How can I look good wearing trainers or flat shoes

[Cococo1]

I've had to restrict myself to flat shoes - mostly trainers - because of problems with my Achilles. I've never been a sensible shoe person and need some ideas of how to look good without nice shoes!

I work from home so don't need to be particularly smart but the style that suits me best is fitted, elegant and/or office style. I am mid-40s.

I noticed a lot of young people around here wearing quite elegant clothes (e.g. camel coat, black cigarette trousers) with e.g. Black Nikes, the kind you wear to the gym - and they look fab! And so comfortable! I walk a lot during the course of a day (and live in a city) so it is a look I am envious of. Is it something worth trying or is I only for the young? (I'm in my 30s).

Good thread op, watching with interest as I don't do heels either and I have always wondered about this.

I have invested in popsocks .

For work I tend to wear fitted Capri trousers with loafers or brogues. Ankle length trousers, skirts or dresses with shoe boots. Casual either pumps with flares or skinnies and ankle boots.

I need to wear wide, foot covering shoes which rules out a lot of the nice pointy strappy ones.

Not sure how I'm going to tackle summer casual yet!

Google Carla Bruni shoes on google images, she always looks very dressed despite the flat shoes (worn due to the short arse hubby)

these could work with dresses

daintier ones

I like brogues with sparkly thin socks
Not sure I can get away with this but I either wear cropped cigarette trousers or paper bag crops
But I do like an androgynous outfit so not for everyone

I have to disagree about ballet flats and wide feet, they make mine look slimmer thsn any other type of shoe

Sorry but you are absolutely kidding yourself there!
It maybe you have a distorted perspective if you are looking at yourself down from above or in a mirror.

Try checking out other people! There is nothing more ugly than wide splatty feet in ballet flats.

It depends on the ballet flats surely? some are heavier leather than other and keep feet in shape more than other?

'Wide splatty feet' - charming!

Okay I'm starting to think it's all about the ankle - go shorter for flats (and be cold!). Cigarette pants or pajama pants cut shorter. The Carla Bruni idea is fab... Lots of ideas there though I am not sure any neat little flats are supportive enough and I just don't suit clumpy.

My quest for flat comfy shoes I can wear with a dress goes on though

Lots of cigarette pants in Next, they also do great cigarette jeans.

I'm trying to think of other tall women with short men, maybe google Sophie Dahl, she is married to diddy jamie Cullen

At this time of year you need flat ankle boots. Chelsea boots or similar. Cold ankles are crap.

I don't get why people think heels look smarter. They make your calves bulge unnaturally and pretty much nobody walks normally in them - they have this weird wiggly squashed-toe held-in movement. I much prefer the look of someone walking naturally and comfortably. An uncomfortable peraon doesn't look stylish IMO. I know people will stream on to tell me that they walk perfectly comfortably and naturally in heels, but no, you don't. Biomechanically it's just odd-looking. But obviously it's up to the wearer.

Do you all wear cigarette pants this time of year?? What about the cold/rain/splashy puddles? Do you
Wear them with boots? I thought their main point is the exposed ankle?
Or am I missing something?

I wear brogues (sensible Clarks after a knee problem, but I do have purple ones) with ankle skimming cigarette pants and they always seem to look ok

I live in flats and wear boots this time of year with skinny trousers or jeans tucked in, but I didn't think that was the look the op was going for. I live the casual life

I have ankle boots a bit like these
m.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_051010602770?CMP=SSH&tmcampid=28&tmad=c&sku=8041809&ci_src=18615224&ci_sku=8041809&placmp=SSH_4358241016_304019455_19118301535&mkwid=sg5EXiIvt%7Cpcrid%7C75068257615%7Cpkw%7C%7Cpmt%7C%7Cpdv%7Cm%7Cprd%7C8041809&gclid=COrExK3jwMoCFYOfGwodxdsEYQ

I love my Gabor ballet flats, textured tights and just above the knee skirts. Warm, comfy for running about in but smart enough for my work.

CheersMedea - your initial comment that "this is almost impossible" when it really isn't tells me I'm not the deluded one here.

MINCEDPIE- you need to like to the Clarks shoe/boots you mentioned! It sounds like my kind of thing

I wear dresses with thick coloured tights and funky trainers or ankle boots. You have to shop around to find the ankle boots that suit your legs.

Skirts look best on me if they are just below the knee and either quite snug or A-line. Both styles work with the right trainers or ankle boots.

I go for rather edgy trainers that the majority might not choose. This is because I want to look like my shoes are the result of a deliberate style choice not an "old lady feet" based choice.

I look crap in ballet pumps and brogues. I love the look of brogues with ankle skimmers but it never looks good on me. Flat riding boots look good on some people. Not me though.

I find the slight heel on trainers makes them more comfortable than truly flat shoes like converse.

museumum I have a very similar ankle boot from Russell and Bromley - love the look but the soles are too thin and not cushioned enough for comfort. I have worn them with skirts but they don't look great.

run edgy sounds good - im not naturally edgy; more classic.

Wish tunics and knee-high boots were still a thing!

I like slouchy trousers with tennis shoe style trainers like Stan Smiths or Spring court....I'm tall though, I don't know if that matters.

onamission I can't find my shoe boots online now, they must have sold out.

these are similar but more of a boot