Tan heels are the lightest end of fall's brown shoe trend, easy to wear with cream knits, light denim and camel trousers. These twelve range from strappy sandals and suede pumps to slingbacks from Jeffrey Campbell, Tony Bianco and Raye. Each one works with bare legs or sheer tights.
Tan Heels: The Caramel and Camel Neutral That Works Beyond Black
Why tan heels are the neutral I keep reaching for
Black heels get all the credit, but tan heels are the pair I would actually tell a friend to buy first. This fall, brown is one of the biggest color stories in footwear, and one trend report describes everything from espresso to cognac, caramel and lighter tans across flats, pumps and boots. Tan heels sit at the lightest end of that range, which makes them the easiest bridge between a summer outfit and the first cold morning.
The first grid is all strappy tan heels. The Raye Kathryn Heel is a clean ankle strap on a slim heel. The Raye Gian Heel wraps around the ankle and has a block heel that makes it walkable, and the Raye Ore Heel is the most minimal of the lot, a thin tan strap that nearly disappears. Raye takes its name from the Spanish word reina, queen, according to Revolve's own product copy, and the label covers everything from heels to boots. The Dico Copenhagen Sasha Sandal is a chunkier, warm brown take on tan heels.
My test for tan heels is simple: do they look good with bare legs and with sheer tights? These do. What I would skip is a tan that is too close to your skin tone if you want the shoes to read as a deliberate choice.
The strappy ones for summer into fall
DSW's fall shoe guide makes a point I think is useful: cognac has more depth, while tan is lighter and works best in early-season outfits before the palette darkens. I would take that as a styling hint, not a warning. Tan heels are at their best with cream knits, light denim and camel trousers, and cognac is for when you are wearing olive and burgundy. That is the case for owning both.
The second grid is about pumps. The Jeffrey Campbell Managed Pump is a brown suede with a cutaway side, the Diffuse Pump is a deeper suede with a sharp pointed toe, and the Mittz Pump is a lighter camel suede with a thin heel and an open back. Jeffrey Campbell was started in Los Angeles in 2000 by Jeffrey Campbell and his wife Christina, and it is still a family-run company, which explains the playful shapes. The Favorite Daughter Riley Pump is the glossy patent one, a nude-tan shade that makes tan heels feel dressier.
If you only buy one of these tan heels, make it the suede. What I would skip is a patent pair if you wear a lot of matte fabrics, because the shine will fight with them.
Pointed pumps in camel, suede and patent
The last grid is slingbacks, which is where tan heels get interesting. The Tony Bianco Nesta Slingback Pump is a pointed, caramel patent with a thin heel. The Sam Edelman Tegan Slingback Pump is a glossy tan with a slim heel, and the Schutz Siena Buckle Slingback Pump is a caramel suede on a wedge heel. The Tony Bianco Starr Sandal is the sharp little open-toe in this group.
Tony Bianco is worth a note. Born in Catanzaro, Italy, Tony Bianco moved to Australia as a child and started the brand in 1972 in a small factory in Hawthorn, in Melbourne, with his wife Michela and five employees. It is now run by his sons Anthony and Adam, and tan heels from a family-run shoemaker feel a little more personal than a trend piece.
Another trend report points out that kitten heels and slingbacks pair well with ankle jeans, which are making a comeback. I would wear these tan heels with a straight leg that stops above the ankle. What I would skip is a tan slingback with white trousers, since pale on pale can look like the shoes faded.
Slingbacks and a sharp little sandal
The reason tan heels keep working is how many outfits they quietly fix. Wide-leg trousers in camel or beige with tan heels is one of the cleanest tonal looks you can build. A navy or dark blue outfit with tan heels is surprisingly strong, and with light denim they look like you meant it.
Before you buy tan heels, decide on the finish. Suede is the softest and the most forgiving, patent is the most polished, and leather is somewhere in between. Check the heel height too, since a kitten or block heel will get more wear than a very thin stiletto.
If you already own black heels, I would still add a pair of tan heels. They make jeans and a white tee feel dressed, and they work with the brown bags and belts that are everywhere this season. One pair in the closet is a good start, and two in different shades, tan and cognac, is a capsule.
Whichever pair you choose, tan heels are the neutral shoe I think most closets are missing.
