The Only Shoes Southern Girls Give a Damn About

This is Style in the South, a series in which our Southern-based editor, Allyson, shares with you her insight into the trends and shopping habits that Southern girls follow (and don't follow). She'll also share her own personal experience with how to dress after returning to the South after more than a decade away. Whether you live in the South, visiting, or just curious, she's here to give her Who What Wear perspective about all things Southern girl.

As someone who grew up in the South, recently returned to live there, and is obsessed with shoes, I think of myself as a bit of an authority on the subject of Southern girls and their go-to shoes. It's just instinctual for me to look down at people's feet (their footwear, obviously), and I've been taking notes.

While I do think that the aesthetic of Southern girls is generally classic, they do test out seasonal trends too. Granted, most of those trends fall within a handful of shoe categories, and I'm here to call out the six that I see the most, from sandals to sneakers to boots. To make things even more fun, I've shopped out each style for you, with picks that are the most "Southern girl," but to be honest, each and every one would be cool no matter where you live. Keep scrolling for the Southern-girl shoe scoop and to shop each style for yourself.

Cowboy Boots

Western-style boots are obviously a major trend this season, but they're a wardrobe staple for Southern girls. I most frequently see them paired with short dresses or jeans.

Shop Cowboy Boots

Athletic Sneakers

Trendy styles like clunky dad sneakers are somewhat rare in the Southern states. Women in this region tend to stick to athletic styles that they could actually work out in.

Shop Athletic Sneakers

Ballet Flats

Despite common assumptions, I really think that Southern girls wear ballet flats more than French girls do. The types I see the most are cap toe, pointed, d'Orsay, and slingback. 

Shop Ballet Flats

Stiletto Pumps

Of all the heel styles on the market (which is a lot), high stiletto pumps reign supreme in a Southern girl's wardrobe. I typically see neutral shades, but trendier ones like animal print and glitter are also common.

Shop Stiletto Pumps

Block-Heel Ankle Boots

Aside from cowboy ones, the number one boot style among Southern girls is undoubtedly classic block-heel ankle boots. Black, brown, and white are the hues I see the most, but I also spot them in statement-making colors and fancy materials like velvet.

Shop Block-Heel Ankle Boots

Flip-Flops

Southern girls certainly wear other sandal styles, but the one I see the most every single summer is flip-flops. This is regardless of whether or not they're trending at the moment (like they currently are).

Shop Flip-Flops

Next, shop 43 amazing pairs of affordable shoes to buy when you're bored.