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Flat shoes for work

126 replies

littlese · 10/04/2023 07:37

Currently wearing ankle boots with midi dresses for work.
What flat shoes do you wear with midi dresses that are comfortable to walk in all day?

Last summer I walked to work in trainers then changed to heels but want to see if there are any smart ish flat shoes for work I could wear. Most look so frumpy!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
15
WoodenFloorboards · 15/04/2023 08:42

I still wear heels because I need the height, but loafers are good and on sale everywhere.

GospelAccordingToMum · 15/04/2023 08:47

I tend to rest my midi dresses in Spring when it gets too warm for boots, and crack them back out again when it’s properly hot and I can wear sandals.

I just can’t find a flat shoe that works with them.

Ankle grazers or wide legged trousers with loafers, brogues, slingback flats, Mary Janes are my go to in in-between weather.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 15/04/2023 09:04

NatashaDancing · 15/04/2023 08:39

There's no such thing as a smart trainer.

Of course there is. Mine are Paul Smith and very smart.

MumUndone · 15/04/2023 09:06

I think loafers look fine, you just need to make sure the outfit is balanced by adding a chunky cardigan or jewellery. Pointed slingbacks also work. Have a look on Pinterest or Google images.

NatashaDancing · 15/04/2023 09:16

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 15/04/2023 09:04

Of course there is. Mine are Paul Smith and very smart.

Paul Smith

Everyone's taste is different but I don't think any of these look smart.

https://www.paulsmith.com/uk/womens/shoes/trainers

Bearpawk · 15/04/2023 09:18

@NatashaDancing
Ermmm ok 😂
Not sure i'd be taking style advice from you then.

WillowtreeHouse · 15/04/2023 09:19

Blimey there are some unnecessarily really snarky replies on here. 😂

@Wenfy I'm a bit confused by your comment about being over 40 for a couple of reasons - since when was over 40 an 'older' woman? I'm well passed that and consider myself an older woman but someone in their 40s, certainly not.

NatashaDancing · 15/04/2023 09:22

Bearpawk · 15/04/2023 09:18

@NatashaDancing
Ermmm ok 😂
Not sure i'd be taking style advice from you then.

And I certainly wouldn't be taking any advice from you. Any length and type of dress can be worn with a flat shoe. Flat shoes come in myriad styles, material and colours.

RosesAndHellebores · 15/04/2023 09:29

I'm nearly 63, love dresses and have never worn heels.

Sadly I imagine the op would think my choice of footwear very frumpy. Day to day it's Gabor, Sieben, Clarks: loafers, a pointy flat!, brogues, boots in winter, sandals in summer - Gabor flats or Siebel birkie tyoe things. If Imposted my closed Siebel sandals I think the OP might faint.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 15/04/2023 09:29

@NatashaDancing And I think the picture of the huge dress and ballet shoes that you posted isn’t great either. I wonder what makes you right and me wrong?

And as for Quaker buckle shoes….

But I’d rather just accept that people’s tastes are different, without the sneering.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 15/04/2023 09:31

https://www.paulsmith.com/uk/women-s-black-lapin-trainers-with-swirl Clean black leather. Very smart in my opinion.

https://www.paulsmith.com/uk/women-s-black-lapin-trainers-with-swirl

Bearpawk · 15/04/2023 09:52

@NatashaDancing it depends on the type of dress and the type of shoe as to what looks good but sure, you crack on 😂

NatashaDancing · 15/04/2023 09:57

Bearpawk · 15/04/2023 09:52

@NatashaDancing it depends on the type of dress and the type of shoe as to what looks good but sure, you crack on 😂

Of course it depends on the type of dress and the type of shoe, but to think there is a type of dress which can't be worn with a flat shoe is really blinkered thinking. If you want to wear a flat shoe, you pick the right flat shoe for the dress.

NatashaDancing · 15/04/2023 10:07

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 15/04/2023 09:31

https://www.paulsmith.com/uk/women-s-black-lapin-trainers-with-swirl Clean black leather. Very smart in my opinion.

At work we are expected to wear smart office wear to client meetings. I'd be surprised if someone wore them to a client meeting. They might be ok with trousers, but not a dress.

WillowtreeHouse · 15/04/2023 10:14

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 15/04/2023 09:29

@NatashaDancing And I think the picture of the huge dress and ballet shoes that you posted isn’t great either. I wonder what makes you right and me wrong?

