So what sort of shoes do people really wear for work

[NiceCardigan]

I currently work for a charity where anything goes appearance wise but am moving to a new job in fancy offices in London. I can smarten up what I normally wear quite easily but I'm lost shoewise. Do people really wear high heels for work or is there some sort of middle ground between tottering around and ballet flats?

[mycatlikestwiglets]

Really depends on the type of job you're going to. Where I work (lawyer) most women wear heels, but most also wear trainers to/from the office and change on arrival. There's nothing that says you can't wear smart flats if that's your preference.

[Dontlaugh]

I love my heels. But I am short and work with loads of tall men. Meh.
Whatever works for you, I would say. Mid height heels?
Smart wedges?

[NiceCardigan]

I can do the trainers thing (already have some bright pink ones!) But am just not really used to wearing heels. I won't be client facing so don't have to be super smart. I have tried wedges but the last pair I had were really uncomfortable.

[Eversobusyeveryday]

I have a selection of ballet pumps which I wear with slim leg trousers or coloured jeans.

[YesThisIsMe]

I keep heels at work to change into, as do most of my female colleagues. But I also sometimes wear flat brogues with trousers of the appropriate length. The problem with trainers / sky high heels is that you're stuffed if you go out for afterwork drinks.

[spillyobeans]

I wear black dr martens...but i work in a petrol station

[Liberated71]

Fly - wedges and boots
Hush puppy ballet pumps
Always clean and smart but comfy

[NiceCardigan]

I think ballet flats look really nice with slim leg trousers Eversobusy I can definitely manage that look. I have lots of skirts and dresses that I want to wear and ballet flats can make me look a bit "calfy" if I'm not careful.

[PrincessOfChina]

Totally depends on the "style" of your office. Ours is smart casual (no jeans) and most women wear a combination of smart/funky flats and heeled ankle boots. Sandals in summer. The occasional heel but nothing high (except in HR who seem to have their own crazy dress code).

[NiceCardigan]

I'm not sure what the style will be Princess as I had my interview on dress down Friday (although the interviewers were smartly dressed). I am planning outfits to get me through the torture of working my notice period!

[SqueezyCheeseWeasel]

Ugly, practical ones (HCP)

[Notcontent]

I am a lawyer too, and a lot of women wear trainers/ballet flats to work and keep heels at work to change into. But equally, many don't really bother with heels and just wear reasonably smart flats.

[museumum]

Nobody in the sectors I deal with wear heels. I noticed particularly at a conference. They wear a variety of very fashionable flats, ballet flats, brogues and uber trendy styles from office and schuh.
My sector is not very conservative.

[Doobigetta]

I wear medium heels- about 2.5-3 inches- and always with a Mary jane strap, because courts are too tiring to hold on. But there's a fair mix in my office of everything from killer heels to flats. Flats tend to be worn by younger and more junior people only, although I'm not quite sure why.

[WutheringTights]

Im client facing in a very smart office and tend to wear this kind of shoe a lot (am very tall). www.russellandbromley.co.uk/dress-flats/charming/invt/122211

[drinkscabinet]

I work in a safety conscious industry. We have to wear leather shoes that cover the toe with heels no higher than an inch. Most people wear trainers.

[EvilSidekick]

Another lawyer here with the exact same "law uniform" of trainers/flats to and from office and all the ladies have a host of very high heels under their desks. Congratulations OP on your new job.

[pourmeanotherglass]

I'm in a mostly office based job in the NHS. I find heels really uncomfortable, and normally wear smart trousers with smartish flats. Most of my colleagues do the same.

[KanyesVest]

I've gone from charities to contract/consultancy mainly for charities but I deal with a lot of committees with lawyers,hr, consultant MDs, etc, and my current go to shoe is clarks t-bar with a 2in heel. Comfy, practical and vaguely fashionable.

[queenbrunhilda]

Here age/seniority requires footwear that doesn't actively undermine gravitas. But that doesn't have to mean heels. If you find a brand that suits your feet (and personal aesthetics) invest! Hobbs might be a good bet if you're in a conservative environment?

[BlueEyedWonder]

I work in the public sector and pretty much anything goes. I tend to stick to mid heeled ankle boots, black patent brogues and a pointy court shoe if I'm going to an important meeting. I've just bought some mid heel leather sandals to wear in the warmer weather.

[louwn]

Yesthisme I solve that problem by wearing smart flats to the office then changing into heels. Heels (don't have to be sky high) look better in my opinion. Avoid at all costs those chunky flats with the bar that look like childrens shoes - especially with socks! A few offenders in my office....
If you don't want to wear heels look around for some smart flats (and ditch the socks..)

[Crazyzowhat]

I work in an office usually wear a pair of heels but wear flats to walk to & from work

[Coastingit]

Creative industry here, I spend a lot of time on my feet. I wear ballet flats with short dresses, or mid heels but comfy, mid priced good quality ones from M and S or Jones Bootmaker, with slim 7/8 trousers.

[NiceCardigan]

Looks like quite a mix then. I'm currently governed by practicality as have to spend part of every day trailing to another location with laptop and bag of files. I think I'll invest in some smart flat shoes and a mid heel and that should cover every outfit possibility