This gives me an idea, I may experiment with tomorrow.

Absolutely love this look and would wear it in a nanosecond. I think the flats are unexpected and therefore give the outfit a certain charm that wouldn't exist with heels.

The word "gamine" comes to mind.

I've been mulling this one all day While I do think the flats are a sweet look here, I can't help but want to at least put her in a kitten heel with this outfit. Something about the ballet flats doesn't quite resonate with me as the "perfect" pairing.

sort of off on a tangent, but I'm curious about Angie's comment of very high arches feeling better in heels . . . someone here mentioned this when I was packing for my trip for my half marathon, before I screwed up the ankle. They said a friend with high arches wore heels after their race for relief. I have quite high arches - so high in fact that they do not touch the footbed in any heels. But I don't find that comfortable. In flats my foot can spread out a little, I guess from gravity, and the arch actually touches the little arch supports in the foot bed. Maybe I'm missing something here??

I have to admit that I don't like this look with flats. I feel like the flats don't look dressy enough with the dress--I think Kari makes a good point that it seems that it needs something else casual to kind of even things out. (A pet peeve of mine is shoes that aren't formal enough for a fancy dress worn to a dressy occasion--admittedly, I don't know where this woman is heading in her outfit.) Aesthetically, every time I look at the photo, trying to like it, all I think is "this would have looked much better with heels." Even with her gorgeous figure and long legs, I feel that the length and volume of the skirt, combined with the flat shoes, results in leg-shortening.

Mo, I am a high arch heel wearer (and my arches never touch the footbed either). I wouldn't say that I necessarily feel BETTER in heels--my theory has always been that my high arches makes it easier for me to wear heels than it might be for someone with lower arches. I do not like the feel of flats on my feet, but I wonder if part of that is just that I don't like feeling like my foot is slapping directly on the pavement. I do feel comfortable in sneakers, and those are pretty flat, so I don't feel I can fairly say that it is completely uncomfortable for me to wear flat shoes because of my arches. I realize everything I just wrote does not illuminate things for you at all!

Thanks for your meaningful comments, ladies. Like I mentioned earlier to Sarah, we all see different things :).

Those who don't feel that the outfit works with the flats are welcome to their important opinion. We can absolutely respectfully disagree. I on the other hand see a lady who has a doctorate in style. The wearer has taken it to the next level - a full step ahead of the curve.

Taylor and Laura, I see exactly what you see and you both explained it very well. High five!

Taylor and Sammi, I'd swap out the bag for a lighter colour and wear the outfit as is RIGHT NOW. I am very, very, very flattered that you thought of it as "Angie Style". Thank you.

Malina, high arches aren't created equally - I guess that's the difference.

I think this is such an interesting study in our perceptions and tastes!

She does look very sweet, yet not too sweet, with the dress styled that way, BUT this is due in no small part to elements of her appearance beyond the dress and the shoes. She is obviously tall and slim, which helps the look not come off as frumpy or little-girlish. Her edgy cropped hair also elevates the look.

Put the same ensemble on someone with a different body type and look, and the result will not be as fab.

But I must admit, I have to agree with the ladies who posted that this might look better to my eye with a pair of heels, even kitten heels.

Carole said: "The flats make the ensemble seem artful and edgy to me, heels would seem predictable and classic, not a bad thing for sure, but not as much fun either."

She took the words right out of my mouth, er, fingertips! I love this look--I remember noting it when I first saw it on the blog. It's daring, unexpected, sophisticated, knowing, self-confident...To my eye, the lightness of the flats are balanced out by her skin showing through the lacy sleeves. Her chic haircut is the cherry on top! She is a style leader, not a follower, IMHO. Wherever she was going (party, art gallery, out to dinner, etc.), how many young women there were wearing a short tight skirt or dress and really high heels, do you think? Probably the vast majority, I'd wager. Her look stands out.

Yes, Angie, I could totally see you rocking this look! You already sort of do, with your dressy midi dresses and flats that you sport, and your pixie cut :).

Jonesy, your comment *really* resonated with me. I mentioned that the flats and the see through lace on the outfit are what do it for me - those aspects of the outfit work in perfect harmony.

Good job, Carole. You were just as eloquent.

With all my heart, I believe that this outfit would NOT be elevated by heels. It would look just as good and become a completely different outfit with the addition of heels. But no better in my mind.

I worked with a regular height plus sized client today who does not wear heels at all. She wears a-line skirts/dresses with flats and looks divine. For her Xmas party last year, I popped her into pointy toe patent flats to wear with her fancy frock

Okay. I have bored you enough!

When I was a SAHM , I only wore flats, and wore them with dresses this length OFTEN to dressy events!

I am seriously thinking I am going to find a killer versatile pair again!

Your knowledge and perspective is NEVER boring!!

I'd consider myself firmly on the side of Team Heels, but I really LOVE this. I think it's beautiful, sweet, and confident. I'm not sure why, but I think her haircut really helps pull this off and make it work to my eye.

Perfection.

Delicious. The flats feel very right for this girl in this dress. Kitten heels would be fab, too, and a chunky heeled fashion forward sandal or a platform pump would be beautiful. But flats feel just right for her.

My first thought: Audrey . . . and those shoes!

OMG.

It took me a long time to get past the stunning contrast between the full skirt, the short hair, the lace sleeve detail and the structured bag. Wow.

So now that I'm paying attention to her shoes... to my eye, using heels of any kind would look almost expected. Still beautiful, but not as fun as with these two-tone flats.

I really like this look with the flats, though I'm not as particular about those exact flats. A little more black contrast in the flats would be better -- like Angie's mentioned above. The fact that she is tall, slender, with short-cropped hair helps too.

I have very high arches (don't touch the footbed, I have a 2-piece footprint) and I wear flats much of the time. I do need extra cushioning in the insole but I prefer flats to heels for running around (I have 6 pairs of heels and 6 pairs of ballet flats).

Yes, this is definitely an Angie outfit! I luv the sweetness factor with the flats.

I'm enjoying the lace trend this year!

I love this look! To my eye this is perfection. I agree with Carole, the flats make the outfit kind of edgy, arty and unexpected. While it would certainly look great with heels, I don't think heels would 'elevate' this ourtfit. I think the proportions here are perfect.

High five to Lena, Kyle, Christy, AJ and Deborah!

AJ, I want a black lace jacket too

Rosee, I think that black flats would shorten the leg line a little. Not too much, but still more than the nude.

I knew that the Captain of Team Flats would love this outfit!

Taylor, I know that's a promise