These House Shoes Are Made for Walkin — The Slippers for Women Taking "Effortless Style" In (and Out)

It's official: slippers are no longer just a home affair! If styled right, they can be worn outside, too. Our selection of the best women's house shoes combines traditional and high-end designs for all occasions

A selection of slippers in different tones and materials.
(Image credit: Future)

It has been a couple of years since men's and women's slippers first left the house and broke into the outer world on the feet of bold runway show attendees. While people met the "effortless style" fashion trend with mixed feelings, mainly questioning whether wearing thick-knitted socks with your treasured house shoes and sandals makes you cool or, rather, absolutely mad, slippers don't seem to be going anywhere any time soon. Instead, they'll take you places.

To guide you in discovering which ones are the right fit for you, and those that not only keep you comfortably warm as you unwind at home but also make a great addition to your everyday wardrobe, we have compiled a designer-approved list of the best slippers for women. These styles marry relaxation with enviable looks because if you can't take your treasured choice of the best bedding sets, best sleep masks, and best pajama brands away with you when you head out, at least your house shoes will make you feel at ease, supported, and calm whether inside or on the go.

1. Sferra Serena Women's Slippers

Livingetc knows design. We spend hours testing and comparing the latest products, bringing only our edit of the very best to you. Find out more about how we review.

Sferra Serena Women's Slippers.

(Image credit: Sferra)

Let's start with a classic but just as stylish pair of house shoes, the Serena Women's Slippers by Italian heritage brand Sferra. Though this specific model isn't fit for outdoor explorations, its timelessly elegant design and warm, soft-boiled wool will make it the ideal companion for the colder months of the year. Besides their refined detailing and artisanal essence, completing every lounge and nightwear set with made-in-Italy flair, having these Sferra slippers on feels like walking barefoot. Crafted to last for a lifetime, they are as traditional and beautiful as they are reliable.

Shop all of Sferra's products here.

2. Birkenstock Boston Suede Clogs

Birkenstock in orange suede.

(Image credit: Birkenstock. Net-a-Porter)

Summer essential sandals Birkenstock were probably the first ones to make me aware of the possibility of wearing house shoes, or slippers, outside of the warmer season — or shall I say even outside, period? These tan suede "Boston" ones are some of the brand's most comfortable and iconic designs. Crafted in Germany, they come with ergonomic cork soles conceived to support you 24 hours a day and embrace the shape of your feet seamlessly. Call me crazy, but I have become so used to wearing Birkenstock in and outside the home that I often find myself struggling to slip into actual shoes. But who can blame me? When worn with a soft, snuggly pair of flannel socks, there's nowhere you can't get to. And if Kendall Jenner is doing it, I don't see why you shouldn't.

Shop all of Birkenstock's products here.

3. COS Ribbed Cashmere Slippers

COS Ribbed Cashmere Slippers.

(Image credit: COS)

There is something, at once, romantic and instantly iconic about these COS ribbed cashmere slippers, whose flat structure and ballerina-like cut make them an affordable option to the fashionably down-to-earth slip-ons we've seen taking over the fashion world this season. Entirely made of responsibly sourced cashmere, these come with leather soles that allow you to take their dreamy feel out for a spin, should you want to. While they can't be washed, which means you might want to cherish them as an at-home luxury instead, their soft, plush surface provides instant relief from the clunkiness of smart clothing and footwear. Despite being available at a much lower price than the other models mentioned in this edit of the best slippers for women, COS' ribbed cashmere ones, if looked after properly, have got it all: impeccable style, warmth, relax-aiding fit, and durability. And I have just got a pair myself!

Shop all of H&M's products here.

4. The Row Frances Open Toe Slipper in Silk and Acetate

The Row Frances Open Toe Slipper in Silk and Acetate.

(Image credit: The Row)

Think what you want, but it doesn't get much chicer than The Row within the best slippers for women's games. And as flat ballerinas and house shoes-turned-outdoor footwear gradually replace vertiginous stiletto heels for fashion industry insiders, these Frances Open Toe Slippers, carved from silk and acetate, will give you the runway look even at home. Despite looking like more conventional, indoor-use slippers, the sturdy leather sole of this model means they can take outdoor strolls, too. At once relax-ready and iconic, they go as well with your silky PJ set as they add a nonchalant, irreverent touch to an oversized black suit, as shown above.

Shop all of The Row's products here.

5. UGG Burnt Cedar Tasman Slippers

UGG's Cedar Slippers in Brown.

(Image credit: UGG)

Much like Birkenstock, these UGG Tasman Slippers are so soft you'll not want to take them off. A great option for those who, just like me, suffer from poor circulation and have eternally cold body extremities, this pair isn't just one of the best slippers for women because of its cozy wearability, but also helps you nail that effortless style aesthetic so many are obsessing over at the minute. Not being a fan of hyper-fluffy house shoes, the UGG Tasman Slippers stood out to me because of how they manage to ace the high degree of comfort expected of this kind of footwear without compromising on looks. Complete with natural wool insole, sheepskin lining, colorful embroidered braid, and Treadlite by UGG™ outsole for external grip, this model is one to rock with every outfit and on every occasion.

