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| One of the many shoe stores in the Sol area of Madrid. |
Shoes. Some say they're most important part of an outfit, and when you're constantly roaming Europe, they are definitely the most important part in terms of comfort. When I was packing my shoes to study abroad in Madrid, I needed some tips.
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| Some recommended shoe styles. All types of sneakers make a cute-casual outfit. |
My number one pair of shoes: Adidas sneakers. These shoes are versatile and comfortable: the two most important qualities in my opinion! I definitely got my money's worth with mine. They came with me on every weekend trip, and I constantly wear them around Madrid. Stylish sneakers are extremely popular in Europe, especially in Madrid. I always see shoes on the Metro and while window shopping throughout Madrid.
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| Adidas sneakers with cloud foam, so comfortable for constantly walking around Europe! |
There are plenty of shoe stores in Madrid, especially in the Sol area. It's easy to find affordable options (some for as little as 3 euro!), as well as splurging on more expensive brands like Adidas.
Another shoe style that's vital for life as a Madrileño is a good sandal. This was something I forgot when packing my life away back in January: sandals aren't really on the mind when there's a foot of snow on the ground at home. But like I said, shoe stores are around every corner in Madrid. Other great stores have affordable shoes to offer too, a great option being Primark on Gran Via. This department store is like the Forever 21 of Europe, on trend and pretty cheap. With five stories to tackle, Primark in Madrid will have something you're looking for (or something you weren't looking for and bought anyway).
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| Doing some damage to our wallets after taking a trip to Primark! |
I wanted some shoes comfortable enough to walk in, and I found that platforms make all the difference. Mine go great with jeans, a skirt, or really anything! The key is to buy neutral colors, so there's no issue creating any outfit. Another fashion tip for Americans: people dress WAY nicer here in Europe, so no need to stuff your suitcase with gym shoes, Comfort Colors t-shirts, and leggings! Bring the bare minimum of "athleisure" style.
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| Comfortable sandals I found at a shoe store in Sol. |
Now that I'm nearing the end of my semester, trying to fit all of my shoes into my suitcase is going to be quite a challenge, but it's out with the old and in with the new (shoes). Another plus to buying shoes abroad: no one at home will have the same ones!
Cara S. is the Spring 2018 MOJO Blogger in Madrid, Spain. She is currently a Sophomore studying Public Relations, Marketing & Spanish at University of Dayton.