6 types of high heels for any occasion

I recently cleaned out my closet because I realized I had way too many shoes. As I sorted through my many pairs of high heels, I asked myself “when am I going to wear these?” for most pairs. A lot of them I bought in college, meaning whatever trend those heels embodied was well expired.

After sorting through all the trendy high heels I knew I would never wear again, I realized I had a pretty good collection of neutral high heels leftover. By that, I mean that although I’m an avid sneaker wearer, I have some great, versatile options that I can wear basically anywhere. Essentially ones that aren’t “trendy” or outdated. That’s what sparked my idea to write this article on 6 types of high heels for any occasion.

Let’s get into it!

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How Many Types of high heels are there?

Before we dive into it, I want to quickly touch on this very common question. The answer is that there are endless types of high heels. There are classic styles, modern styles, trendy styles, and more.

But in this article, I’m going to touch on the 6 most popular styles that are great to wear no matter where you’re going or what you’re doing.

the best types of high heels you wear for any occasion

The high heels I picked below are based on their wearability and if they’re something you’d be able to incorporate into your wardrobe no matter what you’re doing or where you’re going. I focused on neutral colors and prints, which I find to be the most versatile.

I pulled together 6 types of heels that will fit perfectly into any wardrobe along with pulling 9 styles per category across various price points to ensure everyone has options for their individual wallet.

Remember, if you don’t want your heels to fall apart after a few times of wearing them (this has happened to me), you definitely want to invest. I’m not saying to trade your soul for the Louboutins I tagged below, but don’t get your heels from Forever 21 (I’ve been shading F21 a lot lately, not sorry).

A majority of these products are from Nordstrom which is known for quality. If you need an affordable pair of heels at the Forever 21 price point, I highly recommend thrifting.

A quick disclaimer about this section. Prices are subject to change meaning that something labeled as “affordable” may change to “a little extra” depending on when you’re reading this article. If you need help finding a pair of high heels that fit your budget, message me here and I’ll try to help you out.

Stiletto

Stilettos are, to me, the most intimating heel to wear. Which is why I’m putting them first so we can get them out of the way.

It’s not that I don’t love the look of stilettos, but they are so incredibly hard for me to walk in. How do the Real Housewives do it so easily? Sigh. I personally only own one or two pairs of stilettos and I don’t wear them very often but when I do they make me feel really hot.

Someone once asked me what is the difference between high heels and stilettos? Well, a stiletto is a type of high heel. Think of it like fake nails. There are fake nails, and within fake nails, there are gel, acrylics, polygel. You get the point, right? High heels can be so many different types of styles, such as the other ones I’ve listed in this article.

Affordable

A Little Extra

Ready To Splurge

Mid-Heel

Now, this is where I feel a little bit more comfortable. If I’m going to wear a high heel, this is likely the style I would gravitate towards. If the stilettos scare you as much as they scare me but you’re still looking for an elongated effect then I highly suggest you check out a mid-heel.

Mid-heels are not quite stilettos and not quite kitten heels. They lie perfectly in the middle of the two. Mid-heel shoes are great because they’re not as sky-high as stilettos but they still give your legs some length which my stubby legs appreciate.

Although I only included pictures of slim heels below, mid-heels can be block heels as well.

Affordable

A Little Extra

Ready To Splurge

Strappy

If you’re looking for a minimalistic shoe that will pull together any outfit, a strappy heel is what you need.

Strappy heels have risen in popularity over recent years because there are so many versions of them so you can find the perfect one to fit your individual style.

I love that you can pair them with just about anything, whether that be a pair of jeans or a cocktail dress. They’re incredibly versatile which is a must-have when it comes to high heels that you can wear for any occasion.

Affordable

A Little Extra

Ready To Splurge

Kitten Heel

Alright, everyone needs to leave the hate at the door when it comes to the kitten heel.

I definitely used to have beef with them. I thought they were super ugly and were only made for the secretaries named Gail who work at elementary schools. But they are so much more than that.

Kitten heels are really easy to walk in, so if the stilettos and mid-heel styles aren’t for you then I recommend these. They’re perfect if you’re looking for a little height without being too extra. Seriously, stop sleeping on kitten heels!

As you can see below I could only find two kitten heel styles that you could spend “a little extra” on. So that means there probably aren’t a ton of options for you if that’s your price range. If that’s the case then the affordable ones should be just fine for you.

Affordable

A Little Extra

Ready To Splurge

Slingback

Slingback shoes are such a classic style, I want more of them in my closet! The thing I love about this style is that they’re comfortable. There isn’t any part of the shoe that’s digging into your feet and causing you any pain from my experience.

I don’t have much to say about these besides the fact that they’re super cute, comfortable, and are perfect for any type of style. Whether you’re going to a birthday party or a wedding, slingback heels are definitely the perfect shoe for you.

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ready to splurge:

Mule

Mule heels are slowly becoming a new favorite of mine.

They’re a step up from a sandal and come in a bunch of different styles which I really appreciate. There are countless mule styles that you can search through to find the perfect pair for you.

A mule is an incredibly comfortable heel which is why they’re the perfect high heels for any occasion. Out of all the heels I’ve talked about here, I definitely think a mule style is the best to invest in.

I’m definitely going to purchase a pair or two that I can keep in my closet for all the weddings and brunch events I have in the coming future (hopefully soon, after COVID is over).

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What Heel Is Right For You?

This is a really good question. If you’re unsure what heel is best for you, I recommend you try a couple of different styles.

Because everyone’s feet are shaped differently, one style of the heel that might be comfortable for me, might not be for you. Therefore, definitely try a few out. Order a few pairs and walk around your home in them. But be careful not to scuff up the bottoms or you won’t be able to return the pairs that don’t work for you.

Also, make sure you check the return policy before you order some “try-on’s” because you don’t want to get stuck with 3 pairs of Jimmy Choo’s you don’t need. Your credit card will be sobbing.

Where Can You Wear These High Heels?

The whole reason I wrote this article is so you can find a pair of heels that you can transition throughout your wardrobe no matter where you’re going or what you’re doing.

A few places you can wear these heels are,
– A wedding
– A birthday party
– Date night
– Work Event
– GNO (girl’s night out)

Literally anywhere you want to go, you can wear these bad boys.

Remember that fashion has no rules. You can wear whatever you want, wherever you want to wear it. So if that means showing up to McDonalds in stilettos, more power to you.

Let’s Wrap It Up

Although I am definitely a huge sneaker person, I love the sleekness and classic look of a high heel. I hope to get more comfortable wearing them and with the heel recommendations in the article, I know I can do just that. And so can you!

I hope you enjoyed this article and consider investing in any of these heels! If you have any questions about heels or how to style them, feel free to leave a comment below.

With love or whatever,
Hailey