Hours after Marie Claire's senior shopping editor Cortne Bonilla-Oliva endorsed the "wrong shoe" theory for The A-List Edit newsletter, Sofia Richie Grainge's date-night outfit followed the tutorial to a T.
Did Grainge subscribe to the biweekly celebrity style column before her October 11 outing? We may never know, but one thing's for certain: The way she paired flip-flops with perfect-for-fall trousers is worth noting.
Before grabbing dinner with her husband, Elliot Grainge, her sister, Nicole Richie, and Hillary Duff in Beverly Hills (incredible guest list, IMO) the SRG founder looked casually cool in a fusion of cold- and warm-weather finds.
First, she paired a collarless fur jacket with black wide-leg pants. Because it was 80-degree in LA that day, Grainge got away with wearing black leather flip-flops, an unseasonal it shoe that shows no signs of slowing. To finish the summer-to-fall ensemble, she chose a beige top-handle tote that complemented her cropped shearling coat.

This outfit proved stylist Allison Bornstein's three-year-old "wrong shoe theory" is just as relevant (and wearable) today. According to Bonilla-Oliva, it's "less about wearing something objectively 'wrong' and more about disrupting an outfit's predictability."
For instance, kitten heels or ballet flats might've been more obvious options, but by selecting sandals, she gave an otherwise straightforward outfit an engaging twist.
Grainge is no stranger to the "wrong shoe" theory, either. In fact, she frequently pairs pleated pants with flip-flops from The Row. That said, since 80-degree days are still the norm, take it from Grainge: It's the perfect time to slip open-toe sandals beneath your autumnal trousers.
Flip-flop-friendly forecasts won't stick around for long. So, shop sandals and pants à la Grainge, while you can.




