casse-croute: spring shoe shopping

Last weekend I sipped a $12 Bud Light and swayed along to the twangy tunes of Eric Church at his Chicago concert. Some of his music is way too hoedown/honkey tonk for me, but some is so, SO good—and the "Springsteen" finale made the whole thing a hit. Mid-way through this week, I can't let it go and am still listening to a few favorites on my commute! I wore my trusty brown ankle boots to the show (the closest I come to cowboy boots), but am hoping it was one of the last times I need socks and so much coverage. As spring slowwwwwly starts to show its face, I'm slowly assembling new warm-weather footwear to replace my beat-up, salt-stained winter styles. First on the list are Steve Madden low wedges. I've worn my current pair ragged and am happy to replace it with a clean nude. A modest 2.5" heel makes this THE most versatile shoe in my closet—enough height for night, unassuming enough for day, and so comfortable! Because of how much I wear my Maddens, I want to invest in a similar style. The Seychelles have essentially the same look, with cool braided detail and a soft seafoam shade that adds interest without being too wild to work with most of my wardrobe. Because there are days I just want to be on solid ground, I need a pair of flats—the Olson's studs, T-strap and flashy color compensate for its vertical challenges. Mules are having a moment—enough said. A block heel keeps these daytime-appropriate and the colored woven upper is super summery and fun. Gold hardware and espadrille trim give a more refined feel to the sporty MK sneakers, which makes me comfortable wearing them even to work (unlike some of the super-athletic, bulkier New Balances and Nikes). Finally, this time of year is all about comfort, and black matte Birkenstocks offer that AND fashion cred. I can see myself wearing them everywhere from grocery runs to casual happy hours. What open-toe styles (and country songs!) are you busting out as temperatures rise?