What Do Your Shoes Say About Your Personality?

Your shoes can say a lot about your personality; studies even show you might reveal 90 percent of your character traits by your choice of footwear.
What Do Your Shoes Say About Your Personality?
(All images via Shutterstock)
Tara MacIsaac
2/10/2014
Updated:
6/22/2015

Here’s a fun look at what your shoes might say about you.

Of course, no one should be judged solely on his or her shoes, but a study published in the Journal of Research in Personality in 2012 showed that 90 percent of your personality may be communicated by your choice of footwear.

About 200 volunteers filled out surveys about their personalities and had their most commonly worn footwear photographed. A group of about 60 people were shown the pictures and were able to accurately guess many of the wearers’ personality traits. 

Here are some characteristics associated with shoe types, drawn from the University of Kansas and Wellesley College research and some fashion publications.

 

Men and Women: 

First, we‘ll look at types of footwear that apply to both men and women, then we’ll look more closely at men’s and women’s footwear.

 

Colorful Sneakers


Image of running shoes via Shutterstock

-Emotionally stable, less prone to attachment anxiety (fear of separation from loved ones, dependency). 

-You might expect people with colorful sneakers to be more extroverted, but that’s not necessarily so, the researchers found. Fun-looking shoes do not mean a fun personality.

 

High-Tops

-Standoffish, introverted, agreeable, conscientious, according to the study.

-Huffington Post Style says they signal “A kid at heart who doesn’t take himself too seriously.”


Image of high-tops via Shutterstock

 

High-Fashion

-High-income.
-Some stereotypes were off the mark, the University of Kansas researchers found. People with high-fashion shoes are not necessary less agreeable, more conscientious, or more likely to be Republican.

-People with brand-new, well-kept shoes tend to be worried about relationships and may be prone attachment anxiety. Wearers tend to worry more about appearance and what others think of them.


High-fashion men’s shoe via Shutterstock

 

Worn-In

-Extroverted, emotionally stable.
-Not new but well-kept can mean the wearer is conscientious.


Shoes image via Shutterstock

 

Boring-Looking

-Trouble forming relationships, aloof, repressive. Wearers do not care what others think of them.

 
Image of plain-looking running shoes via Shutterstock

 

Biker-Style Boots

-According to Million Looks fashion website: reserved, egocentric, lack of trust in people and a preference to do things oneself, smart, sensitive.

-Tough.

-Ankle boots tend to be worn by aggressive people, the study found.

 
Image of boots via Shutterstock

 

 

What Women’s Shoes Mean, According to Men: Glamour

 Glamour magazine surveyed men to see what they thought of different styles of women’s shoes. 

 

‘Fashion-Forward’ Wedges

-Fierce.

-According to Million Looks: straightforward, confident, yet hesitant to make decisions.

Wedge shoe image via Shutterstock

 

Ultra-Girly

-Sweet.


Pink flats image via Shutterstock

 

Sky-High Pumps

-Painful to look at.
-Million Looks says stilettos show a vivid personality, a desire for attention, high self-confidence in terms of appearance, and capriciousness. 


Image of high-heel shoes via Shutterstock

 

‘Barely There’ Sandals

-Graceful beach beauty.


Sandals image via Shutterstock

 

Platforms

-You’re probably social media savvy, with frequent updates on Facebook, Instagram, and other “platforms.” 


Platforms image via Shutterstock

 

What Men’s Shoes Say About Them

Here are a few styles of men’s shoes and what they communicate about their wearers, according to Huffington Post Style

 

Vans

“This low-maintenance guy is easygoing, possibly to the point where ‘chill’ becomes ‘absentminded.’ We wouldn’t be surprised if he’s always arriving to things late.”


Vans image via Shutterstock

 

Desert Boots

“These suede ankle boots are trendy yet understated, masculine but not aggressive. This guy is detail-oriented and not at all flashy.”


Desert boots image via Shutterstock

 

Driving Mocs

This guy knows style... but he might be a little high-maintenance. Those baby-smooth leather and suede shoes do require much upkeep and care, after all.


Driving mocs image via Shutterstock

 See more men’s shoe types analyzed in the original Huffington Post Style article