Do you like your flats?

Mona

As much as I like the comfort of flats, they always make me feel short and dumpy. I am 5'3" and feel best in short to medium heels. Are there any tricks to make flats work for shortish heights?

13 years ago

General

19 replies

Latest reply was from fashionista

christieanne

Veteran

Can you match your shoe color to your pant color (or close)? That might give you a longer line.

13 years ago

MsMary

Veteran

Mona, I'm with you. After having several pair of super cute flat oxfords end up as wardrobe orphans, I've realized that I just. plain. don't. like. flats. and I'm not going to spend any more money or energy trying to make them work. (Only exception is flat sandals in summer.) So I am now rocking oxfords with high heels and feeling fab.

13 years ago

Parsley

Veteran

I've come to realize that I don't really like my flats with dresses, but I like them fine with skinnies and capris.

With a dress I feel much more attractive with a bit of a heel.

13 years ago

morethanbeige

Veteran

I'm with you, Mona. I don't feel great in flats. I'm 5'3" also and somehow in flats I just feel too low to the ground. haha. My dear, late Mom used to say that I walk differently in flats than in heels. I can believe it, because I FEEL different. That being said, some outfits seem to just call for flats. So I would love to break through my barrier!

13 years ago

Irene

Veteran

Yes. I only wear high heels from time to time, actually, so most of my shoes are flats. I amb long-legged though, so actually feel a bit too long-legged when wearing high-heels (especially with dresses or skirts).

13 years ago

Kirti

(website)

Veteran

I do, because heels just don't suit my lifestyle! I walk a LOT and I don't go out to places that require very fancy footwear, so nearly all my shoes are flat. I am 5'3" tall too.

13 years ago

Mona

Veteran

Christianne, that is a great suggestion. Right now, I own a pair of purple flats, maroon flats, black flats and black and white flat oxfords. I should stick to black flats with my dark denim and black trousers. I am hoping to pull off black and white oxfords with my red slim leg denim.
Mary K, heeled oxfords are a great idea. I love the look of oxfords, so heels are great.
Parsley, it does feel good to know what works for you, doesn't it?
morethanbeige, if and when you break through your barrier, do share pics.
Lemonade, I think long-legged gals can pull off flats a lot easier that short legged ones like me.
Kirti, it is your posts about oxfords that made me think about this, as I really like the look of Oxfords but I like a little bit of heel

13 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I am one of the few on YLF who bats for Team Flats. I LOVE MY FLATS!!! Like Kirti, I walk a lot. And you can't do a 9 hr shopping day with clients at a fast pace in high heels. Nor can you commute on foot in high heels.

Happy feet = Happy Angie.

I wear flats (boots, booties, ballet flats, loafers and flat oxfords most of the time). Some of them have half an inch heel - which is flat in my book.

I wear low heels a lot too. (1.5 to 2 inches). Anything higher than that is a "sitting-shoe".

I don't feel stumpy in my flats at all. And I am regular height at 5ft 6.

13 years ago

Mona

Veteran

Angie, spending an insane amount of time reading your older blog posts, I came to realize that Happy feet = Happy Angie. I find it so fascinating all the new things I am learning here.
You are also long legged and regular height, may be that is why you can carry flats without feeling stumpy.
I feel most fab in short to medium heels. By medium heel I mean 2.5 inches and it has to be stacked. I cannot wear stilletoes.

13 years ago

marianna

Veteran

I love my flats! I don't own any heels.

13 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

Mona, I am 5'1" and I find that, on me, nearly everything looks better with heels, too. It's not just that they elongate my leg line; they also make my calf muscles look good, and they throw my balance a bit so that I square my shoulders and hold my belly in more. But I still wear flats sometimes, especially if I need to walk a lot. I don't own ballet flats. I have several pairs of very flat knee and ankle boots, and my trick is to wear them with either jeggings tucked in, or with short (4" above the knee), structured skirts. Flat boots don't look very good with knee length skirts (I'm too short for that), and flouncy short skirts look silly and girlish on me (although this look would be fine on a younger woman). I also wear Converse with straight leg or skinny jeans a lot. They don't make my legs look as fab as heels would, but Converse are cute and comfy, and sometimes make more sense for my lifestyle.

13 years ago

Mona

Veteran

Thanks for your input, Elisabeth. If I was walkig a lot during the day, I would wear flats too. but I work at an office and glued to computer mos of the day so I wear more heels.

13 years ago

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I'm only 5'1" and got my first pair of flats (Born orange flats) and love them! I also worried about being too short without heels but there are days I just want my feet to have a break. I'm not sure yet if I'll wear them with a skirt or dress yet though.

13 years ago

Isis

Veteran

I love flats! Actually I love a 1-1.25 inch heel, true flats are not as comfortable for my feet and back. I love being able to walk for miles in my shoes; I rarely have a "sitting day".....

13 years ago

cciele

Veteran

I'm 5'3" and not a big fan of flats. I never really thought about why, but it probably does have to do with the short/dumpy effect. I have 3 pairs: loafers, ballet/MJ hybrid, and Converse. I just realized that my flats are all a bit unusual -- the slippers loafers are magenta with tassels, the hybrid bright red, and Converse have double eyelets. So I think it's these little touches that make me feel less short and dumpy when wearing them.

However, my preference is to wear boots or booties with a slight heel -- .5" or higher--year-round! I love my boots

13 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I love flats! Have you considered ones that are less wide and have a v-shaped opening? This is not a good description ... but I find they make my legs look longer.

13 years ago

Carole

Veteran

I love my flats. I'm tallish (5'9) so adding height isn't an issue for me. A 1-1/2 in heel is max for me, because i have bad feet. I don't wear dresses that often so that helps too! But I can see why you would prefer a heel. I would wear them if I could, so enjoy!

13 years ago

Abie

Veteran

I don't like flats unless they are sneakers. I don't like high heels much either.. I have a couple of pairs. My feet and the rest of me are most comfortable in about a 1 1/2 to 2 inch chunky heel or wedge.

13 years ago

fashionista

Veteran

Same problem here. I am 5'2" and want to look tall but after all comfort matters. The most high heel I wear is 2 inches that too with my work wear otherwise ballet flats, oxfords, strappy dressy sandals, sneakers are my darlings. I don't hate heels but I love flats.

13 years ago

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