What are the secrets to wearing flats with dress pants? - YouLookFab Forum

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What are the secrets to wearing flats with dress pants?

April

Veteran

Somehow I can't make this work without feeling dowdy. In warmer weather, ballet flats with no socks do the trick, sort of. I know Angie says sheer hose with ballet flats are okay, but somehow they still look frumpish to me (and sheer hose are not much better than bare feet when it's really cold.)

What are the tricks to this? I'm thinking it must have something to do with the width of the pant leg as well as the style of shoe? Tips on both much appreciated!

Dressing

16 replies

Latest reply was from April

Christie

Good question. I don't wear dress pants without heels, so I don't really know. Maybe you could wear flat ankle boots?

Beth

Veteran

April, I'd like to know, too. I often wear MFN trouser socks (stop laughing!) with flats, but I invariably feel stumpy and dowdy in a way that I never feel in a jeans/flats combination.

AJ

Veteran

Yes, I'd like to know too!

Beth - what does MFN mean?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I won't sugar coat it. I much prefer dress pants/wide leg pants with at least a bit of a heel - and you know I bat for Team Flats. I love flat oxfords but also prefer those with a tapered leg - not as fond of them with dress pants or flares.

April, we've seen you wear very low heeled pumps. Why don't you wear those with dress pants?

Megan

I like pointy toe shoes with dress pants much better than ballet flats.

Beth

Veteran

AJ, MFN=microfishnets. A very steamy look in trouser socks, I tell you:)

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

I just bought these Pikolinos as my "flat" option for dress pants. In a little warmer weather, sometimes I can get away with my cheetah flats with my modern bootcuts, but Angie is right, a little heel is best.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/31.....ltback=463

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Chuckling @ Kristen - your "flat" is my heel

Those Pikolinos' are fab, btw. I have been meaning to pop them into the store.

April

Veteran

Drat. I was hoping Angie would say, "The keys to making this look fabulous are a, b, and c," and instead, what I suspected all along is true: dress pants with flats just do not look fabulous.

So, Angie -- how much of a heel are we talking about? Will 1.5 inches do the trick?

Argh -- good-looking, non-matronly shoes in low heel heights are even harder to find than snazzy flats.

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Ha, Angie! It is all about perspective, I guess!

I did get the Naturalizer Bates you recommended. WOW. Best new shoes of the season for me. They're so versatile and comfortable. Thank you!

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

I wear wide-leg jeans with my oxfords, but they've got a bit of heel (maybe 1.5 inch?) Like Mo, I like point-toe shoes with dress pants. Only, I don't really have any that are low-heeled enough for every-day wear ATM.

Mae

I just watched an old episode of WNTW that discussed this. To my eye, the pointy-toe flat looks much better than the ballet flat with dress pants. Or, how about a pointy-toe kitten heel?

Barbara

Veteran

I wear my wide leg (high-waisted) trousers with ballet flats and trouser socks. It's very Audrey with a lightweight ballet wrap-style sweater!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Glad your feet are happy, Kristen.

April, a 1.5 inch heel (my favourite heel height) will do just fine. And all the low heeled pumps I've seen you sport are fab.

Mac

Veteran

I wear fishnet trouser socks, too, usually in flesh/skin colour.

April

Veteran

Barbara, can you post a picture of this look? I would love to see it done successfully.

Mae, a true kitten heel (i.e., looks like a stiletto that has been sawed off) has never made any sense to me. The proportions are off -- it looks to me like someone pasted the wrong heel onto the shoe. It also seems like it would be pretty unstable, though I should probably try them on before I write them off.

Angie, 1.5 inches it is. Let the hunt begin...