Shoe blog

Shoes on the Brooklyn Subway

I’ve consciously been taking notes on my phone of the shoes I see most on the subway in West and North Brooklyn, where I spend most of my time. Those parts of Brooklyn are hip but mostly casual, except on Friday and Saturday nights.

I find it funny that the very shoes that make me a la mode in Manhattan would make me look overdone and ridiculous in Brooklyn. And hardly anyone wears Fitflops or Skechers Shape-Ups, thank god. I did see some on the L train the other day — those things are so ugly!

The most worn (West and North) Brooklyn shoes are:

Converse (though not usually ones this eye-catching! More like dingy old ones that have been skateboarded in a lot). The Sparkle is $55.

Jeffrey Campbell. Shoe Market in Williamsburg does a collaboration with JC (not this shoe pictured). The Meow is $89.99 but was sold out in floral everywhere I looked.

Boots of all kinds rock the Brooklyn Runway … ahem, I mean, subway. Whether winter or summer… especially these brands.

Opening Ceremony, whose frequent collaborations with hip or retro designers are usually brilliant. The Dr Martens for Opening Ceremony darcie 8 eye boot is $300.

Dolce Vita (which can often be found at Urban Outfitters, which everyone in Brooklyn seems to shop at despite the fact that there isn’t one in North Brooklyn). The Wesley is $121.49.

Steve Madden. Hate to say it, but he’s cheap and popular.

Sam Edelman. These Ursala boots are on sale for $52.80 (in three colors, no less!).

And even once, these Gareth Pugh platforms, on the L train platform. I was so impressed as he is one of my fave weirdo designers.