In search of... pumps with an edge - YouLookFab Forum

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In search of... pumps with an edge

Makrame

Veteran

I think I have a minor wardrobe hole and could use some help. I feel like I could really use a pair of heels to wear with cropped, slim-leg pants and maybe with skinnies, instead of flats. However, I don't like either high heels (anything about 2 3/4") or very dainty looking shoes.

Since I wear fairly feminine/polished clothing for the lab/science environment I am in (pencil skirts, flowy tops with cardigans etc.), I usually feel the need to offset this by the more utilitarian or practical-loking shoes. Flats seem OK to me but any type of kitten heel, stilletto-like heel or just a standard dressy pump does not quite feel right. Here are some pictures of the shoes that have. The first two I wear often with wide-leg jeans or dress pants, the next two are not the exact shoes I have but fairly similar (minus the flower) and they get very little wear (the first is too dainty, the second does not quite have the elongating effect I wanted). The last pair are new flats, which I think will get a lot of wear.

So I could really use a pair of heels, perhaps nude heels, that are not too lady-like but still have the leg-lengthening effect.

Any and all ideas and finds would be welcome!

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Shopping

24 replies

Latest reply was from Kristine

catgirl

Veteran

Yeah, me too! And with a reasonable mid-heel.

Isis

Veteran

First, I think you might want to branch out from black shoes. Grey is really versatile!

Would slightly heeled ankle boots do it for you?

I am loving these, and they come in all colors:
http://www.amazon.com/FRYE-Wom....._pr_sims_t

catgirl

Veteran

I wear my Dansko Ryders a lot as a pump substitute - the heel does not bother me because they are Danskos and super-comfy.

http://www.zappos.com/dansko-ryder

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Not sure exactly what you are looking for, but do any of these appeal to you? Are you looking for chunkier heels or wedges with straps, or is that still too ladylike?

1. http://www.zappos.com/bloch-sfx-split-flex-tan
2. http://www.zappos.com/culture-phit-gianna-tan
3. http://www.zappos.com/leos-new-york-t-strap-tan
4. http://www.zappos.com/josef-se.....mite-camel
5. http://www.zappos.com/geox-pan.....-dark-sand
6. http://www.fluevog.com/code/?w.....ourID=3020
7. http://www.fluevog.com/code/?p.....ourID=3259
8. http://www.zappos.com/franco-s.....upe-patent

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catgirl

Veteran

Oh, wow, can't believe I forgot to push the Fluevogs! Thanks GP.

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Haha, thanks alaskagirl for bringing the Fluevogs to my attention...I still want a pair!

Makrame

Veteran

Oh, these are all great. I think I have looked at some, but not all, of these options. I guess I was thinking I don't want any straps across the foot, maybe more of an open pump-like shoe but with a wider or chunkier or really stable heel. The problem is that those shoes I like have the heel that is too high while many shoes with a mid-height heel look almost like flats.

I kind of like these but the heel is too high. http://www.endless.com/Miz-Moo.....geCode%3Dd
And these, but the color is hard to match with my wardrobe http://www.endless.com/Miz-Moo.....B0043ET0O6
I guess both of those are lady-like but the wedge heel or a wider stacked heel feel more like "me".

And for the record, I do not have an all-black shoe collection! The first pair is dark grey, and I have some navy and brown shoes, too!

Kafe

I have a pair of these in tan and find them very comfortable. I like that they are unique.

http://www.infinityshoes.com/P.....um=leftnav

bj1111

Veteran

makrame...totally agree with a wedge heel either in a pump or bootie.

here's a zappos search for black/gray/taupe wedge heel. lots of options.

http://www.zappos.com/wedge-he.....wedge+heel

there's an awesome cap toe suede cole haan in red and a comfortable heel height!
http://www.zappos.com/product/7715159/color/301125

Makrame

Veteran

bj, "would you believe" (in the Agent Smart voice for those who remember the show), I was just about to post this link?

http://www.zappos.com/product/.....?zlfid=111

I think I am going to stalk these wedges until they go on sale. I just wasn't sure if they provide the same leg-lengthening "lift" as true heels but I still like them.

bj1111

Veteran

i saw those too...but i don't have much brown in my wardrobe.

ps...why did they not have an agent 69?!?!?

Jonesy

Veteran

What about a heeled loafer? They are trendy right now, sturdier than a pump, and would work well with pants as well as skirts/dresses.

ETA: Okay, I realize none of these are nude, but thought you could get an idea of the shape at least :).

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ironkurtin

Veteran

I've always worked in a creative environment and love shoes with a little witty touch. Brands people have mentioned here with lots of clever touches include Fidji, Everybody, and Chie Mihara - they are interestingly designed and comfortable.

Other brands I look to for comfort and witty mid- height walkability are Costume National, Nancy Nancy / Nancy Geist, and Sigerson Morrison. The design team recently left Sigerson Morrison, which means that the old stock may be dipping pretty soon - get 'em now!

Isabel

Veteran

I am considering the following ( but I will share....) for the EXACT same reasons as you :

http://www.endless.com/Fidji%2.....geCode%3Dd

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Isabel

Veteran

Makrame, I bought the following 2 months ago and I LOVE them ( at zappos and on sale for $58.00 ) :

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Makrame

Veteran

Isabel, great minds think alike! I believe the last pair is the same model as the one bj1111 pointed out to me in red while I independently found them in yet another color. Are those Cole Haan wedges?

I like those Fidjis too, although I just tried (and returned) one pair of Fidjis that wasn't a good fit.

I just ordered these http://www.amazon.com/Fidji-Wo.....=lh_ni_ton Amazon (and they have Labor Day 25% off sale on most shoes).

Makrame

Veteran

Ironkurtin, thanks for the reminder about Fidjis, I just ordered a pair.

AG, I like Danskos too, and I like the look of Fluevogs but have not tried them on. Jonesy, I like the heeled loafers and have a pair that I wear with dress pants. Maybe I will try them with skirts, too.

crazyone

Veteran

Makrame, 6pm.com has the air Tali wedges in a nude shade:

http://www.6pm.com/cole-haan-a.....gat-patent

Aida

Veteran

Just wanted to say that for leg lengthening the best color is going to depend on what it's worn with If you're going to wear them with "cropped, slim-leg pants" a low contrast color will work really well (so for you I would say this includes nude, light gray, tan, blush pink, gold/silver, ivory/cream, etc.); you can also pair a shoe that is similar in color to the pant itself (e.g. black pants with black/charcoal shoes) which will work especially well if said color is similar in darkness to your hair. If you pair with low contrast flats, you could also get a bit of lengthening esp. if pointier toed.

Isabel

Veteran

Makrame, sorry that I forgot the info : http://www.zappos.com/ak-anne-.....ter-pewter

sarah

Veteran

You might check out Miz Mooz and Fidjis, along with the Fluevogs...

Isabel

Veteran

Makrame, sorry that I forgot the info : http://www.zappos.com/ak-anne-.....ter-pewter

Makrame

Veteran

Isabel, thanks for the link. These look just like the Cole Haan shoes I liked, so that's another possibility to consider. Crazyone, thanks for pointing out the 6PM sale, they don't have them in my size, though.

Aida, these are good points to consider for sure. Too bad I don't have many low contrast shoes in my wardrobe (too much black and navy). And Sarah, I actually started this thread after going through Miz Mooz website and not finding any shoes I liked with 2.5" heel. So I'll see whether the Fidjies I ordered work out, and take it from there.

Kristine

Veteran

I've been looking for something along the same lines. Have you checked Me Too? They have some lower heels. Not a ton of edge though.

http://www.endless.com/Me-Too-.....B004XGD8PG