Fashionable smart heels?

[GorgeousLadyofWrestling]

What’s fashionable now for heels?

I have a work event in February - a private corporate event with very senior banking leaders. I am partly running the event so will be on my feet a lot. I will be wearing a knee length black pencil dress. I don’t want to wear flats but I don’t want high high heels like I used to be able to wear. Are pointy shoes more fashionable now?

Thinking these - are these ok?

www.next.co.uk/style/su304486/e82960

I’m surprised you’re choosing heels if you’re going to be on your feet all day - are they really necessary?

Net-a-Porter is quite conservative in its shoe choices - have a look here for examples of work shoes without heels.

https://www.net-a-porter.com/en-gb/shop/shoes

Cos has a much smaller selection but is representative of fashionable workwear, including shoes:

https://www.cos.com/engbp/women/shoes.html

To be honest I would have said a good pair of loafers might look more authoritative - and be more comfortable for a long day. For myself - a pencil skirt dress and pointy court shoes would feel decidedly old fashioned (and I used to be in court a lot) but I don’t know your area of work.

Thank you for your suggestions!

I’m very short and need that little bit of height to make me look less dumpy. Big fan of loafers but the dress ends just below my knees at the widest point of my calves and loafers seem to accentuate that, sadly.

If you want heels and are on your feet all day I'd go for knee high boots. They also tend to solve the calve/skirt juncture issue IME.

Perhaps your dress length needs altering - to either above or below the wider part of your calves?

Kitten heels or loafers with a slight platform.

If you like loafers, have you tried on a higher heeled loafer? I have a pair similar, and they can go with trousers or slim skirts. They look a bit more businesslike, and I find some court shoes with a higher vamp can look a bit matronly. They also offer a sturdier heel for being on your feet for hours.

something similar to this;
https://www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/iris-snaffle-heeled-loafers-black/sty-a1869-blk?cat=C1_S2_G11

Or a mary jane with a thicker heel, like these?
https://www.clarks.com/en-ca/freva-55-strap/26172052-p

I would personally be tempted to go for a chunkier heel, but still low, something like these?

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su603970/f07604

But how are they going to look with a tight dress, @OopsieeDaisy? The OP will look like she’s cos-playing a different century.

The toe and heel of those shoes are quite on trend OP, but personally I find that high cut look on a pump really unflattering.

I have a pair of Geox walk pleasure 85 heels that I wear for nice events where a lot of standing (or dancing!) is required - they are cushioned and so comfortable. They also have a mid heel height option.

High heels are always appropriate for grand occasions. A black pencil skirt goes well with stiletto pointed shoes. If fashion is a concern, you can choose black. Black is always timeless.

Kitten heels are very much coming back if not sling backs

I am vertically challenged and have tried the gamut of heels. For running around for long periods in heels, I find that for mid-heights, wedge heels are the most comfortable, more so than block heels or kitten heels.

https://www.next.co.uk/style/ls258779/p77090#p77090

Fashion police be damned.

You need the height and if you look comfortable rather than in agony after 4 hours, nobody is going to notice your heels, particularly if the alternative is to throw off your heels for flats.

The Next pair that you have linked tick a lot of the boxes for what's on trend.

I'd wear some mid heel pointy numbers with a bit of sparkle and then bring some pointy sparkly flats to change into if it gets too much.

Can't you wear something comfy all day, I wear my north face duvet shoes when setting up a conference or exhibition and change into my shoes when on stage

Platform heels are quite comfortable. The platform means your foot is flatter and the chunky heel spreads your weight more evenly.

https://www.carvela.com/women/shoes/heels/serafina-90-black-suede-carvela-9987000209?istCompanyId=5d29e1c9-8e90-448b-aba7-d122dc5e5729&istFeedId=a4790684-ecc7-4b34-b796-4fa085d68cfc&istItemId=rmwtxrtqt&istBid=t&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiApY-7BhBjEiwAQMrrEUaaK7m5cYGag5oNIA-tt-2Pq5bR_hSZKLfZiGx6drHCY3_bNBc1khoCVUkQAvD_BwE

These are tidy, fairly up to date and v comfy

They look great but I'm not persuaded they will be comfortable. Only you will be able to tell that. Perhaps order them and wear them at home, on carpet for 2/3 hours. If there is any discomfort at all, send them back.

Painful feet show in your face. People will look harder at yiur face than at yiur feet.

OP, have a look on VIVAIA. I have bought the most comfortable boots I have ever worn in my life! I have worn them twice now on 2 very long days and not once have my legs or feet hurt. The reviews are totally spot on.

https://www.vivaia.com/item/square-toe-water-repellent-wool-knee-high-boots-p_10018185.html?gid=10018199

These are like walking on air just like the boots. I bought almond.

https://www.vivaia.com/item/square-toe-mary-jane-margot-mary-jane-p_10015081.html?gid=10019177

If you want heels try these.

https://www.vivaia.com/category/anna-c_1112.html

I hope this helps!

i bought three pairs of vivaia shoes and wore them most of last year.

over that same period I developed a Morton’s neuroma on one foot, which is painful and incurable. The only shoes I can feel it in is the vivaia shoes, which are 100% where it came from.

Steer well clear.

I'd go for one of the styles below

Morton’s Neuroma from my understanding is because of wearing ill fitting shoes. Not every type of shoe suits and for this condition you need to wear wide comfy shoes so you can’t exactly attribute it to the VIVAIA footwear. I have Plantar Fasciitis and find their shoes are perfect for me.

I had nothing before I started wearing them and I wore them almost all year… then it appeared. It’s not a coincidence, it definitely caused it.

Boots are definitely the answer. Knee high on trend- look for suede which is dressier and a block heel. I found the perfect pair in Clarks of all places a couple of years ago and bought three pairs. They were very comfy, had good height and nicely shaped non frumpy foot.