Shop all of UGG's products here.

6. Sleeper Pom Slides with Feathers in Mint

Sleeper Pom Slides with Feathers in Mint.

(Image credit: Sleeper)

Sleeper's jet-set-inspired, fabric extravaganza and, particularly, these Pom Slides slippers might not be everyone's cup of tea, but silk pajamas devotees will find an undeniably stylish companion in these mint green slides. Made in Ukraine and imbued with the love of craftsmanship that distinguishes every Sleeper product, this feathery model blends the boundaries between home and nightlife. Originally $290.00, they can now be yours for $174.00 only. Offering a two-in-one solution, an irreverent alternative to everyday slippers, and a flat, striking addition to your wardrobe, they are definitely worth the price.

Shop all of Sleeper's products here.

7. Toteme Leather-Trimmed Canvas Slippers

TOTEME Leather-trimmed canvas slippers.

(Image credit: TOTEME)

Again, what is a slipper? What is an everyday shoe? And who says that one can't be both? That's the spirit at Swedish luxury brand TOTEME, whose linear designs prove that real taste needs no frills. As for these Leather-Trimmed Canvas Slippers, crafted in Spain in line with the country's artisanal principles of quality and sustainability, they speak for themselves: cut out of natural cotton-linen canvas and adorned with black leather trims and a whip-stitched jute midsole, they can either have you walking around the house in style or hitting the sea promenade — when the time comes — in true Mediterranean flair. Fresh and versatile across all seasons, they are ideal for those wanting to look in tip-top shape even when winding down after a long week.

Shop all of TOTEME's products here.

8. LOEWE Leather Slippers

LOEWE's Leather Slippers.

(Image credit: LOEWE)

Of course LOEWE isn't exactly the kind of brand you think of when browsing for the best slippers for women, but if there's a fashion house that's taken that effortless style to the fore recently, making it even more extravagant, playful, and contagious, that's the Jonathan Anderson-led Maison. And while not taking these 100% leather, beautifully designed slip-ons outside would be a complete waste, this doesn't mean they can't be worn indoors, too. Their slight heel grants you plenty of support, while their minimalist aesthetic allows you to pair them with the most disparate choice of clothing — including loungewear. As long as relaxation goes, LOEWE might not necessarily be your best bet, but if it's stylishness and a touch of exclusive savoir-faire you're after, the label's got plenty to spare.

Shop all of LOEWE's products here.

9. Crocs Dylan Platform Clog Slippers

Crocs Dylan Platform Clog Slippers.

(Image credit: Crocs)

We know the drill: when it comes to platform slippers, people either love them or... hate them. But as a huge supporter of the Y2K-inspired, chunky heel style, I couldn't but include at least one of these whimsical numbers in my selection of the best slippers for women. Plus, who said that house shoes necessarily have to be flat? Sometimes, and some days, especially if you've been standing for a long time, having something more than the ground beneath your feet can make the difference (and spare you incredible lower backaches!). Evoking the organic texture of leather mules, these house shoes will, quite literally, elevate your loungewear and clothing thanks to their daring, fun, and Mary Jane-esque platforms. They are also easy to clean, come in neutral shades that easily match your garments, and have you gain 2.2 inches by simply stepping onto them. Dare I say more?

Shop all of Crocs' products here.

10. Olivia von Halle Contessa Roscoe Beige Slippers

Olivia von Halle's Contessa Roscoe Beige Slippers.

(Image credit: Olivia von Halle)

If you're familiar with Olivia von Halle's sumptuous understanding of nightwear, you won't expect quite a regular pair of slippers from her. And you'd be right, as the designer's flamboyant footwear offering is one-of-a-kind. It is as if, when it comes to PJs and adjacent products, von Halle said, "go hard or go home". Needless to say, she is not stepping back, as shown by these Contessa Roscoe Beige Slippers. Some of the most carefully designed slippers for women on the market, these house shoes are obtained by weaving natural Palmyra palm raffia, letting summer vibrancy into the house year-round. Produced by a second-generation, family-run business in Tuscany, they embody all the beauty of what von Halle calls "at-home power dressing", and go spectacularly well with their Casablanca sets, available in multiple styles and colorways.

Shop all of Olivia von Halle's products here.

Gilda Bruno
Lifestyle Editor

Gilda Bruno is Livingetc's Lifestyle Editor. Before joining the team, she worked as an Editorial Assistant on the print edition of AnOther Magazine and as a freelance Sub-Editor on the Life & Arts desk of the Financial Times. Between 2020 and today, Gilda's arts and culture writing has appeared in a number of books and publications including Apartamento’s Liguria: Recipes & Wanderings Along the Italian Riviera, Sam Wright’s debut monograph The City of the SunThe British Journal of PhotographyDAZEDDocument JournalElephantThe FaceFamily StyleFoamIl Giornale dell’ArteHUCKHungeri-DPAPERRe-EditionVICEVogue Italia, and WePresent.