PROJECT W

Womanhood, beautifully lived.

Style · Shopping Edit

The Shoes Worth the Splurge This Season

Five pairs our editors tried, wore into the ground, and would buy again at full price.

By Editorial Staff · September 19, 2026

A shopping edit lives and dies on specifics, so here they are: the loafer that doesn’t need breaking in, the boot that survives a real winter, the flat you can stand in for a twelve-hour shift.

We tested each pair for at least a month before writing a word.

The everyday loafer — supple from the first wear, holds up to a commute.

The winter boot — actually waterproof, not “water resistant.”

The going-out flat — dressy enough for dinner, sane enough to walk home in.

The white sneaker — stays white longer than seems reasonable.

The one splurge — a bag, not a shoe, but it earned its place on this list anyway.