What shoes do I bring in a carry on when I want to walk 30,000 steps a day but still look cute

There's a method to the madness

Nov 27, 2023

Hello from Japan! I am happy to report this trip is exactly what the doctor ordered. Tokyo has been a breath of fresh air, so disorienting in the best way. The design is 10/10, the food is 12/10, the last time my brain felt this peaceful was when I was watching the magic of Stromboli erupt in 2021 (a story for another day). I feel relaxed, revived and ready to get back to Los Angeles and take on my busiest two months of the year.

I posted a chaotic story of my packing before I left, with a cheeky caption about how I can make 50 outfits out of a carry-on. I got about 50 requests for a Substack about my system, so I decided to start with the biggest pain point: the shoes!! I’ve spent the past 10 years living out of a suitcase with extended periods in New York and Paris, so I finally have my packing down to a tee. Most of the links below are on sale until tonight. Enjoy!

A pair of versatile sneakers

Meaning you can style an outfit with them but also wear them to workout if you decide to do so. Too often I pack my Nike running shoes and don’t use them, but also don’t want to wear them with jeans for walking around. Recently my tried and true have been Salomon XT-6, my Gucci Gazelles or ALD NB.

L to R: Salomons! These are the ones I have but their site has ton of colors; Adidas x Wales Bonner, Gucci Gazelles, my favorite New Balance 993 x Aime Leon Dore, Asics.

Your main squeeze

These are your most comfortable, easiest to style, non-sneaker shoes. For me, it’s been the Rothy’s Mary Jane’s, but they can also be your well-loved, already broken in loafers. The Rothy’s truly are the most comfortable shoes in the world. Period. The brand has historically been a bit design-challenged for my taste but the new styles are cute, and the black Mary Jane’s truly go with everything. They’re also made of plastic bottles so they are very sustainable and extremely resistant. They’re having their first sale ever (30% off and new colorways). These are the shoes I wear the most in Paris, I actually just got a new pair to leave it there!

T to B: Everlane day gloves (silver + olive), Rothy’s Mary Janes (black and pink), Toteme furry delights, Jil Sander woven shoes, Manolo loafers (on sale!!) and super well priced J.Crew - once broken in these are very comfortable.

One and only one pair of boots

When you are going on a trip you only need one, I repeat just one pair of boots. I tend to wear more skirts than pants, and I had extra space in my suitcase for Japan, so I broke my own rule and brought 2, sacrificing the sneakers which stayed behind. I brought my low boots from Toteme: I can wear them walking around all day with no pain to my ankles (or bunions -no comments) and they give me a little height without looking like I’m wearing heels. I also brought my favorite knee highs (vintage Chloe), which I wore to dinner most nights. Fly with these on wherever I’m going to save room in my carryon. I happened to also order the flat Reformation boots which are 25% off until today only, so they’ll probably come on the next trip!

Thom Browne on sale, Reformation suede boots (25% off today only), I love the Isabel Denvee (these are all over the internet, at a wide range of prices, you can always message me and I’ll help you find your size!), By Far, Over-the-knee boots (I have the Courreges version and always get so many compliments), My beloved Toteme boots (one size 40 half price here), Saint Laurent patent boots put here mainly for manifestation purposes.

My main packing rule is that the highest impact items should take the least amount of space: a silk Pucci skirt, an embellished silk tunic, a colorful headscarf, fashion shoes!

Extras - if they fit in a toiletry bag, they can come

A maximum of 2 pairs of “fun shoes” or “fashion shoes”. These can only be worn for 3-4 hours, but they serve a purpose: looking cute. They’re the date shoes, the dinner shoes, the business meeting shoes. My main packing rule is that the highest impact items should take the least amount of space: a Pucci skirt, an embellished silk tunic, a colorful headscarf, fashion shoes! For Tokyo, I brought flat Chanel slingbacks (the ones with little sequins on them) to wear to dressier dinners, and my sock shoes from The Row for a fun day of shopping with my friends. These last ones could fit in my toiletry bag if it really came down to it and will turn any plain outfit into a look. They were still my best investment to date.

Jil Sander in 38 at a great price with the extra code, and new collection in two tone here. Chanel slingbacks (so many on TRR), Nensi Dojaka pumps, these Miu Miu are extra 10 today, my sock shoes (my mom calls them condom shoes), and the new version of the Prada flower shoes, slightly more wearable and a tiny bit cheaper than last season’s!

Where are you going next? And what are you taking?

Tell me everything!

Melanie

PS: Looking for your perfect shoes? Plugging here my friend Gab “Gab will find it” who can find all your sold out dream shoes. before I met her I never thought I could afford her services, but it turns out she charges a $220 flat fee. We met in a Pilates class and I've since become her unofficial brand ambassador.

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