Smart casual sandals

Patience

I've kind of asked this question before but Angie's posts from the last few days have got me thinking...
I've been trying to maintain the smart casual bar in my uber casual office, and I think I've been succeeding. However, it is so much more difficult in the summer and I think sometimes I end up between casual and smart casual. One area I have concerns about are dressy shoes which are key for the smart casual ensemble. In the summer here, sandals are a way of life. Identifying pumps and dressy ballet flats seems easy compared to identifying sandals that fit the smart casual bill. So my question is: what kinds of things to avoid in sandals for smart casual attire? Angie, has vetoed gladiators (I don't have a pair but I want some!). What else? I feel like I need to fill a gap in my summer wardrobe with a very versatile dressy sandal. Angie gave some great suggestions on her wedge post but I'd always appreciate more. Thanks.

17 years ago

Dressing

10 replies

Latest reply was from Patience

Patience

Veteran

One more thing-- when I speak of smart casual summer attire I'm talking clamdiggers, skirts, and dresses.

17 years ago

aisha1984

Active Member

Hi Patience,

Coming from an office that is business formal / business casual, what I see a lot of in our office when we are not visiting clients are peep toes...they can be worn in flats, pumps and even slingbacks. Would that be something that would work for you or is that too dressy?

17 years ago

aisha1984

Active Member

To give you an idea of the types of shoes I am talking about, here are a couple:

Peep toe flats
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/29.....5&P=1

Slingbacks (with a wedge)
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/29.....5&P=4

(actually this isn't really a peeptoe but this might work for your office)

With a small heel
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/29.....5&P=4

Another sandal with a wedge heel that would probably be office appropriate
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/29.....5&P=5

Peep toe pump
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/29.....5&P=6

I hope this helps. My office is probably a lot more restrictive than yours so the shoes above are the types of shoes I would wear in the summer but may be too dressy for your office.

17 years ago

Patience

Veteran

Aisha, thanks for all the links. This may help to clarify what I'm wondering-- do I need to go this dressy for smart casual? It seems like the sandals that appeal to me are generally a tad less dressy than these. I do like the ones you picked but I'm having a hard time imagining them with my clamdiggers.

17 years ago

Antje

Veteran

Patience, I think I get what you're after, and I personally find it challenging to find smart casual sandals as well. Most are either too casual or too dressy for my taste. You might want to browse Piperlime and Endless and check out their offerings (e.g. Piperlime has a category "Sandals we love", which you can quickly scan). I just did and thought these were kinda cute (different styles, but I think they are all kinda smart casual).
http://www.piperlime.com/brows.....=591701002
http://www.endless.com/Corso-C.....=Under%201|1%20-%201%203%2F4&page=2&fromPage=search&contextTitle=Search%20Results&qid=1213820063763&sr=1-11&prepickColor=&asins=B000I63A12,B000XDHIPO,B000YM6UYO,B0012U44FO,B0015GW3M6,B000YHOE7E,B0014CW3SK,B00119VUKI,B000I6BWLW,B000YUGQ04,B0014GYF3C,B0014SMT4C,B000XHM18E,B0016P848S,B001366194,B000WHTO4E,B0014SFIHW,B0013L9JE8,B0011YS3RQ,B000XR8IFY,B000WI41KK,B000X4LCOG,B001421WY6,B0011N2Z3U,B0016POPXQ,B000YMQILY,B0014SO882,B0010TGDII,B0010006FS,B000YKO1AG,B000YU9FSO,B00123B0HG,B0012SA9D2,B0014CWYWA,B0010TCSXW,B0016P32W6,B000YUSMQK,B000WJ3Y0W,B0011YVZ6C,B0014DTGKW
http://www.endless.com/Kenneth.....B000XZYEJ0
http://www.endless.com/indigo-.....=Under%201|1%20-%201%203%2F4&page=1&fromPage=search&contextTitle=Search%20Results&qid=1213819974618&sr=1-38&prepickColor=&asins=B00169ZW5C,B00134RLCW,B0016P80E6,B0010TQNLU,B0011ZVOE4,B000I6BW6W,B0014JJ4EO,B000XDP0AY,B0014JH84C,B000ZWXUV4,B0012BS7RE,B00142A91I,B000Y09MXW,B000ZI7SC0,B001429OZ0,B000EYHK46,B000XRIJ4Y,B000WS3KOS,B000TFTSAE,B0010SP3OO,B0014SFZ0C,B000I66VPO,B00128NYZW,B00104BJ00,B0013LZFXW,B00128JD20,B00142A63O,B0015KFG3U,B0011N9RLS,B00129GNKE,B000ZK2K7Q,B000WHD1P2,B0011SJ22M,B000XRCFX0,B000XJG0SE,B000YVR87I,B000EYFSSQ,B000H7LAYQ,B0014CZJEK,B000XDXGA0

17 years ago

Antje

Veteran

Apologies for the crazy links, yikes!

17 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Antje and Aisha are clever. Such good suggestions. Can’t wait to see what you come up with. I have no doubt you’ll make great choices, Patience.

17 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

Very pretty sandals Aisha & Antje! Patience, I'm sure you'll be able to pick one pair that calls out to you the most!

17 years ago

aisha1984

Active Member

I'm not sure of your price range but Cole Haan makes beautiful sandals that are very comfortable, and quite a few are (I think) office appropriate:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/29.....rchresults

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/29.....rchresults (I've had my eye on these ones in the red colour for a while)

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/29.....rchresults

I hope this helps!!

17 years ago

Patience

Veteran

Aisha, Antje, and Angie, based on your examples you have reassured me of my choices. I think I'm covered with flats. But I'm always browsing shoes ;). I think what I'm missing is actually something on the dressier end with a heel-- kind of the sandal equivalent of a pump. Now I've got a good starting point.

17 years ago

Category