What shoes/boots to professional looking women wear?

[Stompythedinosaur]

I'd be really grateful for some advice!

A couple of years back I got a significantly more senior role and I got some brilliant advice here about how to dress for the role. I then ended up working from home a lot and now need to go back in, and have lost my mojo a bit.

I have a number of work outfits I think are ok - a few just-below-the-knee dresses and some smart trousers and blouses. But I'm struggling with shoes. I'm really not a fan of high heels and wonder if there's anything flat I can wear that would be OK, or maybe something with a low heel? I've been wearing for knee high boots with dresses and some ugly black shoes left over from my days as a staff nurse with trousers, but I think there has to be something better or more appropriate?

I am quite a big person (size 20) if that matters. I don't have an aspiration to look amazing, just want to come across as professional looking, and I'm not sure what I should be aiming for!

I bought some doc martens Mary Janes for similar purpose. Took three painful months to fully wear in, but will last forever, are flat and look smart with everything.

How much do you want to spend, per pair? There are countless sources of good, low heeled shoes suitable for work - it rather depends on just how formal your work culture is. And on whether you have any issues with your feet, or not. (I’d also suggest something well made and reasonably supportive. Not ballet flats!)

You could have a look at:

www.matchesfashion.com/womens/shop/shoes/flats?page=2&noOfRecordsPerPage=240

to see what’s currently fashionable (so that you don’t waste money on anything horribly outdated) - and google the websites of any brands that catch your eye. (Everywhere has sales occasionally, not suggesting you should bankrupt yourself!)

Or consider

& Other Stories
Cos
Grenson
Church’s
Crockett & Jones

which cover a range of budgets. They all generally have some non-casual footwear available.

Flat shoes with pointed shoes are great for work

Loafers are comfortable, will go with dresses or trousers and can look very smart.

This kind of thing. www.johnlewis.com/dune-grange-leather-snaffle-trim-loafers-black/p5528497

www.next.co.uk/style/st123904/U48892#U48892

How about these?

I wear Russell and Bromley flats or with a tiny tiny heel.

Currently a heeled loafer...next do a comfort range which are good.

Loafers or brogues here. They work well with opaque tights and most of the knee length office dresses or trousers I wear for work. If I'm wearing my 70s style midi dresses I've a fondness for I'll wear them with my knee length boots,

This is so helpful, thank you!

Can I check whether there's anything I need to know about the colour I choose - my dresses are predominantly black or navy, my smart trousers are black pinstripe or grey pinstripe. Can I get a really decent pair of black shoes that will be OK, or do I need different shoes for different outfits? Sorry if this is a ridiculous question, but I am so clueless!

Can I also check - if I got loafers or brogues, and I was wearing these with a dress, I'd wear opaque tights with them?

Huge thanks, and particular thanks for the links!

Yes, I wear opaques with brogues or loafers if I'm wearing my dresses - although that's because I don't like my legs (v white with lots of thread veins, oh lucky me). You can get different thicknesses of opaques. If I'm wearing my slim fitting work trousers and the weather is warm then I would just go bare feet in my brogues/loafers, otherwise I wear nude knee highs underneath because a)my feet are usually freezing and b)I don't care.

You could probably get away with a good pair of black brogues/loafers with the colours you're wearing to work although a tan pair would look good if you're wearing brighter coloured trousers.

Clarks ‘pure’ range - they have 30% off at the moment

These www.lkbennett.com/product/CCAMELIACROCEFFECTWhiteOff%20White~-Off%20White

there's anything I need to know about the colour I choose

Have you thought about having a colour and style analysis done? One of the things you learn is how to dress the body you have now for whatever occasions

I was clueless when I first had to find outfits to wear at work and made some expensive mistakes. The information you learn from colour/style is really helpful to know what to look for

There are loads of people providing this service, I expect some are better than others. I've found consultants trained by
House of Colour to be pretty reliable.

I wear platform loafers. They have similar ones in sainsburys, (see pic) mine were from TK maxx.

Normal loafers are good too, I just like chunky/platforms. I also like coloured shoes so you can have reasonable plain outfits which you mix and match and add coloured shoes. I have patent and tartan loafers too which I love'

M&S and Next do great work shoes.
Primark do half socks that are great for wearing with work shoes.

Thanks so much! I am really grateful for the advice!

I think a style analysis would be wonderful - I didn't even know this is a thing!

It is totally a 'thing' @lady725516

My mother and sister always seemed to just know what suited them whereas I spent quite a lot of time in the 'wilderness' just copying other people. It's amazing to learn how simple it all is really, with just a little help.

Now I know what necklines and shapes to choose, everything is so.much.easier. The shapes are based on your bone structure so no excuses necessary (I delayed st first promising myself to loose weight - you might guess how well that went).

Good luck.

I have a pair of Clarks Hamble Oak brogues and I have worn them to death. They are a wine/aubergine colour so go with everything.

Sounds a good idea
Very few people suit a grey pinstripe (weddings excluded)

These are my work shoes and they look really smart: www.clarks.co.uk/c/Couture-Bloom/p/26115475?cm_mmc=PPC_SHOP_STANDARD_GOOGLE--G_UK_SHOP_Womens_Shoes--Womens+Shoes-_-PLA&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkf-yh53B9wIV2fZRCh2EMARQEAQYDCABEgJ5xPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Loafers with cigarette trousers are my go to as I hate heels
!

I have 2 colours, black or nude and you can't go wrong.

I personally would have 2 pairs personally, with 2 different styles, 1 loafer (better with trousers) and 1 more in a ballet style for dresses.

Thanks, this is ideal and what I think I'm going for. I'm a bit worried about loafers with dresses not looking right.

If I was wearing ballet style with a dress, that would still be OK with opaque tights?

I appreciate the advice!

Yes, opaqueness with valley pumps look fine - just make sure they’re decent fitting ones like @ImplementingTheDennisSystem linked to