The Minimalist Trick to Making an Outfit Pop

If you’re looking to shake up a minimalist wardrobe without straying away from your comfort zone, start from the ground up. A colorful shoe is the simplest way to making a tried-and-true formula feel fresh and unexpected.

While summer practically calls for bold color, this trend works just as well heading into fall. In fact, the pre-fall collections made a strong case for letting your shoes do all the talking. At Khaite, electric yellow pumps punched up creams and crisp whites. At Chanel, two-tone black-and-red pumps anchored neutral animal prints. Dior, elsewhere, energized a black maxi with chartreuse mules. Valentino contrasted gray pinstripes with turquoise Rockstud pumps, while at Carven, a cherry red flip-flop broke up a monochromatic black look. The takeaway? A jolt of color at your feet is the chicest way to make an outfit come alive.

This styling trick has already made its way off the runway, spotted on showgoers at Copenhagen Fashion Week. Below, we’ve put together a few color combinations to inspire your own take.

Take a cue from Khaite’s pre-fall collection and punctuate an all-white look with electric yellow. A clean white blazer with a cream column maxiskirt makes for a modern office look.

Against a black-and-white lace-trimmed dress, fiery red mules bring the right amount of drama.

A citrusy orange wedge gives an all-white look and a tassel necklace a zesty squeeze.

A pop of purple adds richness to a neutral combination, illustrated in this look of a boatneck long-sleeve with a lace-trimmed skirt.

Take a maxidress from The Row and style it with a black tassel belt and a pair of red pumps by Jamie Haller.

Trade your everyday black loafer for a cherry red pair. Worn with a matching suit, add a button-down and a brooch to add a bit more to the look.

For a transitional weather, denim plus a leather jacket is given a bold spin with cobalt blue heels. The saturated color cuts through the textures and dark color palette.

Give your summer mini one last outing with a bright purple ballet flat. It’s an easy way to carry a warm-weather silhouette into the first days of fall.