this photo of Nine d'Urso – daughter of the iconic Ines de la Fressange – illustrates exactly my idea of workwear perfection. the overall effect: simple, chic, comfortable, put-together. the details: balanced with understated and timeless design. incidentally, these are the same qualities i look for in the ideal work flats.
for me, the shoes i always reach for (especially while running out the door on a weekday) are almost always ones that are the slip-on style, without laces or other details to fuss with. over the years, i've realized that i tend to always need three variations on the essential work flat:
1. ballet flats (also these by arché are great) - i love the cushioned insoles on the Maria Sharapova collection ones, and fellow blogger Lin also raved about hers recently. i've had two pairs by arché for a few years as well, and they look like the Lanvin ones but are very very comfortable (flexible, cushioned insoles and a nice cushioned latex outsole), and well made. ballets are casual yet still put-together enough for work, and are the ideal back-up shoes to stash in your bag.
2. moc-loafers - this pair by a.p.c. is currently on sale (40% off!), and exactly what i've been looking for for ages. easy to slip on, no overly boat-y or folksy embellishments, in a classic caramel leather. ususally mocs come in suede, and i don't find those as durable or dressy enough for work. also, the typical driving loafers have those nubby rubber soles that wear down easily and you can't replace. i like the leather outsole on the a.p.c. versions – i can just take them to my cobbler for resoling when necessary. wish i had this pair when i went on a work trip earlier this year! great with cuffed pants or jeans, trousers, and super comfy.
3. dressy flats (more colors) - the indispensable option for all the other professional occasions when you need something sleeker but don't want to sacrifice comfort.
i find these three styles quite universally flattering, and easy to pair with a ton of work clothes. with these three essential foundations, you're pretty much good to go. then, you can add variations on colors and textures depending on what you love and how much flexibility your work dress code allows.
and as for the ultimate dress flats worth splurging on...my favorites are the versatile and timeless Ferragamos :)
the classic Ferragamo bow pumps. impeccable in every way.
what about you? which flats do you love for work?
I just bought a pair of Charles Philip loafers (or slippers?) in blue canvas and I really enjoy wearing them. They are classic but not too serious which I like.
ReplyDeletecool cool - i did a post on CP loafers a few months ago - i love that they're made in SH and come in so many fun colors/prints!
DeleteDriving shoes are my main love, I wear those the most especially considering the wet weather we've been having. It's not very glamorous but I wear a heel insole inside them. I don't care for ballet flats so I was lucky enough to get a style I liked in 5 different colors.
ReplyDeleteoh i agree - and yes to stocking up on a few colors of the perfect workhorse shoe! :)
DeleteThe A.P.C. pair is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI recently bought myself a pair of classic ballet flats from Banana Republic -- they have the same style as Repetto ballet flats, which I've been coveting. Insanely comfortable, stylish, both professional and casual, I love them! I otherwise wear plain black loafer slippers that I got from TopShop a while back.
i was excited to see the APC ones go on sale, as i'd been needing that exact style for quite a while. and yeah i think repettos are a bit overpriced for what they are...
DeleteLike Pret a Porter P, I second driving shoes - so comfortable, but very difficult to find a pair that fits my wide feet comfortably.
ReplyDeleteAs for ballet flats, you know I'm loving the CH ones at the moment; they're the affordable version of the Lanvin ones I love, although the leather definitely feels less luxurious, admittedly.
i love the comfy softness of driving mocs, but i don't like that they come with that nubby robber sole. once it wears down, you end up having to buy a new pair of shoes! i suppose i am a bit of a traditionalist and prefer my leather oustoles that are re-solable...
DeleteI avoid the ones that have those small circular "nubs", but go for the ones that have the rectangular block pieces. Though I did see on a blog once about having a cobbler replace the nub soles on her Tod's when they wore down with the more blocked rubber sole.
DeleteMy job is casual enough for converse, so that is what I wear most days. I will wear plain black leather ballerina flats when I feel like dressing up a little more. Those are the two styles that I wear most days - I walk everywhere, so I haven given up on heels altogether :)
ReplyDeletelucky you :) and yeeeess...flats all the way for me, unless i'm going to an evening event and will be mostly sitting/lightly gliding about on thick carpet :P
DeleteI'm all about the Ferragamos. My advisor calls them my "power shoes." I have 3 pairs of the bow style (Vara, Varina, Lillaz) that are in constant rotation in my teaching wardrobe. I prefer the 1-2" heel on the Vara and Lillaz over most work flats. It looks dressier to me, but still more comfortable than a 3" pump. I'm sure you already know this, but it's really easy to get vintage Varas on ebay or etsy for under $60.
