Now ask anyone what their style is and you will surely find a recurring theme: comfortable, effortless, relaxed. For many women, this wardrobe journey begins with shoes.

It's safe to say that the percentage of women wearing high heels has dropped this year (wearing stilettos in an apartment office seems a bit odd). Right now, versatile, well-made, stylish, and comfortable shoes are priority number one.

Five style experts from fashionable cities like Brooklyn and Los Angeles share their tips for creating an effortlessly chic look around five seasonal pieces from shoe brand SOREL (opens in new tab).

Ryan Norville (open in new tab) is a Brooklyn-based florist with a penchant for playful, carefree style. Her Instagram is a whirlwind of powdery pastels, ethereal layers, and hairstyle inspiration. 'When I think about my style, I find it fun and relaxed,' she says. I opt for loose-fitting clothes. I like to play with colors and patterns, but I also love neutrals. I think what's fun is not taking myself too seriously or putting myself in a box."

She also says, "I like to have fun and relax when I'm thinking about my style.

This season, Norville is leaning toward layered styles, capped off by SOREL's Cate Lace Booties (opens in new tab)." This outfit is very fall appropriate," she says, "with a nice warm color palette and oversized pieces." It's especially reminiscent of today's trendy #cottagecore, but secretly, I styled my outfit this way because it's a great postpartum fit; I gave birth three months ago and my wounds are still healing. I feel terrible in fitted clothes right now, so I'm styling my slouchy clothes so that they still feel put together."

Norville's methodology for brainstorming strong seasonal outfits. She says, "I like to have shoes that fit every occasion, personality, and mood, so when I'm creating an outfit, I can feel confident that I have the right shoes to match that mood." And her current mood is "cozy girl from Brooklyn.

Authenticity permeates Stella Simona's (open in new tab) career, starting with her luxury heirloom jewelry brand Haati Chai and extending to her personal style. She explains, "Dressing up should never be a headache, but rather a liberating, confidence-boosting moment of self-appreciation."

"I gravitate toward items that make me feel comfortable in my own skin."

Simona's taste is minimalism, with classics styled simply, and her SOREL Kinetic Lace sneakers (opens in new tab) reflect this sensibility. She notes, "Pairing these sneakers with a designer bag and a luxurious coat makes for a versatile look that can be used for a walk around the neighborhood, running errands, or a night out at the bar with friends."

For Simona, the outfit begins before the clothes even appear. 'I love shoes and accessories first and foremost,' she says. I chose the shoes for this look, then put together a muted ensemble that would serve as a backdrop for the sneakers."

In addition to running skincare brand AUGUST & LEO SKIN (open in new tab) and apparel brand THE GRL. (open in new tab), California-based multi-hyphenate Alessia Carter (open in new tab) is a casual, cool, and trendsetting designer. and cool, and she's always on-trend. I love an effortless look that still manages to stand out," she says.

"My outfit should always speak for itself, even if I'm only wearing my signature staple [double denim].

This season, SOREL's Lexie Wedge Boots (opens in new tab) inspires Carter to embrace a simple yet bold approach to style." The boots make a statement on their own, and I didn't want to distract from that," she says. "As soon as I saw this faux leather dress, I knew it would be a perfect match. I like that it's casual enough to wear to a social lunch date, yet sophisticated enough to wear to the next Zoom meeting."

Carter's advice to avoid looking old-fashioned in your outfits is to invest in a variety of shoes. Sneakers, heels, flats, and boots. Sneakers, heels, flats, and boots. Ultimately, I like to stick with what feels comfortable, looks good, and makes me feel good."

Celebrity wardrobe stylist and costume designer Marni Senofonte (opens in new tab) has been on the red carpet (opens in new tab), film festival (opens in new tab), and concert stage (opens in new tab), bringing her While bringing an unparalleled and uncompromising approach to the visual arts, she is now working with some of the most iconic women in the fashion world (opens in new tab).

In addition to her impressive body of work, Cenofonte's personal looks are also remarkable. 'I'm a self-confessed CEO of layering,' she says. 'My vibe has always been that of a sexy tomboy, wondering what's underneath the layers. Indeed, a glance at her Instagram reveals an artistic fusion of layers, prints, and colors. The same is true of her SOREL-centric outfits. 'This is a typical everyday look for me,' she explains. First, she wears a cream-colored knit draped over a cropped sweater and white T-shirt. Underneath, she wears a combination of cargo and sweat pants and SOREL Lennox hiker boots (opens in new tab). And a jumbo-sized pearl necklace.

Cenofonte's attitude toward her daily wardrobe is to approach it like a uniform. 'Cargos, sweatshirts, or jeans, it doesn't matter.'

Award-winning host and best-selling author Kelty Knight (open in new tab) keeps it simple, chic, and feminine in the wardrobe department. Her wavy hair and West Coast-adjacent aesthetic suggest relaxed, approachable attire for this season (especially if you live somewhere where it doesn't snow in the winter).

"I'm always on the go, so I look for shoes that are comfortable and can be used for everything. I decide what I have to do that day, figure out what shoes are appropriate for that schedule, and build my outfit around that. I tend to keep my shoes very chic and simple and add flair in other areas of my wardrobe."

Knight gave the longtime staple, SOREL's Lennox Chelsea Bootie (opens in new tab), an LA twist. When I saw the white boots, I thought of pairing them with some really fun rhinestone socks my mom bought me in Japan last year," she said. It's uplifting, even though I'm wearing very comfortable flat boots." Her favorite silhouette is the tent dress, which is both comfortable and stylish. She says, "The shape of this dress makes me feel comfortable no matter what I'm doing every day. I went with a black and white dress, but at the last minute I added a little pop of color by wearing my favorite pink hat."