Pointy vs. round toe flats - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Pointy vs. round toe flats

Chickey

(website)

I always thought I was a round-toe kind of gal until I realized that pointy toes actually 1) are more comfortable than I previously thought, and 2) make everything I wear look more chic.

Here's the kicker -- I'm a pretty pear. Do round toe flats still work, or should I be switching to primarily pointy shoes? And what exactly does the shape of the toe do (i.e. make the overall line leaner, etc.)?

Thanks - Sara

Dressing

21 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

nancy

Hi Sara-I really like the show What Not to Wear and their stylists always recommend a pointy toe as more flattering. I have to agree yet I know that often means giving up a degree of comfort.

emilykate

I usually stay away from pointy toed flats because I think they make my feet look unattractively large (I am 5'4" and wear an 8 or 9) I think if you are wearing something flattering on your lower half round toe flats are a-ok.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Hmmmm. I have mixed feelings. This is what I think:

1. Pointy toes ARE chic. They have that ‘50’s retro appeal and they pop under a pair of pants especially. Their strict and sophisticated edge cannot be beat.
2. They make your foot look longer instead of your leg look longer. Lengthening your leg line is really about wearing heels and your pants at the perfect length. Round toes accomplish this effect too.
3. I like pretty pears in round toe shoes as well. Round toe shoes often have more “personality”. They are playful and less severe. Does that make sense?

Wear both!

Maya

Veteran

I'm a big fan of almond toes. I can't wear them, which makes me very sad, but they are the perfect shape to me--not too blunt and not too pointy. They have a dainty look to them.

I don't like pointy toes myself. They're severe, painful, and terrible for your feet. Something about them strikes me as ruthless and unfriendly, particularly pointy toe stilettos. They deviate so much from the natural shape of the foot that it just makes me cringe. I guess it depends on just how pointy they are, but I agree that there isn't much attractive about elongating the foot. I don't share the prevailing opinion among fashionistas, but I have to draw the line somewhere.

shiny

Veteran

If they're painful, it may be because you are wearing the wrong size. Go up a size or try a wider width. And definetly opt for real leather uppers, because they'll have more give.

I have the worst, fussy feet - with nasty bunions - and I have been surprised to find pointy toe shoes that are quite comfy. Usually I have to go up in size, however, or opt for wide width.

But I'm with Angie on this - I like both and wear both styles. The rounded toe gives that 40s look, which is my favorite era! I do prefer pointy toes for flats, compared to round-toe flats. Because when I'm in flats I need every bit of elongating I can get.

But for heels I'll wear either.

Chickey

(website)

Wear both -- my favorite reply!

I also have fussy feet with bunions and plantar fasciitis, and have found comfortable pointy shoes -- Nine West comes to mind. (The customer reviews on Zappos.com are also an invaluable resource, most are very honest and spot-on!)

I will continue to buy and wear both styles!

Nicole

Veteran

I love pointy toed shoes, but I prefer them with a heel. Then again, I prefer most shoes with a heel. Like Angie said, I love them with pants, especially pants with a full leg.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Maya, I regard almond toes as pointy toes. Same family, wouldn’t you agree?

Shiny is right. WW pointy shoes are available, and go up a size. Add a cushioning insole and you are in business.

Maya

Veteran

I guess when I imagine "pointy," I'm imagining something more like this:

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/3.....42643.html

Than this:

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/p/7356575/c/3.html

The latter is softer to me, and doesn't have the effect of elongating the foot. I wouldn't worry if I accidentally bumped someone in those shoes, but that first pair could poke an eye out!

I love fashion as much as anyone, but i have to draw the line at contorting the body in an unhealthy way, which is what super high heels and pointy toes do. That is just my opinion and I certainly don't pass judgment on anyone else. I'm sure we all have a limit on what we would do for fashion (for example I'm sure most people wouldn't take the Stacy London route and inject pillows into their feet). This just happens to be my limit.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Quite right. The look is softer. When I speak of pointy toes, I include almond toes. If it’s not round or square, it’s pointy. My groupings are more general!

She had pillows injected into her feet???

Maya

Veteran

Yep. They cost $500 each and last 9 months, I think.

Here's an article I just found:

http://www.usatoday.com/life/l.....ions_x.htm

Ana

(website)

Veteran

"Toe shortening?" OMG.

Maya

Veteran

This article came up too. I think I'm going to have nightmares after reading it!

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/f.....nted=print

shiny

Veteran

These shoes are super pointy:

http://teamsugar.com/look/1557169

But they are in a wide width, and ULTRA comfy. They are actually *more* comfy than the nude round toe heels I'm wearing in the Floral look.

It may be hard to see in this photo, but they are wide at the widest part of my buniony toes, and the toe part itself. The pointy toe part is actually *beyond* my toes. I.e., they are as long as probably a size 7 - but I actually wear a 6. That's what you want to look for.

Maya

Veteran

The problem as I understand it is that they cause your big toe to deviate towards your other toes. That is what causes bunions (or rather aggravates them). So even if they fit across the widest part of your foot, they still push your toes together, which puts pressure on the bunion joint.

