a pair of Stan Smiths since high school (actually, I’ve only had to replace them once since then, which is a testament to their quality). I have a soft spot for the vintage vibe of the white/green, but quite a few colorways are included in the sale. Runs about 1/2 to a full size large.

2) Converse Chuck Taylors

I have these in red and green, and now is the perfect excuse to pick up a pair in classic white or black. Love the high-top version, too. Runs about 1/2 size large.

3) Checkered Vans Slip-Ons

Much like the Stan Smiths, I’ll never not own a pair of these. They’re so easy to slip on and the checkered pattern complements most of the clothes in my closet in a refreshingly funky way, from floral dresses and graphic Ts to satin skirts and, duh, all walks of denim. They’re also a surprisingly flattering choice with shorts. TTS.

4) Adidas Sleek Mid-Tops

You’ve seen me talk about these loads lately. The gold accent gives them just enough flash to consider them…dressy? for a sneaker — and they’re ridiculously comfy and lighter weight than they look. (Loads more pics of them in this post.) Limited sizes in black, but they’re available in white, too, and even a low-top version if you’re not feeling the mid-height. (More sizes here, too.) Unlike some of the other Adidas street shoes, I found that these run TTS.

5) Vans Old Skool

These have made a huge resurgence in the past couple of years (I have a feeling there’s a Jenner to thank for that) — and here I’ve had this exact style in my closet since…1997? I love wearing something a little more chic — skinny jeans with a turtleneck sweater, gold jewelry and a bun — and then grounding it all with these guys. The perfect playground companion, too. Nothing beats Vans for climbing slides. TTS.

6) Elastic Gusset Booties

I have the ever-so-slightly lower-heeled version of these from seasons past, in the leopard print you can see in the picture, and they were so surprisingly comfortable, with zero break-in period. There’s a fair amount of support and shock absorption in the sole and heel — to the point where I’ve worn them for literally miles of city walking. I love both the black embossed croc and the on-trend white that are in the sale now. (If you’re a fan of the exact style I’m wearing, they’re still available here.) And guys, if we’re feeling a little weird about Steve Madden in light of current events, I get that. Marc Fisher offers something remarkable similar here (black, taupe or cognac) and here (snakeskin).

7) Mia Abba Clogs

Is my San Francisco showing? Love me a clog, and these are both classic and playful. (They come in loads of colors if you don’t dig the red.) I love them with sailor pants, flared jeans or cut-offs. I might even go so far as to pair them with knit tights in the chillier months. Go for a full size up from your usual for the best fit. Also available in a lower heel.

8) Lucky Western Booties

A Western boot that doesn’t overtly read Western. Love it. I’ve been dressing these up and down all fall and winter. I have them in the taupe and, somehow, they feel almost vintage. A little higher heel than the rest of my booties, but even so, still super comfy. TTS (they felt short initially but broke in perfectly). Sizes are going fast in all colors — find the taupe I’m wearing here; and black, red or cognac here. (More sizes on Amazon, too.)

9) Madewell Mules

I keep these near the front door, and every time I’m tempted to slip into a pair of flips flops before heading out for the day, I reach for these instead. They’re easy on, easy off, polished, and chic — perfect for errands, school drop-off, or even keeping in the car as a low-profile backup pair of shoes. Nordstrom says they run small; I found them to be TTS.

10) Gold Textured Heels

I snagged these during the last day of the NSale, knowing we’d have a few weddings and formal events to attend in the fall, and they’ve gotten more wear than I ever imagined. They’ve seen me through a few late nights of dancing — and, yes, I was glad to take them off at the end of the night, but they were still far more comfortable than I anticipated, especially given the heel height. And so flattering! Love the black patent leather, too (plus 5 additional colorways).

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I mentioned a few of my fave basics are on sale, too — so here they are:

1) Le Spec Sunglasses 

Not going to lie — I think these came with a weird, off-gassing smell, but apparently I’m the only one who could smell it. (After forcing multiple people to weigh in, lucky them…) The smell has diminished now, but I love the style. They’re oversized and very robust (and as such a bit heavy, but I don’t mind that). Easily the heft and quality of sunnies four times their cost. 

2) White T-Shirt

I wear this white tee at least once a week, and you better believe I’ll be buying it in every color. I’ve yet to find a neckline as flattering as this not-overly-scoopy scoopneck. The sleeve length is perfect; the white color is not quite opaque but nothing that a neutral bra can’t handle. And the pocket detail keeps it classic. (If you’re into those jeans above, they were just restocked here.) TTS.

3) Adidas Logo Tee

I wear this classic logo tee with jeans, skirts, joggers and everything in between. Adding the black/white to my cart as we speak. Runs a little small; I sized up one.

4) Topshop Cardigan

I’ve owned this since last summer, and despite the fact that it’s fairly inexpensive, it’s held up really well, even to a decent amount of machine washing. The oversized fit is slouchy and subtly boho. And it’s so, so soft. (I’m wearing the Oatmeal, which is out of stock, but I love the Camel, too.)

Shop Everything In This Post

PHEW. Happy shopping, guys. And, of course, stay well.

xo,
Em

Guys! Follow me on Instagram for more peeks into our life on the Northern California coast. And if you feel so inclined, pop over to my personal food + lifestyle blog, The Pig & Quill, where I share salty scribblings from my kitchen and home life. Byeeeeee!