
{ a blog all about the love of shoes }
For college girls who need to walk, hike, or even bike from class to class, flats are a common favorite. If you’re a flats enthusiast hoping to embrace some novel styles, or pay proper homage to some comfortable flat fashions, then you’ve come to the right place. Here is a quick lesson in versatile and must-own flats that are sure to ready you for back-to-school and then some.
Neutral News
Contrary to popular belief, black flats don’t go hand-in-hand with every outfit in your closet. Gray, nude, taupe, and tan editions are more likely to become your go-to shoes during those rushed, late mornings. So if you’re in the market for chic simplicity and versatility, try the Smith flat by Justfabulous in nude to get you through the day. Diamond and triangular shaped cutouts throughout the flat provide your feet with comfortable breathability, making them perfect for a swift walk or jog between classes or to appointments. The slightly pointed toe, stud details, and grommets compliment the cutouts perfectly to create a flirty yet fabulous edge and attitude.
Color Crazy
When your wardrobe craves some flare, bold colored shoes are sure to satisfy. Multi-colored options and attractive prints not only add color and pop, but will also tie together a number of your wardrobe choices. To get the highest mileage possible out of colorful flats, try BC Footwear’s Limousine Raffia. Made from raffia instead of canvas, these shoes will stand apart from the crowd based on their creative texture alone. A pink trim lines the shoe and subtly introduces fashionably zigzagging reds, yellows, greens, and blues that overlay a neutral undertone. Thanks to this happy marriage between bold colors and a nude canvas, you can feel fun, flirty and chic as opposed to tacky and over-the-top.
Seasonally Inspired
If you find it too difficult to stow your favorite summer wedge in your closet, then you’ll love the Mateos flat by Lela Rose for Payless. These peep-toe flats are made from leather and woven synthetic material adorned with multicolor strips and a culminating taupe leather front knot. The open instep creates a casual sandal-like vibe that’s perfect for warm days. A covered heel of the same stripped material and a taupe leather ankle strap offers you a perfect mix of support and style. Available in dark blue, these shoes take your favorite summer style and transform it into a wearable fall fashion.
Naomi Kahlon
Naomi Kahlon is a frequent contributor to myShoes.com
For some of us, summer means dancing the night away with friends and family. Whether it’s at a casual wedding or just a night of salsa dancing with girlfriends, you need a pair of shoes that are saucy enough to get you noticed and comfy enough to get your groove on.
What to Look For
You want a platform that will help support your feet as you dance, plus a secure closure that won’t let your feet float around. Our pick are the Cain sandals from Via Spiga. These platform sandals have an adjustable buckle closure at the ankle, so you can customize the strap to sit snug as you bust a move on the dance floor. You don’t want the closure to be too tight, but it should be secure enough that your foot has minimal room to move around when you walk. The platform heel means there’s less stress on your feet than with a skimpy stiletto heel. If you want even more support (or you aren’t used to dancing in heels) look for a chunky or cone heel along with the platform.
How to Protect Your Feet
Any shoes that you wear out for a night of dancing will need to be broken in first. To properly break in your shoes, wear them around the house for a few hours in the days leading up to the event. We suggest open-toe sandals for dancing in the summer because they’ll give you extra space if your feet swell a bit after hours of standing up. If you’re finding friction at the ball of the foot, you can insert a shoe pad that’s specifically designed for this area of the foot. Many are clear and sit only at the ball of the foot, so you don’t have to worry about them peeking out. If you feel friction at the ankle straps, you can apply Vaseline or an anti-friction product (found in the foot care aisle at your local drugstore) to that area.
How to Wear Them
You’re going dancing, so have a little fun with your look. An ankle strap, bold color, or ribbon detail in conjunction with a platform may be just what you need. Try the Pippi from Lola Ramona, or if you really want to push the envelope, you can dance the night away in the Tribute from Yves Saint Laurent
Samantha Cabrera
Samantha Cabrera is a freelance writer who covers the best of fashion and beauty.
Are you planning on packing up your car next summer and hitting a festival or two? It’s amazing how fast tickets are selling this year for big acts and huge summer events, and we hope you get to go to one that you wanted to attend.
Fringe
A little fringe around the ankle never hurt anyone, and it’s quite nice to have something rustic when you’re camping out or simply dealing with the masses. Wear suede fringed booties with a short skirt or shorts, and pick a simple, breathable top with layering options for night. Brown fringe hides dirt better than black.
Sure-Footed Sandals
Try walking through muck in sandals, and then get back to us! If you’re going to wear sandals, then it’s imperative that you choose a pair with an ankle and over-the-foot strap. You can lose a sandal easily in the melee or while dancing, and do we really need to act like your mother and lecture you on the hazards of broken glass? Read more »
Did you just finish college, or are you currently doing an internship? These shoes are all intelligent purchases if you’re trying to make a transition from classes to professional obligations. Consider them “starter shoes”!
Low Heels- Kitten Style
Low kitten heels are a smart transitional choice for a student—you can walk anywhere in these heels, and you’ll still feel like you’re dressier than usual. Because kitten heels are low and easy to wear for longer distances, they might seem as though they get damaged quickly. Even if you have to replace the heel tip frequently, these shoes are still a fantastic buy. Read more »
We all know what the must-have shoes are for a healthy shoe closet. This means you’re never left without the right shoe, no matter what the occasion. These shoes include black pumps, red heels, strappy sandals in a metallic hue and flats in a fun print. Riding boots or ankle boots may also make it into the mix depending on where you live. Here are a few other staple shoes to add to your shoe wardrobe that will help you get extra mileage out of your clothes.
Black Ankle Strap Shoes
Ankle strap shoes work with hemlines that fall at the knee. This can be a pencil skirt, a full skirt, a sheath dress or pleated skirt. The thin ankle strap adds that extra oomph of feminine appeal and makes you feel like a million. The black ankle strap shoe is more playful than a basic pump, making it a great go-to pair for cocktail hour whether you’re dressing up your office look or switching into a vintage number. Ankle strap shoes also look great with trousers since they expose the top of the foot and look less stuffy than a pair of pumps. When shopping for ankle strap shoes, go for a d’orsay style. This allows you to wear the shoes almost anywhere and gives that dainty appeal you’re looking for from these classic shoes. Read more »
If you’re a frequent MyShoes.com reader, than you’ll know that I love nothing more than a good ballet flat. But, what I’m really freaking out about lately is ballet flats with ankle straps.
Part function (no more shoes slipping off) and part fashion (come on, they’re so cute!), these shoes should definitely be added to your repertoire.
For a low-cost option, check out the Harp by Volatile, which features an almond-shaped toe, and dual ankle straps that wraparound the ankle and metallic buckle closure. Read more »