Shoes/boots with opaque tights for work

[ButIDontHaveTheRightShoes]

I need new shoes or boots for work for autumn / winter. I can't do high high heels any more (hence the need for new shoes). Totally flat shoes give me trouble too.

I wear trousers a lot so I'll get a pair of mid-heeled ankle boots for those. No problem there.

I'm stuck on what to do with skirts and dresses though.

In the past I've worn a pair of high-heeled knee boots in the winter with skirts. Always looked great. Those are out for me now. Flat ones? I worry that knee boots are maybe a bit dated (I'm not seeing many in the shops) and will make me look dumpy if flat.

So then I thought, let's go ankle boots or shoes with opaques. Probably more modern anyway? And that's where I've got stuck going round the shops today.

I wear a lot of navy. I never wear black. So this is adding extra confusion over what to do with shoes/boots and tights.

Black footwear, opaque black tights with navy dress?

Navy footwear, opaque navy tights with navy dress?

What shape of shoe or boot with them?

I wear a size 8 shoe, have somewhat wide feet, good legs, all dresses/skirts in my wardrobe come to just below my knee. I work in an office, travel to work by train and walking, need to look on the smart side of smart-casual for work, sometimes going proper formal (think accountant working in a creative industry - not what I actually do)

Any advice? What do you do?

Are heels completely out? I wear this kind of thing for work in winter, and find them perfectly comfortable for standing and walking in. They aren't the coolest shoes I own, but they're a reasonable compromise I think.

www.clarks.co.uk/c/Garnit-Tianna/p/26128845

I wear navy or occasionally black footwear with navy tights and just above the knee skirts / dresses to work. I might wear a bit shorter if I was younger ( I'm mid 50s) .

Sometimes I get radical and wear other dark coloured tights, like mulberry, grey or dark green.

Why don't you wear flats / lace ups / smart trainers to commute and leave a pair of low heels at work ?

Do you like the look of any of these by Chie Mihara? They are designed to be comfortable by a designer with medical foot expertise, I understand. chiestore here

Brogues?

What style of skirts/dresses? Length? Fitted/flared?

I like those Chie Mihara shoes. I'd normally wear something like that with trousers. Hadn't considered with dresses.

I reckon a heel of up to about an inch will be fine. A bit higher if I change at work. I don't mind changing shoes at work but I want to leave them there, not carry forget them every day so they need to be neutral.

I'm nervous of looking dowdy. I'm late forties. Anything too sensible can easily look dowdy on me, whereas it would look cool on a twenty something.

In winter my skirts are A-line in a heavy material like suede or tweed, my dresses are mostly snug shift dresses with a cardigan or jacket.

Mismatch tights and shoes could work. Don't tell my mum.

I might have to get over my long standing dislike of brogues. I like them on other people just not on me. Must try some on again with an open mind.

I like the look of all the suede shoes and boots at the moment. Will they survive UK weather though?

Navy, navy, navy is too matchy matchy for me.

It ain't school uniform, you don't need to match!

I'd be going for Chelsea boots or brogues with what you've described ( and in fact I do) black or wine/burgundy. Would look more modern than knee high heeled I reckon.

Thanks all. Advice noted. I'm back off to the shops next week to try on more shoes.