What’s a girl to wear on her feet when there’s work to be done, and the day is punctuated by errands and public appearances?
Isn’t that the question? My life, as with most “at-home moms”, is an awkward mixture of physical labor and professional interactions. Polly addresses the temptation to rely on sneakers and presents a better alternative in her post Be True to Yourself.
First, consider: does it matter whether you are wearing jeans, trousers, or skirt? I don’t think so. A casual skirt worn in a casual setting demands a casual shoe, and jeans can be dressed up or dressed down. So what we’re really looking for is a shoe which is fully functional (it doesn’t limit what you can do) and commands respect (which in many settings relates to stylishness).
Polly recommends Me Too ballet flats, which she found at Marshalls and I have seen around here at TJMaxx (unfortunately they didn’t have my size in the brown patent leather last time I was there). Here are some of the styles currently available from Zappos.com Women’s Shoes (click on picture for more info or to buy):
These are a great everyday option for casual shoes, especially in a climate where socks aren’t needed. (Question for you: do you think I can comfortably go straight from sockless flats to flat boots? I’m going to give it a try this year and I’ll let you know.)Finally, under what circumstances would you consider these styles appropriate for wearing to work?
These shoes look too cute. I live in ballet flats, though mostly clearanced ones from Target.
When I was a middle school teacher, I would have considered any of the pictured shoes appropriate for work. They could go with a skirt, slacks, or jeans.
I’m needing to upgrade my work wardrobe and can no longer wear sneakers! These are sure cute and look much more comfortable than my boots.
You can definitely go from sockless flats to flat boots… if your boots are leather-lined, you don’t have to wear socks, and that keeps your feet a bit cooler.
True confessions… I love wearing boots because I can wear my shabby socks around the house, then zip the boots over them and no one will ever know.
I recently ordered but returned a pair of Me Too flats. They would have been super-comfortable but they were too tight in the toes. I actually ordered and returned 4 pairs of shoes (from Zappos, gotta love free shipping & returns), before ending up with these from Macy’s (25% off, yahoo!).
http://shoemania.com/B0011DZ1Z4/M/B0011DZ1Z4.htm
So, I get the very streamlined look of a ballet flat, but the ankle strap keeps it on my narrowish heels, with there’s plenty of room in the toes. The toe is very low-cut which I like (it doesn’t look so low-cut in the pic).
These will be, hopefully, my perfect, all-purpose, SAHM shoe (when it’s not sandal or flat boot season, that is) as I phase out the Dansko clogs. Maybe I should buy another 20 pairs to last me the rest of my life. 🙂
Those are all very cute shoes. I’ll go from sockless flats to my boots — no problem – in northern Ohio.
The drawback to flats is that they don’t offer much arch support, something that is important to me when I’m on my feet in a ceramic tiled kitchen ( and pregnant to boot!).
I think the perfect stay at home mom outfit is something to which you can toss a blazer over and change shoes before heading out the door for an “appearance.”
I always wear shoes llike this (unless I’m in flat boots) when I’m on a shopping trip with my clients.
I love ballet flats, they’re flatteting because they’re low vamp, and elongate the leg.
If you’re got shorter legs, look for a pointier rather than rounded toe style.
Jennifer – those are really cute! Too bad they are out of stock now. 🙁
I haven’t owned a pair of ballet flats since high school (that is, for more than 20 years!). I am tall, and I guess I feel I would look as if I am trying to hide my height in that sort of wafer-thin flat. Ballet flats in particular also look too “little girl” for me–the same reason I also avoid mary jane styles. I wear clogs or mules instead, with jeans, pants, and casual skirts. I am wearing my favorite pair right now: black Born clogs with a wedge heel, a monk strap, and a big silver buckle! They are blissfully comfortable and look adequately dressy for all kinds of situations.
Here in upstate New York, I’ll start rotating in my boots pretty soon–first with bare legs, and then with tights. I got them out about a week ago, but we haven’t yet had weather that said “Boots!” to me. 🙂
My office is at the formal end of “workplace casual,” and I’d consider those shoes appropriate if the rest of the outfit was fairly conservative — something like neutral dressy pants, a similarly neutral top, a light-weight cardigan that picks up the color of the shoes, and an important scarf or piece of jewelry.
With a skirt, ballet flats strike me as either “younger” or less formal. But like Sheri, I’m too tall to wear ballet flats at all, plus I look better in more structured shoes. Indeed, Sheri sounds like someone I should be going shopping with.
Drwende, is that “Dr. Wendy,” by any chance? I’m Dr. Sheri (Ph.D.). That sounds fun, next time you get to New York State! I need a shopping buddy . . .