From Flats to Boots, These Are the 5 Best Shoes to Wear to the Pub This Season
The pub is a place where many a memory is made, where friends come together to discuss new life events and (often) to fawn over one or two excellent outfit choices. Personally, I love the classic British pub and all that frequent it, because it provides the perfect setting for that casual winding down, debriefing or meeting up. And whilst we were blessed with an Indian summer, the recent autumnal change in season means that those pub-garden drinks will have to come indoors again (begrudgingly for some), and so a little more coverage in the toe department is a must.
Anne-Laure Mais keeps it sleek and sophisticated in a tonal grey look with black leather accessories to tie it all together.
It may seem a little early to visualise for some, but I'm already looking forward to finding a cosy little pub with some sort of Chesterfield sofa next to a roaring fire, and an equally roaring landlady serving perfect drinks and one-liners. I want to put my feet up and relax in the comforting and reassuring surroundings, watching people come and go and wondering what their day-to-day lives entail. I want to admire their shoes whilst a dog is curled up at their feet, and I want to pay a normal price for a pint.
The assortment of clientele who walk through the doors of the average pub varies so much that very little is deemed "inappropriate" in terms of dress code, but as the nights draw in, I'm here to help you make some spot-on footwear choices for future outings with friends, family, partners and dogs. Be it comfortable trainers, sleek boots or the shoes of the season, mary janes, keep reading for my edit of the best shoes to wear to the pub this autumn.
The Best Shoes to Wear to the Pub
1. SLEEK BOOTS
Style Notes: Kaitlin's sleek black boots perfectly punctuate her outfit of a cotton coat in crisp green paired with raw-edge jeans. This style of boot is perfect when visiting a slightly fancier pub or if you just want to look a little more polished.
I can imagine these peeking out underneath a pair of cream wide-leg trousers for a sleek and understated look.
You can pretend you've just come from riding your horse in the countryside in these Gucci riding boots, complete with logo embellishment on the heel.
These look so soft and supple and would look great with a skirt (mini or knee-length) and tights.
Smart, streamlined and classic. I love the slightly squared toe of these ARKET boots.
A Chelsea/cowboy/Cuban-heel hybrid, these H&M boots are made even more interesting with the extended elastic detail.
2. CHUNKY BOOTS
Style Notes: I love the proportions at play with Marie Jedig's loose silk skirt and chunky, knee-high boots; the juxtaposed soft and hard textures work perfectly. Chunky boots are an especially good pub footwear option if you're walking to your watering hole.
Make like Marie (pictured above) and style these with a loose skirt with lots of movement for a playful twist.
I love that these boots have a smooth sole, no heavy treads and a deep, elasticated ankle panel.
Simply perfect for hanging out in your local pub in comfort.
These chunky boots from Mango have an excellently proportioned sole-to-heel ratio. They also look very comfortable.
3. TRAINERS
Style Notes: Surely, trainers need no explanation. But just in case, they're perfect for the pub thanks to the unrivalled comfort they offer and because they make any casual outfit look so much cooler.
I love the combination of vivid green with washed-indigo denim jeans, so try these Gazelles on for size.
Retro running trainers, like these from New Balance, always look great with slightly cropped trousers or jeans, or even a pleated midi skirt.
I'd love to wear these with a pair of raw-edge jeans.
These Reebok trainers would look great with a pair of loose, slouchy trousers. I loved this particular style when I was a teenager.
I was always a fan of the hi-top Blazer style from Nike, so I'm keen to try this lower style. Bold and graphic, these would look great with a tonal grey look.
4. FLATS
Style Notes: Not ready for boots and not into trainers? Here's where flats come in. Pair yours with jeans or a dress for a Parisian take on pub wear.
How cute are these leopard-print mary janes from Zara? I can picture these with indigo jeans and a chunky jumper.
The classic loafer—you can't beat it. Complete the look with soft tailoring and knitwear for a chic, thrown-together look.
These clean and modern shoes would look great with a loose, A-line skirt to punctuate the look.
Kick it up a notch and style these with jeans or pale trousers for a whimsical vibe.
5. SLIP-ONS
Style Notes: I'm a huge fan of mules for any and every occasion, but there's something particularly perfect about wearing them with cosy socks, wide-leg jeans and a chunky knit by a pub fire.
Socks or no socks, these cosy statement mules speak volumes.
Clean lines and a block sole make these Vagabond mules so sleek in their design. They'd look great with wide-leg trousers.
Simple and extremely comfy-looking, Studio Nicholson excels at classic and long lasting pieces like these.
These snuggly mules from Charles & Keith would be even cosier with thick, ribbed socks.
Next Up: M&S's Shoes Are Better Than Ever for Winter—These 15 Pairs Prove It
Charly Suggett is a contributor for Who What Wear UK. She is a stylist and writer from the Wirral and she has lived in London since 2011. After starting out as an intern and an assistant for numerous brands and publications, Charly ventured into styling editorials, music videos and commercials and discovered a love for writing and copywriting on top of this. She has compiled shopping pages and written for Grazia UK amongst other titles before having a chance taken on her at Who What Wear UK. She continues to style and write while supporting her dog, Pete, who consumes the entirety of her camera roll and adoration.
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