5 Expensive-Looking Shoe Colours, Chosen By a Fashion Editor

Regardless of budget, we all want to look expensive, right? Now, yes, an infinite bank balance and a wardrobe filled with The Row might help some on this endeavour, but unfortunately, I can’t give you that. Instead, all I can offer you is some essential fashion guidance…

At its core, looking expensive is an art form. High-quality pieces, complementary colour palettes and a carefully curated capsule wardrobe will serve you well, but it’s the finishing touches, such as your shoe colour choice, that really do the trick.

As Carrie Bradshaw always proved, the right colour of shoes can make or break an outfit. A tailored pair of trousers looks great with a pair of trainers, sure, but with a heeled boot or a pair of soft loafers? You’ve added depth and a luxurious finish that your favourite sneaks simply struggle to achieve.

With shoe trends moving far slower than the rest of the fashion cycle, certain silhouettes have reigned supreme for years and continue to do so. Think kitten heels, chunky and soft leather loafers, satin ballet flats and thigh high boots in recent years, each has reappeared on the runways and taken street style by storm. From Chloé’s boho Renaissance, which saw the return of the ‘90s maximalist in every colour from gummy pink to tan brown clogs to Miu Miu, the Lyst index’s hottest brand of 2025, steering the way for patent black loafers and washed brown boat shoes to be deemed chic again, there are solid shoe colours and shapes which time and again proved their worth within the fashion sect.