High heels will always be haute but sometimes a gal’s got to rock some outfits with flats. Whether you’re dancing all night, having fun, or making it rain at the office, flats can be a girl’s best friend. There’s so much choice with flat shoes, you can find the pair for every outfit. With this handy guide, you’ll agree: just because your shoes are flat doesn’t mean your style has to be!
How to Wear Flats to Work
While a killer heel screams “executive realness”, long days at the office can leave your feet doing the screaming. At work you need to show them who’s boss with a slick look, but your shoe game can still be on point with a pair of stylish flats. Switch it up with slim fitting pants, a blazer and a pair of Oxfords. You can dress this look feminine with a soft colored blouse in a delicate fabric or androgynous with a crisp white shirt. Whichever way you wear them though, avoid visible socks if you don’t want to remind your colleagues of a geography teacher!
As a rule, avoid shoes that look too soft and delicate at work. For the nine to five, ditch your round toed ballet pumps in favor of a more pointed toe. A pointed shape makes a slip-on look more professional, and pick flats made from high quality leather. Always avoid a flat shoe with that office staple, the pencil skirt – they’re not best friends. Instead, pick a skirt that hits just below the knee or a chic shift dress that sits above it.
Classic shoes never get old. While some folks praise the peep-toe or salute the stiletto there are some fabulous classic flat styles that we can’t help but love. Add these classics to your shoe wardrobe and you’ll never be stuck for something to wear work again!
How to wear Ballet Blats with Jeans
Ballet flats are cheap and versatile – you could have a pair in every color! If you’re going to wear ballet flats with jeans, make sure they are slim fitting and hemmed just on your ankle. Longer styles or a flared cut will make your feet look swamped! The ballet flat and jeans look is cute and fun, but be careful of wearing this style every day. Ballet flats don’t give much support to your feet and could leave them sore or strained just like heels can.
Mary Janes are a classic alternative to the ballet flat. They have the same cute, round toe but are more structured to support your feet all day. With their adorable signature strap and a choice of colors they look great with skirts and pants. Patent or matte, Mary Janes are a versatile classic. You can rock them with pantyhose, seamed stockings or even knee-high socks! Go wholesome with an A-line skirt or geek chic with a pinafore dress or sweater vest and skirt combo. Mary Janes also look just as cool as ballet flats with your skinny jean looks, as well as with pedal-pushers or cropped trousers.
Converse and sneakers are perennial favorites. We love them because they’re cool, comfortable and easy to wear. Sport them with ripped jeans for a cool-girl look or with shorts and color pop socks on relaxed summer days. Anything, from an off the shoulder, gypsy style top to a fun graphic tee will complete this easy-going look. Take your favorite feminine day dress and give it a skater twist by teaming it with Converse, or get an urban flavor with high-tops and doorknocker earrings. Sneakers have the power to make a conventional look more easy going, edgy, and fun.
How to Wear Flat Shoes on a Night Out
If you’re planning on painting the town red, flats are your friend. Who wants to be stumbling and tripping in heels when the party hits the club? Wherever you’re headed on your night out, there’s a flat shoe to suit you. If you’re at a hipster bar or cool underground club, try a short sleeveless print dress, your biggest hair, and a pair of lace-up brogues. You should leave your socks at home for this look to make those legs look long and lovely.
If you’re out wining and dining, it’s time to pull out your most glamorous look! Knee high, gladiator sandals look exquisite if you pair them with a strappy, short, chiffon dress. And beaded, metallic sandal flats look great with a short dress in any color. These strappy looks that can take you from the restaurant to the club!
How to wear flats in winter
For winter evenings, pair a heavy woolen shift or a turtleneck dress with your favorite lace-ups, shoe-boots or ballet flats, and some opaque tights. You can add interest with a chunky statement necklace or earrings and a dramatic lip color.
Outfits with flats retro style
Retro babes have the world at their feet when it comes to flat shoe choices. Saddle shoes invoke dreams of 50s malt shops and drive-in movies, when paired with a printed cotton dress and a cute cardigan. For an extra flirty detail you can even add ankle socks to increase your girl-next-door appeal. You can also rock saddle shoes with a pair of wide legged cropped trousers, giving a modern twist on a classic shoe.
If that’s too old school for you, other retro looks take young at heart to a place that’s totally wearable. It seems as though our love affair with the 90s will never end and nothing says ‘90s’ like jelly shoes. Don’t be put off by childhood memories of beach shoes: for the quirky girl, jellies can be a flat shoe staple. You can work clear jellies with bleachy denim dungarees, faded skinny jeans or cut off shorts for a casual look. Or, for the bold, partner with frilly socks and a flirty short skirt or dress, in a nod to the 90s grunge look.
To add a bit of punk flavor to your wardrobe nab yourself a pair of creepers. These built up flats look best with skinny black jeans, a graphic tee, and statement accessories. A touch of plaid always chimes well with creepers, or accent your look with a shock of acid color. This look is all about attitude, so if you’re brave enough, break out with dark eye makeup and a bold lipstick.
How to wear flats with a formal dress
Formal events traditionally suggest heels but you can still stand tall even when your shoes aren’t. Grecian style sandals are the perfect accompaniment to your goddess-looking gown or to the dreamy, romantic silhouettes of the 70s revival. These flats suggest you’ve just floated down from your cloud to grace the mere mortals with your presence. There’s nothing underdressed about that!
If satin and silk are more your style, round toed slippers are your best friend. With a traditional gown it’s vital that your flat shoes are the closest possible match in color and material. You should choose flats that are as high quality as your dress, and luxe details like delicate beading will make you glad you left your heels at home.
How to wear cocktail dresses with flats
For cocktail length dresses it’s important to have a color theme that carries over to your shoes. Or, to stand out, let your flats make a statement with a pop of color that contrasts with your dress. Once again, high quality flats in sumptuous fabrics will make sure your shoes don’t look like an afterthought. Also, you can experiment with sequins, ankle straps, embellishments and patterns to really shake up your cocktail shoe game.
Flat boots outfits
Perfect for winter but never out of style, boots are the bad-girls of flat shoe fashion. Dr. Martens or biker boots with skinny jeans, your coolest band tee and a cropped leather jacket for instant rock chick attitude. And in winter, beat the cold by adding thick socks, an edgy parka and a cute beanie. This look will keep you looking cool even in the coldest months.
If you’re a fan of the 90s grunge aesthetic you can also pair your DMs or biker boots with a short dress and statement sunglasses. Add don’t-care bed hair or baby-doll pigtails and lashings of eyeliner to release your inner Courtney Love.
Knee-high and thigh-high boots are key to a festival style, and classy casual looks. Plus, these flat boots can be comfortable enough to wear all day if you choose a flat style. Pair those thigh-high flats with an oversized knit sweater, hot pants or a mini skirt. Tights or leggings complete the look. You can either go for a color burst on the legs or stick to classic black. Try pairing your knee-highs with short denim cut-offs, sunglasses, and an oversized shirt or kimono, with boho hair to pull the look together. Knee high boots are super versatile for every day, too. With skinny jeans they are great for anything from a day out at the mall to date night at the movies. Just add your favorite top and you’re ready to go!
Flat shoes really can work for every occasion. Whether you’re a luxe lady, a force to reckoned with in the office, or a quirky queen, there’s a flat shoe look to suit you. Don’t be afraid to experiment and mix it up. Flat shoes needn’t mean an outfit that falls flat, especially when there’s so much choice!
