Wearing Flats Fashionably

Part4
Wearing Flats Fashionably

Keep the colors in mind. Try to match your shoes to one color of your outfit. For example, if you are wearing blue jeans, a white shirt, and a brown belt, you could wear a pair of brown shoes.

At the same time, you can also wear a contrasting color—just make sure that the tone or saturation are the same. For example, you pair some skinny pants with white canvas sneakers and a black shirt. Keep warm with a black jacket and a red, plaid scarf.

Consider how plain or fancy your outfit is. If you pair fancy shoes with a fancy outfit, you will look overdressed. Instead, consider pairing simple flats with a fancy outfit, or fancy flats with a simply outfit. This will create a nice contrast, and prevent your outfit from looking too busy.^[7]

Know what shoes to wear for work. Choosing shoes and outfits for work can be difficult. You want to look good, but you also want to meet the company's dress code requirements. Most important of all, you want to be comfortable, especially if you will be on your feet for long periods of time. Here are some things to consider:

If you work retail, refer to your company's dress code to learn what colors and styles of shoe are acceptable. Consider choosing a simple, comfortable flat, such as loafers or sneakers. Most companies will ask you to wear a solid-colored black or brown shoe.
If you work in an office, sneakers might be too casual and heels might be too painful. Consider getting a pair of pointy-toed flats. They are the best alternative to painful heels while still looking formal. They work great with dress pants and pencil skirts.^[8]
A cute work outfit can consist of a white blouse with lace insets, a black pencil skirt, and black pointy-toed flats with ankle straps. Polish up your appearance with some red lipstick, a ponytail or braid, and a classic pearl necklace.^[9]

Know what flats to wear to school. Like with work, you want to look good while meeting any dress code requirements (if there are any). You also want to be comfortable, especially if you need to walk far to get from class to class. Choose shoes that are comfortable, and don't wiggle or slip off your feet; the last thing you'd want is to lose a shoe while you are hurrying to your next class. Here are some cute outfit ideas to get you started:

In the fall, pair some skinny jeans with pointy flats, a loose-fitting blouse, and a jacket. Keep your hair loose and your makeup simple.^[10]
In the winter, consider pairing some skinny pants with cozy boots. Wear a long cardigan or sweater over a fitted shirt, and cinch them around your waist with a thick belt. Accessorize with a loose scarf, and keep your jewelry to a minimum; you don't want it to get caught on anything.
In the spring and summer, consider pairing some light-colored ballet flats with a flirty, pastel knee-length skirt and a white blouse. If it is colder, switch the skirt out of a pair of skinny jeans.

Coming up with casual outfit ideas. Try to pair simple flats with a fancier outfit. Most people associate simplicity with comfort, and comfort with casualness. A simple pair of canvas sneakers or ballet flats does not mean that the rest of your outfit has to be mundane. Here are some ideas to spruce up the rest of your outfit while still looking casual:

Accessorize. Wear some jewelry, a cute belt, or a scarf. If you can, try to match your accessories to your shoes. This will tie your entire outfit together.
Go with layers. This is a great way to make any outfit more interesting. It will also give your more opportunities to match a piece of your outfit to your shoes. An example of layering would be: skinny jeans, a scoop-necked white blouse, and a green cardigan. Finish the outfit off with a pair of green, pointy-toed flats and a brown belt.
Match your shoes to your outerwear. If it is chilly, you can layer your outfit further by throwing on a fashionable coat, a cute jacket, a cozy cardigan, or a flannel shirt. This will not only keep you warm, but it will also make your outfit look more interesting. Again, try to match the color of your outerwear to your shoes.

Choosing the right shoes for special occasions and dates. Flats can look casual, but they don't always have to be. There are a few things that can make any pair of flats look dressier. Here are some things you should consider:

Pointy-toed flats can look very formal. They are the next best thing to heels.
Flats made from patent or metallic materials tend to look more formal than fabric ones.
Dress sandals with embellishments, such as silver chains, rhinestones, and brooches can also look very dressy. Try to match your jewelry to these embellishments.

Dress for the weather. Most flats are going to be warm-weather type shoes. As such, you should avoid wearing sandals, ballet flats, and pointy-toed flats during the cold months. Save those for the warmer months. When the cold weather rolls around, stick with boots. You might be able to wear sneakers during the colder months, depending on how wet, snowy, or cold it is.

Wear flats with socks to keep warm and reduce sweat/odor. This does not mean that you have to wear thick socks with every type of flat, however. Here are the types of socks you should pair with different types of flats:

Wear open-top, below the ankle flats (such as ballet flats) with thin, sheer socks. You can also get low-cut or hidden socks. ^[11]
Below the ankle shoes that do work with socks include: brogues, loafers, creepers, derbies, and Converse.
Avoid wearing ballet flats and other open-top flats with socks and tights. This causes the fabric to bunch up and wrinkle in the toe area.
Pair above the ankle flats and boots with socks or tights.

Part4Wearing Flats Fashionably

Part4
Wearing Flats Fashionably