Chunky legs - best footwear with dresses?

[Sheila]

Inspired by the wrap dresses thread I've ordered a summer dress from Top Shop. Can any of you wise ladies advise me what's the best footwear to waer with it, bearing in mind I have legs like a giant redwood, although I do have thin ankles in relation to my footballer calves?

Or should I bow to the inevitable and stick to trousers?!

ginger bear i have to disagree and my former life was a shoe designer and had my own shoeshop! i saw so many legs in front of me and can tell at 50 paces what suit people and their legs and the outfit too - please dont think i am bragging but just alot of experiece

mules / wedges are v comfy no doubt but where the straps lie is the difference between a "goodlooking" foot and a clumpy one!!

Feel like an elephant walking on matchsticks in kitten heels.

If you go for boots, try to get some wider fitting round the calves - that way you don't get a 'midriff buldge' at your knees.
Duo have been recommended here in the past.
\link{http://www.duoofbath.co.uk/2_classic.php\duo)

hermykne I thought I looked like a graceful antelope prancing round in my khaki mules....

But Shiela has slim ankles, so she should be OK??

I am getting in a right tizz over this now.....[sob]

i think sheila wants to lenthen the leg with her calves being like redwoods! ( eek, ) so if she cuts high accross the instep then she is cutting her foot thus losing extra visible skin that she has in her foot that can add to and lengthen the leg and distract from her calves. if she choses a strap lower/nearer the toe area within comfort/wearability reason, she is getting more foot joined to her leg thus lengthening the leg, does that make sense.

try it out with your own shoes/sandals even, and vary then length of dress , below knee above on the knee and you'll see, how it will change the leg shape

my sister has this exact problem and drove me mad in the shop with her instep.

i would say mary janes, pref with a heel, round toe and any strap near to toes as poss to give the lengthening effect. and wedges are definitely easier to walk in.

Blimey - what's a girl to do! Probably go out in the dress and try on lots and lots of pairs of shoes with plain speaking friend in tow. Exactly what I don't have time to do. Have ordered the M&S wedges so will give them a go (thought they'd look good with long trousers too).

Perhaps I should post a photo of my legs for hermykne's perusal - would love to get your verdict on them!

I would avoid skinny (kitten/stilletto) hells if you have chunky calves. If you want to wear shoes, I'd go for a comfy flesh coloured or beige open toed wedge to continue the shade of your legs/tights, the wedge being a similar (if not the same) colour as the upper. If you go for boots, (I'm a big boot fan), I think a good shape for you would be an engineer boot with a 2.5 or 3 inch heel. I like cowboy boots, but the heels tend to "narrow" a bit towards the ground which might unbalance you. Also pointy toes might not work with chunky calves.

I wouldn't worry about knees - imo know one takes much notice of them. If you stare at anyone's knees long enough if they're just stood there in front of you they'll look ugly, but usually people are moving or sitting and they look ok. Unless I were very overweight and so had those knee "rolls", that is, in which case I cover up.

oh jesu* sheila i am not that bad! its just shoes are my thing,

good point about the strap, hermykne. Hate to hijack, but I actually have mediocre calves and thick ankles. What would you suggest (short of plastic surgery)?

almost 40 feel like i m back working in rl! well no ankle straps or anything fussy around that area, instead of surgery try yoga ! joke joke, no time etc , well my sis has done yoga and it has made a siff to her ankles and lower calves, she hasnt really any definition there.

i am now going thru my mental catalogue of shoes to see what will suit giveme an hour to think it over!

almost 40 feel like i m back working in rl! well no ankle straps or anything fussy around that area, instead of surgery try yoga ! joke joke, no time etc , well my sis has done yoga and it has made a siff to her ankles and lower calves, she hasnt really any definition there.

i am now going thru my mental catalogue of shoes to see what will suit giveme an hour to think it over!

my siters plight was made even worse by discovering a leather allergy... disaster

almost 40, you'll always need a slight heel or wedge to lift the foot and stretch the calve thus changing the ankle shape. flatties will do nothing for them unless your on hols in flip flops - very decorative ones to detract onloookers eyes from your ankles (some nutto with ankle fetishes) to the toes ! beautiful manicured nails (i know no time again!)
realistically
a show with a nice detail on the vamp , that is the part that lies ontop of the foot from toe to mid instep , probably a lowish cut on that area too, if going dressy and for casual well the funky runners around would probably be ok too.

thin straps accross the instep too might work as thick would only clash with the ankle

you proably think i am mad but i did sell shoes with this advice!

a small platform on a casual shoe
i remeber seeing a dressy shoe kurt geiger did , i think, and it was ribbons for straps on the ankle and up the leg, this could work provided they are comfortably as the fabric is soft and delicate over the tricky area.

alot of summer espadrilles seem to have this look,
i must go hunting for links
bye from the nutto shoe person

Awesome, hermykne! Sounds like your past-life is calling you back. Thanks!

Charleypops what are engineer boots?! Can you post a link to a picture?

hermykne I really would LOVE to get your verdict on my legs - honest! Not sure the world is ready to have them unleashed via the net though.

sheila CAT me if u want to, jesu* i hope i can help longterm, you dont think i am a nutter? !!!

Hi Sheila - they're these sort of things The top ones are exactly the ones I have - they're very elongating without making you look like you're wearing heels iykwim. You can get much cheaper versions in the shops now too

Hmm charleypops - not sure they'll look so good on my size 7 plates! Don't thye make your legs look even bigger?

hermykne - I don't think you're a nutter, just a very wise woman! Will try to take a photo and e-mail it to you. Actually as I write this I think I must be the nutter - sending photos of my fat legs (knee down only at least) to strangers.

sheila love to help, havebeen trawllingthe internet shoe sites, nine west etc, to refresh my brain!

I think they make them look smaller because they're not tight and the sole balances out the calf. I think the shape works In the same way as boot cut or flared shape trousers do, but give you more height. If you try any on in a shop, I'd be interested to know what you thought. Make sure you try the ones that have at least a 2 or 3 inch heel though.