S4S | Look the Part. Get Ahead.

This weekend I meant to go shoe shopping because I have literally nothing but boots in my shoe closet. Living in Chicago, my collection of boots is essential to get me through the winter, but now that it’s summer I need to find some cute summer looks!

If you’re in the same boat as me, I’ll let you in on a little tip: one style that is gaining momentum in women’s shoes is slingbacks. And if you play your cards right, you can get some cute slingbacks for summer that will also work well with your fall wardrobe. Here are my picks:

For business meetings and to get you through the wedding season, I love these Isaac Mizrahi Mariam Mid Heel Suede Slingback Pumps. I’m choosing it for the neutral color, closed-toe, and interesting texture. These slingbacks would go well with almost anything you would wear to a semi-formal event - cocktail dress, formal dress, summer dress, business skirt, or pantsuit.

For business casual settings, these Kenneth Cole New York black patent ‘Edged Out’ slingbacks are expressive, yet still appropriate to talk shop in. Patent is a great look that will continue to be popular through fall, so why not invest in a black patent clutch to go with these slingbacks? This pair might be my favorite because they could carry you from casual Fridays to happy hour with your coworkers to a night out with your girlfriends.

For evening wear or a night on the town, how about these BCBGirls Nora Metallic Leather Slingbacks? What I love about them is when I see the metallic colors I think of all the browns and bronzers I can wear to match. The colors in these slingbacks work well for summer, but will also transition to the early fall months when the leaves are still falling. Wear them with a pair of denim jeans for an instant upgrade to your evening date wardrobe.

For weekend wear, I love these Dolce & Gabbana Slingbacks. Though they are a little pricey for a casual shoe, I like that the design allows for your feet to breathe, and I like that the shoe is a comfortable yet stylish upgrade from the traditional ballet slipper look. Plus it’s nice to get out of heels for awhile, even when you aren’t squishing your toes in sand.

What do you think of these slingbacks? Love ‘em? Hate ‘em? Tell me about it in the comments section.