What We Actually Saw on the Streets

Over the course of five days in Paris, we saw: Sneakers (mostly Adidas), loafers, and Mary Janes. Surprisingly, we didn’t see any ballet flats, though we are certain they are still worn often. We also didn’t see high heels during the day. Lastly, we barely saw flashy logos anywhere.

Sneakers: The Best Shoes to Walk Paris

Let’s start with the obvious. Sneakers are everywhere in Paris. Adidas, in particular, dominated: we saw Sambas, Gazelles, and Spezials in nearly every arrondissement. Most women paired them with jeans or wide-leg trousers. We spotted other brands too, but Adidas was clearly the standout.

Classic Adidas Sambas Originals

We saw a ton of Sambas – check out our photos below.

Though we saw a ton of Adidas, we also saw a good amount of white sneakers. Can’t beat them and they never go out of the style – all the way from affordable to luxury.

Sneakers are a great practical option when walking 10,000 or more steps in Paris. Mostly all of the ones below are still in stock so grab yours now!

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Loafers: Best Shoes for Walking in Paris

In addition to sneakers, we noticed many women wearing loafers. They’re a great way to dress up an outfit without without heels AND an easy replacement for sneakers. They anchored outfits in a way that looked pulled together but still practical.

Note the colors: white, cream and black. We love that Parisian women keep their colors fairly neutral, with a pop of red being an exception at times.

We’re linking loafers from brands known for comfort and all-day wear, because when you’re walking across uneven cobblestone streets, the last thing you want is a trendy shoe with a paper-thin sole.

While the exact loafers shown in the photos aren’t featured here, we sourced styles from brands that prioritize comfort. Since this article is about walking in Paris, we focused on loafers known for cushioning, support, and long-wear durability.

If you’re planning to put tens of thousands of steps on these shoes, they need to go the distance without leaving your feet sore by midday. While we haven’t personally tested every pair, we chose the options below based on each brand’s mission, materials, and sole construction.

Here are some links! Feel free to shop them at your leisure.

Pro tip: we opt for simple classic loafers without embellishments. We feel hardware and tassels make it incredibly difficult to style with an everyday outfit. Minimal loafers pieces are simpler to style with almost any outfit.

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Mary Janes: Best Shoes for a Parisian Vibe

Mary Janes, especially those with a small block heel, felt distinctly Parisian. Here are actual photos of ones we saw.

Let’s talk about heels. We didn’t see pumps. We didn’t see stilettos. And we didn’t see kitten heels, at least not during the day. Everything was grounded, both literally and stylistically.

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The Stylishly Grounded Takeaway

We loved everything about footwear in Paris because it was effortless and functional. No one seemed to be struggling in uncomfortable heels while walking all day long. Which ones are you packing for your trip?

Next Steps

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→ Browse our Shoe Edit

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→ Explore our Handbag Edit