I got my first pair of pointy toe shoes when I was 18 and went up a size, but all that did was cause them to fall off my heel. My feet go forward into the shoe, so going up a size never helps. Basically a shoe needs to fit at the widest part of your foot and remain at that width (or at least close all the way through the toe box, without narrowing too much.

If I sound like a podiatrist it's because I have spent many years floating in and out of podiatric and orthopedic offices. One of the first things all of the doctors I saw asked was "do you wear pointy toe shoes?" If so, they advised me to just give them up before actually resorting to surgery. Contrary to popular belief, they didn't try and force me to wear orthopedic shoes or athletic sneakers, and in fact approved of a lot of my shoes...which is why I did end up having surgery.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I feel ill. That answers a few of my questions though. Have your feet improved after surgery, Maya?

LOVE that AT top on you Shiny. Perfect.

shiny

Veteran

Maya, you described the bunion on my left foot perfectly.The big toe deviates towards the other ones.

I should have mentioned, since I telecommute, I don't wear heels and pointy toed shoes for hours and hours in a day, so I can get away with them because most of the day I'm usually barefoot or lounging around in thick socks or getting my daily exercise in athletic sneakers! If I'm going to be walking or standing all day long, you'll see me in flats or fashionable sneaker-like shoes instead.

Also, and this sounds weird, when I overdo it and the toe starts deviating, I have learned to pull it back into place. It doesn't hurt although it sounds like it does.

Another tip from my physical therapist is to wear a lift in my right shoe. Apparently my left leg is just a tad longer, which is another cause of bunions. The lift is annoying because it doesn't work with a lot of shoes but when I do wear it, it helps a lot. However my leg difference issue is acquired, not congenital (from running on cambered surfaces; from crossing my legs on one side more than the other; etc - the issue actually originates from the hip, which gets crooked). So yoga also does wonders to realign my legs, and in turn, reduce the size of the bunion.

I probably need to hit the yoga again, because lately I've been noticing that my long jeans are slightly longer on one leg... which means I've gotten out of alignment again.

Maya

Veteran

Angie, the surgery helped with the bunion pain, but didn't make finding shoes any easier. My foot isn't any narrower, but at least the rubbing and pressure I felt on the joints is gone. It met my expectations, but did not exceed them.

The bunions on my other foot aren't as bad, so I don't plan on repeating the experience though it would be nice to have my feet be the same size again.

Shiny, it's not my intention to discourage you from wearing whatever shoes you feel best in. I just feel like people should always be informed. It sounds like you're in good shape and under control. I commute entirely on foot, so obviously my situation is much different than yours.

Do the tree pose! The balancing on one foot is supposed to be good for the feet (my dad is a yoga teacher).

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Aha, Shiny! So, how long are you in the heels that you wear with the outfits that you post? Maya commutes on foot which complicated matters. I’m glad that at least your foot pain is gone, Maya. This is very good.

I hear you ladies. I have clients with the same bunion problems. Some of them HAVE to wear business formal every day. Heels every day, all day. It’s very hard. I have a good idea of what your feet look like. I’m all for fashion and fabulous footwear ( I know you both are too), but at least on this site you will receive empathy and hopefully stylish footwear solutions

shiny

Veteran

Usually I'll wear the heels out when I know I'll be getting in and out of cars, walking no more than a few blocks, and not standing for more than maybe 2 hours at a stretch. When I shop at the mall, I typically wear flats, unless it's a really quick trip (which it never is!). When I'm going to be walking a lot, I wear flats.

I actually have this deal with myself, I get up in the morning and dress in exercise clothes. Then I am not allowed to take a shower and dress in "real" clothes until I've exercised. So (because I tend to procrastinate about exercising) I do spend a fair amount of my day in workout gear, not all gussied up.

In my 20s I wore heels CONSTANTLY and NON-STOP. This led to a lot of pain, and the bunion, and back problems, so I'm right there with you on this one, Maya!

My last bout with back problems was a few years ago - and during that time, I couldn't wear anything but orthopedic-quality shoes. No flats - not enough support. Since switching to telecommuting, and learning to baby my back, taking up yoga, etc, the problems got less and less. I have been able to re-introduce heels, but with judicious use, and I'm VERY picky about fit and comfort!!

If I do wear them all day in the office, on the rare occasion I have to go in, or for a night of dancing, I will then wear flats the next day. But no, I would not commute on foot in them and I would not wear them to run through an airport or to attend a trade show or to walk all over a cobblestone city sight-seeing or for a marathon day at the mall! I don't even wear them to run to the grocery store, because I think carrying heavy grocery bags in heels is a sure-fire prescription for back trouble.

Basically I've just learned to listen to my feet. If they get grumpy, it's time to give them a break and go for the flats - or better - fashionable sneaks. But I'm choosy about my flats too! I like flats that have arch support and some cushioning.

Oh, you'll love this one: when I met my DH, and was having all these back problems, he made a deal with me - every time I buy a pair of heels, he challenged me to ALSO buy a pair of flat shoes!! I loved that challenge, and of course, I rose to it. So I'd say my shoe wardrobe is about half and half.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks, Shiny. You have it all organized!