And as for Quaker buckle shoes….

But I’d rather just accept that people’s tastes are different, without the sneering.

Agree with this. (Though I hate the trainers - sorry! 😂).

I have a dress code for work and we're not allowed to wear trainers at all, no matter how smart or expensive they might be. It's a pain in the arse for so many reasons, although I never wear trainers with dresses anyway it's just not a look that I like. I do struggle with finding flat shoes that I like with dresses that are practical and, very importantly for me, comfortable.

Bearpawk · 15/04/2023 10:27

@NatashaDancing that's literally why I asked what type of dress. You seem to be arguing for no reason. Are you okay?

OldHouseLover · 15/04/2023 10:29

I don't wear a lot of heels as I'm tall & my work dress code doesn't require corporate dressing.

I wear flat leather ankle boots a lot either laced up or Chelsea boots.

Currently, for going out I love the block heel slightly platform look & I have Esska sandals & ba&sh ankle boots in 2 colours

Sorry @NatashaDancing but that huge pink dress looks dreadful with those shoes! Both are OK in their own right but they do not work together at all. It's about proportions / volumes for me & that oversized fussy dress with the tiny flat shoes skew the proportions entirely. I would never wear that. Nor would i look at someone on the street wearing it & think she looked great.

I can't imagine where you would wear that dress either. Is this OK to wear in an office?

OldHouseLover · 15/04/2023 10:43

But to answer your question OP the flat shoes I wear to work in warmer weather are: brogues, I have lovely buff coloured ones from a few years back which look great with 7/8ths slim trousers, loafers, I have really nice v soft leather bottle green ones from Paul Green last year & considering navy this year. Flat slip on shoes with pointed toes from various places, silver t-bar flat shoes from noa noa several years ago but I still love them.

In summer I wear birkenstocks, lotta clog sandals, trainers usually new balance & this year I also have Hoff & veja / ba&sh collaboration.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 15/04/2023 10:49

NatashaDancing · 15/04/2023 10:07

At work we are expected to wear smart office wear to client meetings. I'd be surprised if someone wore them to a client meeting. They might be ok with trousers, but not a dress.

Well I couldn’t wear them to my work either, but I’ve worn them to’smart’ restaurants.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 15/04/2023 10:50

Hate away @WillowtreeHouse I’m confident enough in my own tastes to really not care! 🤪

TheBayTreeMurder · 15/04/2023 10:54

I only wear boots and trainers so shoes were a challenge for me.

I settled on Gucci snaffle loafers in the end. They were absolutely stupid money but I don't feel 'silly' in them

RosesAndHellebores · 15/04/2023 11:36

I've had vivaia come up in my feed before now and wondered too. They look fine to me but I think the odd thing that Hotter and Ecco do are fine too. I think comfort trumps fashion and not all comfortable things are style free. Sore feet feeds into your face and if your feet are happy so will be your smile.

I need a bit of arch support and the shoes you have linked to seem to have it. I'm not wholly persuaded by knitted shoes though.

My mantra has always been that if a shoe is not comfortable in the shop, no amount of breaking it in will make it comfortable, hence I have always avoided Birkenstock and DMs - not that I like them much.

Day to day I value comfort, don't work where there is a strict dress code and people can happily wear trainers, birkies and smartish jeans with a smattering of creative/arty types. I am neither and don't own a pair of trainers.

Where I work, buildings are far apart in a quasi rural location and there are unmade paths between them so smart, heeled shoes are completely out. Everyone tends to wear flats.

Occasionally I wear smart low heeled flats, usually for smart events: weddings, opera, smart formal dinners, parties, etc. My go to's for special occasions are LKB, Stuart Weitzman and for DS's wedding the only colour match I could find was the classic Ferragamo court - and the price was faint worthy.

In winter when I'm in my boots I usually change into a neat flat shoe in the office. Since Christmas a black suede pointy flat with gold at the front from Clarks. There is no way Incoukd wear them if I were standing lots but they are fine at my desk and in the office. My jaw drops every time I see a ticket with £80 plus for a pair of Clarks shoes at present.

bunnybunnybunnybunny · 15/04/2023 12:00

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

NatashaDancing · 15/04/2023 12:38

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 15/04/2023 10:49

Well I couldn’t wear them to my work either, but I’ve worn them to’smart’ restaurants.

Sorry, yes. Absolutely fine in that context.