How many shoes does a woman need for a blogging conference? If you answer correctly, I’ll buy you a Diet Dr. Pepper.
This is how many I packed for Nashville. Well, that’s not true, I added a pair of running shoes so I could sneak in a run with the girls from Eat. Blog. Run. so I technically packed 7. Yikes.
I think I packed too many, but I actually put some back if it makes you feel any better.
These Anne Klein flats are new to the traveling mix, but you can’t go wrong with a great pair of ballet flats. In hot pink no less, with a flower!
And these? Oh be still my heart. They’re Steve Maddens and I love them. I love them down to the last ruffle; they make me happy just looking at them. Whether or not they’ll be practical on the dance floor is another matter entirely.
Here’s the breakdown of what I take on a business trip:
1. Slouch boots. These are great with leggings or skinny jeans and are insanely comfortable to wear traipsing through airports.
2. The Steve Maddens. Every trip needs a pair of sexy heels for a cocktail party and these are it this time around.
3. Ballet flats. I do a lot of walking and standing when I’m at a conference and it’s good to have a foxy pair of comfortable shoes.
4. Black heels are the equivalent of owning a great pair of jeans. You can pair these babies up with jeans or that little black dress you brought. Do not leave home without these.
5. Low, flat, pointy toed heels. These are great for skirts, jeans, and almost everything inbetween.
6. Converse: don’t leave home without ’em. Ever. These can go with a dress at the end of the night, when my feet are burning but I still want to dance. Or. I can throw them on with some leggings and a sweater for the plane ride home. Versatile babies, those Converse.
What shoes do you take when you travel? Your go-to, no-fail assortments? I’m dying to know.
Allison
Hello there! I'm Allison Czarnecki, founder + editor of Petit Elefant, a blog all about style on a budget for every part of your life: style / home / travel / family. I do a lot of how-to beauty + style tutorials, travel posts, easy recipes, home remodel projects, and cool DIY crafts you totally want to try. I'm super happily married (to a hot Polish immigrant) and am the mother of two kids, a daughter and son, all of whom are featured here on the regular. We live in the country but we're a little bit rock + roll. Welcome!
O.K. so I pack the nice black heel but mine are wedges because they are more comfortable for conferences – currently these are some awesome BCBG ones from TJMAX with a big leather flower. I live in Florida and most of the things I go to are in the South so some sandals that are versatile are a must in the summer and a pair of sleek no lace black tennis shoes in the winter. Finally, I bring a pair of neutral shoes with a low heel are something I have added recently. My current go to pair are woven with a strap on the ankle that are grey and tan.
When I travel it is with children and so I do a ton of walking and pushing strollers, so I have a pair of Keens that I have to take. Other than, I don't really care.
I pack a black AND nude pair of pumps. 2 flats, one plain, and one snazzy pair. Slippers to wear in the hotel room. And! Galoshes….never know when you might need them!
I have made several "shoe clips" – the fun little clips you can hot glue just about ANYTHING to, and make your plain black flats, black flats with BIG pink bows, or rhinestone collages. These "show clips" make your 4 pairs of "plain" shoes, 4 pairs of FABULOUS shoes!!!
those steve maddens are the bomb!
Love your Steve Madden's!! I always take too many shoes…but they are like diamonds — 'a girl's best friend'. they can make or break an outfit. and depending on comfort level–they can make or break your sexy saunter. enjoy yourself. your feet are going to ROCK it!
love love love your blog! I always tend to over pack in terms of shoes (and only shoes) but I reason with the fact that I can never be quite sure as to what we'll be doing and I need to be prepared! I always travel with my pumas they're comfortable, cute and great for walking all over the place. I always pack a pair of black flats, they're usually a pointy black flat, along with that I tend to bring a pair of boots, these days it's a pair of grey knit uggs that are wonderful for flying in and go with almost anything.
I LOVE shoes, wish I could go out and buy a new pair right about now!
Oh i hear you! I always pack more than 5 pairs when i travel! A pair of flip-flops is essential, as well as a pair of cute flats, 2 pairs of heels – one strappy, one closed, a pair of "casual" shoes and a pair for "dancing the night away!" in my flirty dress. :) Happy Weekend!
The answer to this question is …Never enough!
Same answer goes for how many to own period.
Love the red rufflies.
Come win a red sequined pair at my blog this week!
And my go to travel shoe is any shoe that allows me to wear a sock through security. Traipsing through where WHO KNOW'S WHO'S sticky bare feet have touched. Skeeves me to pieces just thinking about it.
you have excellent taste in shoes. and everything else for that matter!
when we travel my husband always packs more shoes than I do. seriously, the man is a shoe whore.
I think you did good to limit it to the ones you did, i usually take far too many shoes too!
Love those Steve maddens – what shoe size are you Allison??? maybe we could do a little inter-continental shoe swap :)
jules
Havaianas. You may be thinking "It's February, why the flip flops?" Because: first, I do not like to be barefoot in a hotel, or for that matter, anywhere but my own house. Flip flops are house-slippers, too. Second, the perfect excuse to keep a pretty pedicure at all times ("I need a pedicure because I'm wearing flip flops later, hon.") Third, they are flat and easy to pack, so why not? Obviously I pack lots of other shoes, too … but always, always the Havaianas. Great post, btw!
Oh, I love those Steve Maddens too! Definitely worth taking up space in the suitcase.
I tend to wear a pair of Dansko clogs when I travel, but I also like the pair of Camper blue Mary Janes that I was recently given. Though right now, my knee-high boots are my go-to shoe.
Nashville you say? Are you sure you're not using Blissdom as your cover for going to the Tea Party Convention? I mean — libertarian's like shoes don't they?
My suitcase usually consists of a 50/50 split between shoes and books.
The correct answer is ALL of them (and maybe a few more)…I embarass my hubby with all the shoes I take. When we went to Nicaragua, I minimized to three pair…He took one. But then when his feet got soaked, he didn't have anything else to put on…I had two more pairs! Tee Hee!
Nashville! There is about a……97% chance that I will be moving there mid-July! I will have to talk to you when you get back about what it is like!
AWESOME. I totally forgot to pack a good pair of ballet flats — need to do that for Mom 2.0. xoxo
I hope that your next post will show us how you pack all these shoes!!!
You looked smokin' in all of those shoes!!! Good picks!