I love shoes. Not in the frivolous Carrie Bradshaw ("I spent $40,000 on shoes and I have no place to live") kind-of way. I love shoes because they punctuate an outfit, like an exclamation point. Shoes send a message. The right shoe says, "I'm polished from head to toe!" and the wrong shoe says, "My style is unfinished."
I'm not the kind of stylist who forces everyone into sky high heels, but I do like to show women that fashion and comfort are not mutually exclusive. There's always a sensible--yet stylish!--solution to any shoe challenge.
Are your shoes the weakest link of your wardrobe? If so, here are some simple solutions to common footwear dilemmas:
Problem: “I walk to work.”
Solution: Many women wear tennis shoes while walking to and from work, and they keep their heels at the office. While this seems like a reasonable solution, an even better solution is wearing a shoe that looks dressy but feels like a tennis shoe. Cole Haan offers an array of sensible (but pretty!) work-appropriate shoes with Nike Air technology (just like in the tennies!). I especially love the ultra-walkable and sleek Air Bacara.
Problem: “I have thick calves/cankles”
Solution: You want to visually elongate your leg to counter balance a wider calf. Wearing a heel will always help, and matching your shoe color to your leg color will make your legs look extra long (e.g. wear black shoes with your black tights, and/or opt for a beige or brown shoe if you’re wearing a dress or skirt with a bare leg).
Avoid: Mary Janes, shoes with ankle straps and ankle boots. Anything that cuts you off at the ankle will make your leg look shorter and stumpier, accentuating your calves.
Problem: “I have foot pain, and I can’t wear heels”
Solution: If you love the look of a stiletto but know you wouldn’t last 10 minutes in a 4-inch heel, you'll be thrilled to discover that wedge heels can offer great lift with maximum comfort and support.
Avoid: Anything with a thin heel, like stilettos or kitten heels. Also, steer clear of very, very flat shoes (usually called “skimmers”) that offer zero arch support or cushioning, because they can damage your feet and feel more uncomfortable than a heel.
Problem: “One foot is bigger than the other foot”
Solution: It’s most important to fit your larger foot, rather than risk foot damage by cramming it into a too-small shoe. You can pad your smaller foot with a Dr. Scholl’s gel insert. In dress shoes, look for slingbacks with an adjustable strap so you can customize fit.
Problem: “I’m in-between shoe sizes”
Solution: Shop brands (like Ecco) than run on a European size scale (e.g. 37, 38, 39 vs. 6, 7, 8). Euro sizes don’t translate perfectly to the American size chart, which will work to your advantage if you’re in-between sizes.
Problem: “I have large feet, all shoes look like clown shoes on me”
Solution: Often, woman who wear shoe size 10 or larger try to wear super boring shoes so as not to draw attention to their feet. Trust me, ladies, you’re not doing yourself any favors by sacrificing style! A frumpy shoe will never look better than a stylish one. Nordstrom Rack is my favorite place to find stylish shoes in larger sizes (10-12+) at great prices.
Avoid: Squared-toe shoes and chunky heels. Too Frankenstein-y.
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