Which footwear with khakis? - YouLookFab Forum

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Which footwear with khakis?

Mona

Veteran

So I think i have figured out what has been bothering me regarding my summer wardrobe. Since, I don't wear shorts or skirts/dresses in summer, I will be mostly wearing khakis and BF's for next couple of months. And it is very easy to feel not as polished in these bottoms as I won't be wearing a jacket or a blazer with them. Hence, the footwear needs to be more refined/dressy. Following are some footwear options to go with GAP broken-in khakis. What do you think looks better? rolled up or full length?
I got these in tall as the rise fit me better than in regular but I am considering shortening the legs by a couple of inches to get rid of the cuff at the bottom when they are full length. (please excuse the un-made up face and the ill-fitting shirt. this was a pre-YLF purchase and I dont' wear it outside anymore)

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Dressing

15 replies

Latest reply was from CocoLion

Gaylene

Veteran

I'm going to be following this thread with interest, Mona, because I have the same question. To date, the only shoes that I like wearing with my rolled khakis are my wedged espadrilles. If I wear flats like oxfords, my legs tend to look stubby, but I can't get my head around wearing dressier heels with rolled khakis for practical and aesthetic reasons.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Fun! I love your shoes. At first glance, I prefer them rolled with most of these options apart from the white sneakers and possibly the white sandals. I think it will depend on the length of the top you are wearing though. Also if you have them shortened a bit I might change my mind. I love the oxfords in #1 and red always looks great with this color. I hope you don't mind me asking why don't you wear skirts/dresses or shorts?

Mia

Veteran

Rolled and red looks fab to me!

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I wore my blush khakis 3 times so far and I prefer them with more refined footwear. I also like them full length best - with a small flat roll below the ankle.
Definitely hem them to the length where the roll is not very bulky - and if they are not tapered enough I would do it as well. My khakis look more tapered than yours and this is what I really like about them.
I think all your footwear options work here creating different vibes- with red heels being the dressiest option and white cons the most casual.
Here are my examples of wearing khakis in "ladylike' way with gold slipper flats, red pumps and bone slingbacks. I realize I have a jacket on top but it would work in a similar way without one.

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Anonymous

I like the sandals best (3/3, 7/8) with both lengths, although I would like to see them tapered more for a tighter roll. I also like the wedge cons with the pants full length. A low heeled pump or cute ballet or slipper flats would look great too. I love your smile!

Nicola

To my eye a low vamped shoe makes all the difference. I think that's why the red shoes work really well. I noticed all of Sveta's looks had a low vamp too.

If it was me I'd wear the khakis with ballet flats to keep the look casual but feminine, but then I am a ballet flats kind of girl. .

I'm not sure I have a length preference - they're just different. But you do have very lovely ankles and if it's warm it would be a shame not to take advantage of them

Lantana

Veteran

I see Sveta has chimed which is great because her styling ideas are relevant here.
#7/8 are a neat and pretty foil to the khakis and look particularly great with your specs.
I can see all the other shoes working, depending on the context you're dressing for.
#5/6 is my favourite. I think the lace ups look cute and edgy, especially with the pant cuffs rolled shorter and some skin showing.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Mona, that is a very interesting observation about preferring a more refined shoe since you won't be wearing a topper to finish the look. I had never thought of that, but I think you are onto something. At any rate, you want something modern, because in not wearing a topper, you lose one opportunity to bring an outfit up to date.

I actually like all your shoes here and think they work equally well for different purposes (or would work with the right tops). I like how the oxfords bookend these stripes (even though I know this is just a "try-on" lounge top) and also your hair. Ditto for the white sandals. The booties are great of course, and the red peep toes are adorable and look great with the green. And of course the Cons are fun.

I like the Cons and oxfrds best with full length pants. I like the others with both lengths, but I agree with Sveta that you might want to taper a bit and make sure that they are just the right length for rolling if you roll.

Mona

Veteran

Gaylene, I agree flats with khakis stumpify the legs. There's got to be heels, even if a very short one.
Shevia, I don't mind at all. I didn't grow up wearing skirts or shorts (My upbringing is mostly Southeast Asia and Middle East). After immigrating to Canada in 2005, I bought my first pencil skirt and happily wore it in summer. But I quickly realized that the only place i can comfortably wear it is my own house as we don't keep the a/c arctic cold. Everywhere else, grocery store, resturaunts, friend's houses was too cold for my bare legs. So I decided to not waste any money on items that I won't be wearing often. Post-YLF is a different story. I want to try out and play with new sillhouettes. I definitely would have bought Angie's Kamalikulture dress if it wouldn't cling to the hose. Also, I live in East Ontario where summers are painfully short.
Thank you, Mia.
Sveta, thank you for the visuals. It really helps to see how mine fit different than your. When buying these in tall length, I should have paid more attention to the inseam. Anyways, I think some alteration is definitely in order.
Joy, You are right. these need to be tapered and shortened to avoid the bulky roll.
NZ Nicola, I have 3 pairs of flats that I can wear with these and yes, you hit the nail on the head with low vamp shoes. I like to wear these pants rolled up too.
Lantana, thanks for chiming in. Context is the key, isn't it? I like these with red sandals too.

Diana

Veteran

The red shoes are my favorite, with both lengths.I also like the tan oxfords with both. To my eye, the white sandals and the cons don't work with the rolled length but are fine with full length. Although they may work if you roll the pants a little shorter since I think you need to see more leg with the ankle covering shoes.
I would definitely hem off a little length. I think the look would be cleaner unrolled at full length and the roll would be less thick when rolled up.

Ps- did you consider the broken in straight linen pants that Ceit and I and others have? They fit the same as the khakis but are a bit softer and draper, and the fabric is more well behaved, as long as the crease doesn't bug you. Personally I think they're a little more elegant and would be easier to style in a more effortless way.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'm going to be a spanner. All the options work here, depending on how you style the top part of the outfit.

Add a roomier, tucked shirt with a belt to the first flat oxfords outfit, wear your hair down and wild Mona, and proportions will fall into place.

With this little tee, the heeled options elongate the leg line, which we all find conventionally flattering.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

And I'm back to say that I totally hear you on wearing more refined footwear with BFs. I'm wearing my schlumpy Gap BFs right now rolled at the hems - with dressy slipper flats, tucked turquoise silk shirt, Burberry belt and lace bomber.

Mona

Veteran

Suz, I think I will get these tapered and shortened a bit. I like to roll these up and I think the roll gets a bit bulky with this length.
Diana, this is it. Roll up more with ankle covering shoes. I will try rolling up with the cons and the white sandals. I was really tempted to get the linen ones but then I don't know why i decided to get the khakis instead. I thought these looked a little less casual than linen ones.
Thanks Angie, for the little tip on proportions. Your outfit today sounds fabulous.

Hil

(website)

Veteran

I was going to say exactly what Shevia said, but I can see how Angie is right in that the different combos would work depending on proportions. The red and khaki is so stunning, btw!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

i like all of the options except the wedge white sandals. I like the pants rolled shorter and longer, assuming you can get the roll to be less bulky at the short length. As for the white wedge sneakers, I prefer the pants long.