What 'formal/evening' shoes do you wear if you can't stand heels? Do any nice pairs exist?

[Thurlow]

I'm giving up with high heels. I hate them. They hurt, I can't walk classily in them, and I certainly can't dance in them come the evening entertainment and so end up in dirty ballet bumps I've dug out the bottom of my bag... So that's it - anything over about an inch, two at the very most, is out.

But what do you wear with formal dresses then?!

I quite like these ones from Next (though they are technically in the bridal range!) and I think they might work with a black cocktail dress. Too OTT?

I have a pair in black like these which tend to get dug out all the time.

Has anyone seen anything good recently? What do you wear?

I've got very wide feet, and hate high heels, so am resigned to just looking nice from the ankles up.
I therefore try to avoid wearing dresses and opt for trousers.

I wish I could give in and wear trousers but I'm a short arse, I have more trouble finding trousers that fit than I do finding shoes

I love kitten heels - they tend to be lower but the shoes still look elegant and feminine.

WHat about a wedge too - is that any easier to wear?

I had a quick look on amazon....for ease of ideas - and under "evening pump low heel" you get a few ideas - here

I'm a pumps/boots/flats kind of girl all of the time.

On nights out i wear wedges. I have two pairs - one black and one white which suit most occasions and which i can wear comfortably all evening.

Have you tried looking at ballroom dance shoes? Google using those terms, and you will come up with suppliers that make shoes for dancers. They tend to be lower in the heel - 1 1/2 to 2 inches and come in a range of styles and colours.

Here for example.

I got some really nice dressy black suede wedges as I hate heels. I worse them to a wedding and was amazed at how comfy I was all day in them.

I have got some very dressy wedges, recommend.

I got mine from peacocks

I have also just ordered some smallish heels for my hols from this site everything£5

I hate heals and wear flats all the time. I think they are more stylish as well! Sparkly flats, leather loafers, leather ballet shoes. Keep "going out" flats as you would heals, save them and look after them and I feel just as special in them, but a little but cooler... heals can look a bit frumpy

See, I think wedges probably would be a lot more comfortable but I haven't found any yet which look to me like I could wear them as proper evening dress (very formal weddings this summer, annoyingly) but I'll keep looking!

The dancing shoes are about the right height, thanks Thistledew, I'll have a good look through them. Being so short I don't think an ankle strap does anything for my legs which seems to take half the shoes available out of the equation...

I will definitely buy some nice ballet pumps to change into for the evening this time!

These Peacocks ones are quite nice, thanks Corey...

And gets completely distracted by these not remotely wedding-y shoes

But those peacocks ones are massive stilletto heels??

I know - I think the open-toe thing might help, so my fat feet wont get too squashed? They're higher than ideal but lower than most of the things I've seen, which all have bit fat platform fronts too?

I think they look a medium heel. These are what my friends wear, heels this big

What about these

I can't decide if I like them or not

That's what I mean, Corey. I'd prefer to wear a proper kitten heel but reckon I could just about get away with those Peacocks ones for a few hours, especially as they aren't squashing my toes. Then as birdtable says, have some really nice going out ballet pumps to change into.

I can't decide if I like those or not either! Maybe a bit too gladiator for me. I suspect it black gladiator style wouldn't do amazing things for short white legs...

You need to spend some serious time looking at Italian and Spanish shoes. I have an Italian friend who is 5'9 and she has a whole series of beautiful flat shoes that look just like heels from the front IYSWIM. I've seen similar flats in L K Bennett, and they have a sale on at the moment, so might be worth a quick look.

TBH you won't find much nice at the lower end of the high street. Buy wisely at a higher price point, though, and you'll probably find you'll spend about the same.

See I am the same but I am tall with long least. I just can't do heels that high. Kittens are good if you can find a nice pair. I had a really nice pair of next coral medium heels with the ankle strap and a lovely padded sole. They were really comfy. Haven't managed to find anything similar since which I like.

Oops long leg's - autocorrect

I can't wear heels for medical reasons and this normally dictates my entire outfit, unfortunately.

I normally go maxi for formal events, then the shoes don't matter too much - flat, simple sandals work fine.

I can't even wear ballet pumps as I have different sized feet! It's a nightmare.

I was watching this morning last week and now all the block heels are in fashion for the summer, I might try something like this for a night time on holiday. I don't know if I like them or not either though.

I usually wear suede pumps which have shoelacey type strings crossing over the top of my feet and tie around the ankle (a bit like highland dress shoes).

My high heel days are over! I used to have to work at fancy-scmancy events and found hoiking up my long posh frock, jamming the hem into my pants and running up and down the back hotel/museul/venue stairs just wasn't easy in 4 inch heels when 9 months pregnant (although I did do it!).

feesh - you and me both - I've been looking at the shoes linked and thinking that I would be over the moon if I could wear something like that! Any of them! Boots or flats with an AFO is all I can do so I tend to wear trousers.

I shouldn't have clicked. Been on an hour looking at high heels but I have found some fab small heels here which I think would be nice for a wedding so thought I would share. (I've still got a thing for coral shoes and handbags)