ReplyDeletehey jennifer - ooh your collection of power shoes sounds fab! i did get a few pairs of vintage ones but for various reasons they didn't fit very well (due to vintage sizing and width variations). anyway, i'm looking to get a new pair soon - finally crossing that item off my planning list! :)
DeleteLong time reader of you blog.
ReplyDeletePlease look into Arche flats for the most comfortable flats, ever. I bought them on sale here in Germany, and literally it just hugs your feet. I never want to take them off. They make my rather wide feet look elegantly slim and come in the prettiest colors. Made in France by a small family company, I don't think I can ever wear any other pair after this...
thanks for reminding me about those! i actually have two pairs and they are one of my favorites, so you're totally right about the comfort and quality. just updated my post :)
DeleteI don't like loafers, I don't know why...I do like ballet flats, Repetto's are my true love and I find them dressy enough for work, i have to stop myself buying more pairs...I just don't have the money right now : (
ReplyDeleteah, i can totally sympathize on that front! though i think the ones in my post offer some lower priced alternatives while still being excellent in quality.
DeleteI have a small collection of ballet flats from Bloch, Chloe, and Annelo & Davide. That said, of late I am starting to feel like my 2-inch Ferragamo Varina shoes are my most comfortable shoes for daily use, apart from my sandals. The construction of Ferragamo shoes is something else.
ReplyDeletehear hear! my cobbler thinks ferragamo makes the #1 best quality shoes - gotta hand it to people in the know :)
DeleteMy work is too outdoorsy and casual for flats, so once boot season is over and my Dr. Martens (yes, I've worn them since the 90s) are too warm, I like to switch to a pair of Vans Authentics. I only have them in black right now, but I agree with everyone who says that it's best to buy favorite shoes in more colors - I've been eyeing them in tan, blue and red too. Crossing my fingers that the current pair will age gracefully so that I can add to my collection next year instead of replacing them!
ReplyDeletethat's pretty cool that you have the opposite of most people's work dress code! i love the whole story behind Docs, i never had the patience (or the funds, back then) to break a pair in when i really wanted a pair in high school!
DeleteMy work's dress code is basically non-existent (and people at my research institute do run the gamut from torn shorts and an old T-shirt and a pair of flip-flops, all the way up to very dapper businesswear) and given that I don't have to be on my feet all day, don't have to walk huge distances, don't have to do much particularly physical work, etc., pretty much any of my shoes are work-appropriate, which is nice! That said, I still favour my black ballet flats or my penny loafers. Since I bought those two pairs of shoes (in the past 6 months), I seriously feel like my collection of shoes is basically replete. Kind of can't understand how I did without them for so long!
ReplyDeleteah, yes the academic dress code is always nicely flexible. i've found that i like loafers that are cut with a lower vamp - who makes yours?
DeleteLovely post! My work dress code is pretty formal and chic- so the dress code is heels all the time- the higher the better. We also have a ton of events and things to do after work. I use my flats for walking to the office or running errands on weekends. I love the Ferragamo Varinas (Ferragamo makes such a wonderfully well-made shoe that I swear by for the office), Repettos, Bloch and the two tone Chanel flats. With such a narrow foot- I've found that those brands work best for me.
ReplyDeletesomewhat envious of your glam work environment! :) even after such a long time wearing heels, though, do you find them comfortable over flats?
DeleteThe idea of it being mandatory to wear really high heels all the time for work seems rather sexist. A formal work environment is one thing, but I find all the additional requirements often imposed on women (heels, makeup) as part of these formal dress codes unsettling
DeleteHey miss sophie- Sorry I didn't see this. I do find heels comfortable although I'm sure few do. I danced really seriously so I'm used to being on pointe all the time so there's little that bothers me foot wise.
DeleteAnonymous- I wasn't suggesting that there's a formal dress code or that it's mandatory to wear heels, but employees at my company are as chic as they come and that's a very documented fact.
I've got to get rid of a 6.5/7 pair of Ferragamo Varinas. They just don't fit me. Classic, but painful...
ReplyDeletegod, i hate when that happens. though it's great the ferragamo makes their shoes in so many widths.
DeleteThe Ferragamos are getting under my skin! They're so so cute! Maybe instead of despairing over the black Isavel Marant flats, I'll give these a try!
ReplyDeletego for it! these are soooo well made. and a wardrobe classic in every sense of the word.
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