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?

[QueenofLouisiana]

Teaching, with some office days due to management responsibility- a real mixture! Flats for playground, trainers for PE, fit flops for heavy on the feet days in summer, heels for meetings (keep some under my desk). Most of my colleagues mix it up in a similar way.

[NiceCardigan]

eurochick I agree about the brogues I like the look of them but they just don't go with the sort of stuff I wear.

[Misty9]

these

[VolumniaDedlock]

I wear these leather flats and have the same pair in oxblood suede

I have black and navy chelsea boots with a small block heel, and flat black knee boots. I want some brogues though - black ones and tan as well. my job involves being on my feet a lot , and possibly needing to run away quickly, so heels are strictly for conferences and other all-day meetings.

[Misty9]

Health professional here and I can't wear heels so stick to nice flats. In my first job after maternity and had to buy some quick - Clarks pale pink with a strap and they're so pretty but comfy :) will try to post a link...

[MrsFruitcake]

Office Manager here. Small office and generally a casual environment but I wear courts or heeled sandals most days but flats to and from.

[MixedMessages]

Lawyer and heels here. Heels always high but never so much as a hint of platform

[eurochick]

Most people in my office wear heels but not always very high ones. I have some very high but also some kitten heel type things for if I need to be smart but am going to be on my feet a lot that day. I walk in in flats. Some women wear low smart shoes like brogues but they don't really work with my "look". They can look great teamed with the right outfit though.

[TheAuthoress]

I wear smallish heels or wedges, my favourites are hush puppies as they are very comfortable. I also have lovely hush puppies leather ballet flats which are smart looking with trousers. I wear trainers to walk 15 mins to work.

I agree with the poster who said about Mary Janes with a strap, it kills my feet keeping courts on all day. My wedges also have ankle straps.

The only thing I would say is check the shoes go with the trousers, I have shorter ones for flats and longer ones for heels, I've a couple of pairs that I can only wear with quite high wedges as they are too long for anything else.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Office, no one wears heels, occasionally you see wedges. Smart flats are the order if the day.

[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

[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.

[Crazyzowhat]

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

[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..)

[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.

[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?

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[SqueezyCheeseWeasel]

Ugly, practical ones (HCP)