How to Wear Flat Shoes for Women with Different Outfits
Quote of the day: “It’s not about how much you do, but how much love you put into what you do that counts.” Mother Teresa
I always love Mother Teresa’s quotes. They are always from the heart and speak volumes to me. Now how does it pertain to how to wear flat shoes for our outfits? Good question. Since I LOVE shoes so much, I always figure that footwear can make or break an outfit. And yet I see so many women that seemed to have given up on style for comfort when it comes to their shoes.
Truthfully, I’ve become quite spoiled now that I’ve tried out some of the better brands of shoes. For example earlier this year we showcased Walking Cradles shoes. Or the many times we’ve worked with Jambu Shoes. In fact, make sure to check back later this week, for some comfortable booties from Jambu that we are showcasing.
So I wanted to see if the three of us could style some outfits with flats for our trip up to Estes Park and the Stanley Hotel. I requested flat shoes for these outfits with the exception of sneakers and boots. Not that I don’t love sneakers and boots, but we all need other options too.
Jodie’s (50+) Outfit
Jeans: Dear John from Trendz Boutique (similar here)~~Jacket: Blank NYC (here)~~Top: Alya (similar here)~~Shoes: Mercanti Fiorentini (similar here)~~Earrings: Trendz Boutique (similar here)~~Purse: Kate Spade-thrifted (similar here)~~Hat: Brooklyn Hat Co. (similar here)
Why I Wore This Outfit
I have many pairs of flats since I’m a shoeaholic. But this pair was inspired by a woman I met when we were visiting Paris. She had on this kind of driving shoe and looked very chic. Needless to say I’m sure her pair was a high end pair and very expensive. However, I found this pair for a steal at my local DSW. Of course they were only available in this orange color, but that makes for a great punch of color.
I figured I could pull in many fall colors with this outfit. Since I wore much brighter fall colors last week, I thought I’d go more subtle this week.
How You Could Change This Outfit
If you like the idea of matching your shoes to your pants better than having them be a pop of color, I can help with that. Tan or brown shoes are a neutral that will always get a ton of use because they go with everything. There are ballet flats, a shootie, loafers along with oxfords.
Interesting Tidbit
This purse was a last minute addition to my cart when I was at Deja Blue which is a second hand store in Cherry Creek. It was on their $10 rack, and I almost didn’t get it. I didn’t realize how versatile a leopard purse could be, and it’s been amazing how much I carry it.
Nancy’s (70+) Outfit
Jeans: Seven7-thrifted (similar here)~~Cardigan: (similar here)~~Top: Simply Noelle from Trendz Boutique (similar here)~~Shoes: (similar here)~~Earrings: (similar here)~~Sunglasses: (similar here)
Why Nancy Wore This Outfit
These flats are a pair I bought for both my mom and Nancy because I loved this style and figured any aged woman could wear them. We showcased how they would work for so many occasions 2 years ago. Granted this pair of shoes is a very inexpensive pair so the arch support is minimal. However, you could always add in some generic arch support to any kinds of shoes that need them.
I love that Nancy is combining black and navy again. It’s a color combination that used to be frowned upon, yet it seems perfect for the cooler months since its darker. And the polka dot jeans add in just enough print to give the outfit a little sass.
How You Could Change This Outfit
If you rather combine a casual top with the jeans, then there are many black versions that are knit material too. The twist hem and knotted front details are very much in style right now. But I also love the tie front if you want to accentuate your waist.
Interesting Tidbit
This blouse was a new find at our favorite local boutique, Trendz. We went over to the store to showcase their new fall items for an Instagram video (which you can view by clicking on the link, even if you aren’t on Instagram). If you happen to live in the area, make sure to join us at the Fall Fashion Show on October 23.
But back to the blouse. It’s one of those dressier tops which Nancy has been needing in her closet. Because of the lace at the top, she wore a navy bodysuit under it. Nancy is one of those that LOVES bodysuits because they stay tucked in. And this is a great way to stay covered up, but not add too much bulk.
Charlotte’s (80+) Outfit
Skirt: Mom made it (similar here)~~Cardigan: Cruise Club (similar here)~~Top: McKnit Inc. (similar here)~~Shoes: AK-thrifted (similar here)~~Necklace: (similar here)~~Earrings: (similar here)~~Purse: AmiClub Wear c/o (similar here)
Why Charlotte Wore This Outfit
It’s no secret that my mom loves matching everything in her outfit. If I were putting her outfit together, I would have had her wear nude hose instead of the purple pair. But we know how my mom doesn’t listen to me anyways…ha ha!
Because she just purchased this cardigan shawl on our Alaska cruise, she wanted to showcase it with her purple flats. Loafers are making a huge comeback on the style scene. And my mom bought these at a thrift store a couple of years ago. Heck, I just found out about another online second hand store called, Micolet. You may not always think of shoes at these places, but I find they can be great. It’s like they are already worn in for you.
How You Could Change This Outfit
If you love a monochromatic look too, but aren’t as excited to wear a skirt, then there are some other jeans that might give you that same illusion.
One idea would be to wear the lilac with white jeans. I think the lilac is such a soft color that pairing it with white would also make it look almost like one color. Another idea could be your tan jeans. If you opted with either of these colors of jeans, then the dark purple flats and shoes would be your pop of color.
Interesting Tidbit
It’s the necklace that is the star of the show for this outfit I think. In fact, many people walking by commented that she looked nice. It goes to show how a statement necklace can really elevate your outfit, especially if you prefer to wear solid colored pieces.
Let me also point out that my mom made her skirt. It was some material given to her years ago, and I think the ruffle detail on the back hem is the best.
Tips & Tricks
While many articles will tell you about the vamp and shape of the footwear in order to make you look taller and leaner, let me get real. We all want to look our best (at least most days) but stressing out on if something makes you look “taller” seems silly. In fact, Catherine just wrote a post about Why you should dress for your Personality not your Shape that covered this idea so well.
So grab the fun flat shoes and stop worrying about if they make you look shorter. Like I always say, I’m never going to make you think I’m tall no matter what I’m wearing if I meet you in person. BTW, I just purchased this pair of flats from Target in cognac. I’ve been eyeing this style and have tried on a couple of pairs at different stores. And these are the winners, with comfort and price.
As for how to wear flat shoes, adding in some inserts can make all the difference. Both my husband and I bought some from Aldo a couple of years ago, and use them even to this day.
And don’t avoid shopping for shoes online just because you can’t try them on at first. Many stores don’t have the variety in their brick and mortar shop, and your perfect pair could be online. As long as you know the return policy BEFORE you buy them, you can’t go wrong.
If you tend to look for great deals with your shoes, there are many ways to avoid spending a ton of money on comfortable shoes.
1-When you are on the more expensive sites, always check the sale tab. If they don’t have a tab for their shoes on sale, then I’ll type it into the search option.
2-I also check the secondhand stores for footwear. The nice thing about most online thrifting is you can even search for a brand that works great for you.
3-DSW has been my go to for fabulous deals in the last couple of years. They have a sale section in the rear of the store and I can usually find good brands for at least half the cost. One thing to remember, is not all DSW’s are created equal. My local DSW store seems to have better options on sale than their sister store in our area.
If you are familiar with the movie The Shining, then you might recognize the Stanley Hotel from these photos. It’s such an iconic hotel in Estes Park, and we stopped there for lunch and a little sightseeing on this day. You might have seen the photos and video of all of the elk that welcomed us when we first came into town on my Instagram Stories.
The Facts
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As proof that all flats aren’t created equal, I’ve found some wonderful selections below.
