I was recently stopping through Joseph, a fabulous local boutique, when I stumbled on the most Amelia M. Thompson shoe ever— a denim mule sandal courtesy of D&G emblazoned with the most ridiculously, wonderful crystal buckle. My sister remarked, “This screams you because it’s just kind of absurd but also v. stylish.” Her way of saying SCBABT! It is a movement, y’all!

It’s been 4 months since that encounter, and I cannot stop thinking about Miss. Denim Dolce. The styling possibilities are endless— all denim, all pink, all white, all black, alllll the time! I’m drawn to this style not just because it adds a little snap of attitude to any look, but really because a denim shoe is inherently irreverent. Why, in God’s name, do you need to wear jeans on your feet? A better question— WHY THE F NOT?!

Denim has proven to be the most significant and inimitable fabric to ever grace humanity. It is equal parts elevated and democratic— spilling from racks at Walmart, Fred Segal, Penny’s and Barney’s @ Saks alike. It is both the pinnacle of inappropriately casual, yet also spot-on for so many occasions. Jeans are the ultimate workwear, but historically banned from the workplace. I spent winter/spring of 2014 battling my VP over a gorgeous denim blazer by Rebecca Taylor that I dared wear to the horrorshow that is Macy’s HQ @ Herald Square. 12 months after I left that job, Macy’s management declared jeans were a-okay for everyday. The juxtaposition of it all is thrilling!

In honor of that fabulous Dolce shoe I will likely never own, but has sent me into an inspiration spiral— a round-up of some insanely SCBABT styles wrapped in the world’s most critical fabric!

1. That Stuart Weitzman double strap Mary Jane would be a subtle “F You” to any hater pushing a corporate dress code agenda! I would adore this shoe styled with a strait-laced black suit and a high ponytail.
2. Another great jean flat, but made of printed suede. How great would these be with a head-to-toe light denim look? Just a J’outfit Queen!
3. Stuart hits it out of the park again, but the addition of that crystal detail is so good! Break out a white tee, denim mini, diamond-inspired tennis necklace and make all your Denim x Diamond dreams come true.
4. Speaking of DxD, the shoe that launched one thousand ships! Isn’t she PERFECT? Forget what I said about not buying, because now I need Miss. Denim Dolce. Would wear with a white minidress and my pink Staud Shirley for SCBABT goes Cher Horowitz.
5. I’m not even a florals girl, but daisy + denim + diamond accents = a spring win! This Manolo is Girl Bossing, but 2024 style, so it’s a little softer and less obvious. EQ and IQ!
6. Ok, let’s go full fucking tacky with this Gia Borghini platform, denim thong sandal (a mouthful!) I have recently fallen into a rabbit hole of Charli XCX’s latest release Brat and feel like this shoe is the embodiment of that listening experience. Honestly, I would be afraid to add this Gia Girl to my closet because it would give me carte blanche to dress like even more of a crazy person. You’re welcome, Mom!
7. D&G has the denim shoe game on lock! Leave it to the Italians to go wildly impractical with the yeoman’s fabric. This bedazzled mule is a slightly more mainstream version of #6, but still a potential gateway into unfettered tackiness. Just hear me out— distressed baggy jeans, white tank, mini bag and a gold chain belt!
8. Black Suede Studio’s chic denim mule is the “quiet luxury” moment of this post, so enjoy the palate cleanser. It’s just very very good and would make any outfit a bit more cool girl. I wish I had owned this sexy shoe during my aforementioned Macy’s dresscode battle. It would have been the perfect accessory, dangling from my insubordinate foot at market appointments!
9. I saved the best for last— Jacquemus’ insanely genius Les Slingback. I first stumbled on this style in leopard print and almost shed a tear, at both the impeccable design and just outta reach pricetag. It’s simply so GD good. Imagine my reaction to the denim? Nutjob! The slingback makes it stylish, and the mismatched shapes make it full-blown fashion! This is a shoe that is so incredible it needs to be humbled by pairing with either something very casual like overalls or a look that is even more stylish like a Jacquemus tiny cardi and a leopard print miniskirt. BRB, off to scream into the void over not owning any of the above!

Y’all, I am obsessed with this post— it was so fun to hone in on a very niche topic, while also exploring the wide variety of ways to master a trend. (Are denim shoes a trend?!) All in all, I am further inspired to be as SCBABT as I wanna be! Xx

P.S. You think I wouldn’t make a single Chanel reference?