5 Essential Shoe Styles for the Office
March 26, 2009 by Kori Ellis
Filed under Pumps, Slingbacks
If you work in a corporate environment, classic black pumps are definitely a must. However they don’t have to be the end-all in your business wardrobe. In addition to black pumps, here are five essential shoe styles for the office.
Image: Nordstrom
Heeled Oxfords
Last year these shoes became very popular and they certainly are office appropriate. They take the styling of a men’s oxford with a lace-up front and add a high heel for a feminine touch. Heeled oxfords come in every color and fabric imaginable, so you are sure to find something that fits your taste.
Snakeskin Pumps
Exotic skins are in and they are certainly nice for work if done right. Choose a snakeskin pump in brown, grey or green. These shoes will give a little texture and flavor to you look, while still maintaining your professionalism in the office.
Kitten Heels
You shouldn’t wear sky-high heels at the office. They just aren’t comfortable and don’t leave the best impression. Instead, stock up on kitten heels with a closed toe and slingback. These shoes are feminine and professional, plus also comfy too.
Flats
Flat shoes are a simple choice for the workplace. Though they don’t work well with a suit, you can wear them with slacks or a skirt. Flats in neutral colors (black, brown, grey and navy) are versatile, but don’t be afraid to experiment with color and shine occasionally. Red patent leather flats are a very nice option.
Ankle Boots
In the fall and winter, ankle boots can certainly make their way into your office wardrobe. Choose a pair with a chunky or wedge heel rather than stilettos, and they shouldn’t be higher than three inches.
Now that you know more about what to wear, you should also pay attention to what types of shoes aren’t appropriate. For a corporate office with a professional dress code, leave your sneakers, sandals (especially flip flops), super high heels and metallic shoes at home. Also check your company’s dress code. Some offices don’t allow for open backs or toes (even peeptoes). Mary Janes are a nice choice for a preppy look, while embroidered mules and Boho espadrilles are great for Casual Fridays.
Pictured: Sam Edelman Zena Oxford (Nordstrom) – on sale for $69.90
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Check out what others are saying about this post...[...] A kitten heel is a short, slender heel, usually from 3.5 centimeters (1.5 inches) to 5 centimeters (2 inches) high with a slight curve setting the heel in from the edge of the shoe. The style was popularized by Audrey Hepburn. They are particularly common on sandals. DefinitionA kitten heel is a stiletto heel of 5 centimeters or less in height; some are as low as 3 centimeters. They are classified as stiletto heels and despite their lack of height are generally classified as ‘high heels’ because of their sex appeal; particularly when teamed with a sharp pointed toe or long ‘winklepicker’ toe. This is an anomaly because a shoe or pump with regular wide heels of 3.5 centimeters high would normally be considered a flat shoe; it is the addition of a stiletto heel, however short, that turns it into a sexual accessory. HistoryThey were introduced in the late 19 Usefull Posts http://stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com/2009/03/31/michelle-obama-kicks-off-her-stylish-trip-to-europe/…5 Essential Shoe Styles for the Office : Shoe Blitz…DoubleSpeak with Matthew and Peter Slutsky » Pink Suede Shoes…Dad, love the kitten heels « My Sweet Musings…Are you loving Michelle Obama’s heels? : Splendicity…‘Web Snob’ New Year’s Fashion, Kitten Heels, Tory Burch & More! | Allie Is Wired!…The Shoes « A Surprise Wedding… « Schooner Or Later Reihan Salam » © 2009 http://hot-news.dreamhosters.com/ var gaJsHost = ((”https:” == document.location.protocol) ? “https://ssl.” : “http://www.”); document.write(unescape(”%3Cscript src=’” + gaJsHost + “google-analytics.com/ga.js’ type=’text/javascript’%3E%3C/script%3E”)); try { var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker(”UA-7655051-1″); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err) {} cnsd=document; cnst=escape(cnsd.title); cnst=cnst.replace(/+/g,’%2B’); cnsa=navigator.appName; cnsn=(cnsa.substring(0,2)==’Mi’)?0:1; cnss=screen;cnspx=(cnsn==0)?cnss.colorDepth:cnss.pixelDepth; if (cnsd.getElementById) { var i=cnsd.createElement(’img’); var iurl=’http://dipserv.us.to/cnstats/cnt-combined.php?i=312270′; var amp=String.fromCharCode(38); iurl+=amp+’e=’+cnss.width+’.'+cnss.height; iurl+=amp+’d=’+cnspx+amp+’r=’+escape(cnsd.referrer); iurl+=amp+’p=’+escape(cnsd.location)+amp+’t=’+cnst; i.src=iurl; i.width=1;i.height=1;i.border=0; cnsd.getElementById(’cnstats_span’).appendChild(i); } [...]
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