My Princess Jasmine Shoes: The Sparkly Shoes I Still Can't Give Up

 These days my style is simple and minimal. Neutral colors, clean lines, nothing loud. But a few years ago? I had a very different era, my "I'm the princess here" era. 😂 The evidence is still sitting in my shoe cabinet: pointed toes, glossy satin, crystals and pearls. The kind of shoes Princess Jasmine would wear.

My friends actually call them my "Princess Jasmine shoes." They tease me, but they always add, "Only you could pull these off." So here is my rule: keep the outfit minimal, let the shoes do the talking. Today I'm sharing the three pairs I love most.

1. Manolo Blahnik: Emerald Green Satin Crystal Mule 💚

Manolo Blahnik: Emerald Green Satin Crystal Mule 

Deep emerald satin with crystals gathered like a little bouquet on the toe, plus a crystal strap across the foot. Every step catches the light.

Green is trickier than it looks, I know. But when I actually wear them, the soft sheen of the satin does the work, and they end up going surprisingly well with my black, navy and cream clothes.

I bought this pair on Farfetch for around ₩600,000. The heel is quite high, so honestly they come out mostly for weddings. They are less "shoes I wear" and more "shoes that make me happy just by looking at them." Opening the cabinet and seeing that green is enough. 😊

2. Roger Vivier: Lavender Grey Satin Buckle Mule 💜

Roger Vivier: Lavender Grey Satin Buckle Mule

Roger Vivier's signature square buckle, fully set with crystals, on a satin somewhere between lavender and grey. Sparkly, yet calm.

Of the three, this is the most "polite" kind of glamour. It works even with a plain shirt and trousers. And surprisingly, this is the pair I wear the most. The heel is low and they are genuinely comfortable.

In winter I love them with a white coat and bare ankles. People say my feet look cold, but I mostly wear them to department stores, so it's fine. Ha.

The day I almost missed my train

This pair comes with a story. I was in Seoul on a business trip and had a little free time, so I stopped by the Shinsegae department store in Gangnam. I found these, fell in love, and even received a Roger Vivier vase as a gift with purchase. I was over the moon.

Then I realized how late it was. I took the subway toward the KTX station in rush hour, and of course I got on the local train that stops at every station. I jumped off, switched to the express, and sprinted through the station holding a giant Roger Vivier shopping bag and a vase. I made the KTX with one minute to spare. My throat was on fire, and the whole time I was thinking, "Should I just throw this vase away?"

So whenever I wear these elegant shoes, I remember that very un-elegant version of me. That contrast is exactly why I love them. 💜

3. Mach & Mach: Pink Satin Pearl Mule 🩷

Mach & Mach: Pink Satin Pearl Mule

Last is a brand I truly love, Mach & Mach. Pink satin, pearls curving around the top of the foot, and one big crystal on the toe. This is the most Princess Jasmine pair of all.

Mach & Mach has no official store in Korea, so I ordered these from Farfetch about five years ago for around ₩800,000. Very few people around me know the brand, so I always get asked, "Where are those from?" 😊

Comfort is better than you'd expect. Not for a long walking day, but perfectly fine for a dinner or a get-together.

A small note from buying on Farfetch: I wait for sales, check my size often because stock comes and goes, and always look at the price for my own size, since the same shoe can be priced differently by size.

Sizing notes

I usually wear Korean size 225 to 230 (about EU 35.5 to 36.5).

• Manolo Blahnik: 36.5
• Roger Vivier: 36.5
• Mach & Mach: 37

I sized up slightly for all three, for two reasons. First, pointed toes can feel tight if you have a slightly wide foot. Second, with backless mules, I really dislike my heel hanging off the back. So with mules, I usually go half a size up. That's just what works for me. Fit can vary by model even within one brand, so please use this only as a reference.

Mach & Mach: Pink Satin Pearl Mule

How I style sparkly shoes

• Keep the outfit simple. The shoes are the star, so solid colors and basic shapes.
• Show a little ankle. Cropped trousers or a midi skirt make these shoes look their best.
• One color moment only. Green shoes with neutral clothes, pink shoes with beige and cream.
• Go light on jewelry. The shoes already sparkle. Small, simple earrings are enough.

Caring for satin shoes

• Skip rainy days. Water marks on satin are hard to remove.
• Check the crystals and pearls. A quick check before wearing is cheaper than replacing a lost stone.
• One dust bag per pair. Embellishments can scratch satin when they touch. I take an instant Polaroid of each pair and stick it on the front of its dust bag, so I know which shoes are inside without opening it.

Final thoughts

As I get older, my clothes get calmer. But somehow I still love shoes that sparkle. On an ordinary day, looking down at my feet still makes me smile. That's why I can't give up my Princess Jasmine shoes. 💎

Do you have a "princess item" hiding in your closet? I'd love to hear about it in the comments.