The Fashion Memo

5 ways to wear slingbacks

Black shoes Gucci; white shoes Tabitha Simmons; brown shoes Prada; sweater JoosTricot; skirt Joseph; link bracelet Monica Vinader; bracelet Loren Stewart; rings (set of three) Charlotte Chesnais

It’s official: slingbacks have thrown off their dowdy image to become newly modern and utterly irresistible; whether they’re pared back or smothered in embellishment, there’s a pair for every occasion. Get the styling right – and we’re here to make sure you do – and you’ll find yourself slipping into them all season long

Fashion

LAID-BACK LADY

The knack you’ll need to master with your slingbacks is balancing polished elegance with just a bit of an edge. The perfect example: a pair of wide-leg jeans (all the better to add a slouchy insouciance to your look) worn with a crisp, tailored blazer and finished off by a neutral-colored pair of block-heeled shoes.

9-TO-5 AND BEYOND

Yes, slingbacks are a natural fit for the office, but the new iterations are infused with just enough glamour to carry you through to evening, too. A classic mule shape really comes into its own here; wear with a dress that will work in both boardroom and bar, a pair of modernist earrings and a slick leather pouch.

VACATION READY

Fact: these shoes will be just as helpful in your vacation wardrobe as your working one, so if you’re heading off for a spot of winter sun, make sure you don’t leave home without them. Choose a strappy rather than closed-toe pair and wear them after dark with your favorite cotton dress and shell jewelry.

THE NATURAL LOOK

Given that you’re set to spend the coming months sporting an endless array of biscuit shades (beige is big for SS19) it makes sense to start now. Blend two or three pieces from different points on the neutral spectrum but ensure you’re not playing it too safe by slipping on a pair of leopard-print slingbacks to finish.

OFF-DUTY ELEGANCE

Sometimes you just want to keep things low-key and simple – but that doesn’t have to mean boring. So when you throw on your trusty, go-to pair of jeans and classic-with-a-twist white shirt, elevate them beyond off-duty staples with a pair of glitter-heavy shoes worthy of Cinderella.