indoor slippers
Bronze Age

Yes, You Need House Shoes

Slippers have always been there for us. Now, they’re even better

In Eastern Europe, where I grew up, a basket of indoor slippers is at the door of every household, with the nicest pairs reserved for guests. As in Asia, slipper and house-shoe culture is big there. This has made for an amusing transition Canada, where slippers are typically reserved only for cold winter days or spa visits. For the first few years of our relationship, my boyfriend had to contend with my mother’s aggressive offerings of slippers every time he came over. I’ve learned, on visits to my home to Ukraine, that walking around the house without some pair of flimsy rubber slides is the fastest way to unnerve my grandmother, no matter how assiduously I assure her of the thickness of my socks. 

It took spending more time at home than ever to admit that the slipper camp might have a point. After all, a little arch support is nice to have, even indoors. It helps, too, that house shoes have never looked better. British designer Olivia Morris launched her line of at-home shoes just before the pandemic, but the Marie-Antoinette-style slippers, made from satin, velvet and chintz, are a sumptuous upgrade to a homebound existence. Then there are the shearling options, from Birkenstocks to slip-on slides, which combine a kind of ’70s boho-luxe sensibility with a shrugged-off vibe of Old Céline. 

The rise of beautiful slippers for women isn’t just a practical trend, but an emblem of the new fashion reality: We are dressing for ourselves first. This time of year would typically see me buying a pair of boots to run around and impress in. Instead, a pair of satin, pom-pom-topped slippers is for my enjoyment alone. To embrace slippers is to slow down and look at the bright side (however slight) of social-distancing, not so different from buying a succulent or taking up knitting

The best part though, is that with their sturdier soles and luxe materials, these shoes can transition outside, too, when the world is ready. 

 

SHOP THE CHICEST HOUSE SHOES 

indoor slippers
Olivia MorrisOlivia Morris slippers, $472, oliviamorrisathome.com
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Suitable for “light outdoor use” these darling slides by Olivia Morris are made with a memory-foam footbed. Each style is made in a limited run and tends to sell out fast. Luckily, Morris seems to have no shortage of stunning, vintage-inspired textiles and releases new versions often. 

 

indoor slippers
Sporting LifeBirkenstock Arizona sandals, $190, sportinglife.ca
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Technically just a classic sandal, this pair of shearling-lined Arizonas from Birkenstock is the perfect slipper-to-real-world hybrid. Wear them as indoor slippers now and outdoors next spring. 

 

indoor slippers
Soft MocSoft Moc slippers, $50, softmoc.com
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Plaid is trending, haven’t you heard? 

 

indoor slippers
BrownsUGG slippers, $154, brownsshoes.com
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Pretend you’re in a cabin on Mount Desert Island with this pair of classic moccasins. 

 

indoor slippers
SsenseLauren Manoogian clogs, $555, ssense.com
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Or, pretend you’re a ceramicist in Sedona with Lauren Manoogian’s leather clogs. 

 

indoor slippers
BirdiesBirdies slippers, $127, birdies.com
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Birdies have been my quarantine shoe of choice, the arch support and cushioning of the quilted satin insoles rivals my favourite sneakers.

 

indoor slippers
Bronze AgeBronze Age slides, $198, abronzeage.com
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Vancouver brand Bronze Age has been crafting leather babouche slippers in Morocco for more than five years, but its latest shearling iteration might just be the best yet. 

 

indoor slippers
MatchesFashionCarlotha Ray slippers, $321, matchesfashion.com
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The dreamiest pair of slides to make you feel like you reside in the Petit Trianon (you know, before the revolution).

 

indoor slippers
SimonsEmu Australia slippers, $80, simons.ca
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Thanks to the criss-cross, open-toed style, these fuzzy numbers by Emu are cozy yet breathable. 

 

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