Which is more versatile: Heeled oxfords or flat? - YouLookFab Forum

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Which is more versatile: Heeled oxfords or flat?

Tricia

Veteran

I'm kind of lusting after a pair of black and white oxfords, but I don't know which I'd get more wear out of. I tend to wear more skirts and dresses during the week and mostly jeans on the weekend.

What do you think of these? It says the heel is 2 3/4 inches, which is a little high...I haven't found anything in between this height and flat, more menswear-style oxfords.

http://www.endless.com/Bass-Gl.....=519629011

Shopping

14 replies

Latest reply was from Tricia

catgirl

Veteran

I have the Frye Carsons and love the heel height. The heel style is more in keeping with the menswear look of the shoe, which is right up my alley. I personally felt the flats would not work for me.

The ones you've posted are gorgeous and have a more feminine vibe to my eye, so they may date more quickly. Will you be willing to wear them after the oxford craze has passed (if it does)? I've always worn oxfords, but if you're looking for something more classic, a different heel shape may work better.

Remember I'm a newbie here though, so those are just my newbie thoughts!

Tricia

Veteran

Makes sense - I just looked at the Carsons and I do like the shape and height, but I'm only seeing them in eggplant and cognac - do they come in other colors?

catgirl

Veteran

They did come in lots of colors.... Here's the link on Zappos:

http://www.zappos.com/frye-car.....wn-leather

However, there's no black and white combo, so we may have to find you something similar if those are the colors you want. They are a little more tailored looking with a longer front (don't know what that's called) which gives them the "guy's shoe" look that I like better.

Louise

Veteran

I have a heeled pair and a flat pair and the flat pair get more wear as the heel height of the others means they are not comfy for work. I wear the flat ones with dresses, skirts, jeans......... x

Auburn

Veteran

Tricia,
On my newly ended search for the perfect oxfords (I'll be writing and posting pics soon), I did order the Bass ones you posted above. I thought they looked cute and would perhaps have a sufficiently low heel that I could wear with both dresses and pants. You may have a different experience, but I felt like they looked ridiculously costume-y on my feet. Like the saddle shoes I used to wear in grade school, but gone wrong or something. My BF took one look and laughed at me and that's how I felt too.
I ended up finding a patent black pair with a slight heel (not totally flat but a bit less than the Frye ones that AG posted) and I am finding them super versatile and comfortable. Wore them with tights and a dress yesterday and loved the look.
So my vote is towards a more flat oxford that I think will prove more wearable. That said, I would consider a heeled oxford in a solid, neutral color, like black. I think these are adorable and not SO on trend that they'll be out in a season or two:

http://www.endless.com/Clarks-.....=519509011|519510011

Auburn

Veteran

In case that link didn't work, it's the Clarks Diamond Sky Oxford.

catgirl

Veteran

I just want to add that my oxfords basically feel and wear like flats to me. Again, I think it's the style of the heel.

Lisa

Veteran

I don't think the heel height will matter in terms of switching from dresses during the week to jeans on weekends. (as long as the heeled one's meet PPL of course) I do think heel height contributes to how masculine or feminine the shoe looks though. I think the higher the heel, the more feminine the shoe looks. I would choose based on how “feminine” a shoe you were after in the two toned look.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I own a four inch pair and until recently had a flat pair. The flat pair hands down saw more action. I had patent oxfords which added to the dressiness. If I had a mid heeled oxford I think I would them all the time. Auburn yours look amazing.

bella

(website)

Veteran

Those heeled oxfords are right up my alley. I bet they really wouldn't see much action though, so they are a hard purchase to justify.

Tricia

Veteran

I'm thinking the flat ones. I really love the two tone, (and if I'm going to go for another pair of shoes, I don't want to do a neutral) but I'm afraid of them looking silly, like Auburn said. Then again, I do think I have sort of an edgy/retro streak to my style (or I try to, anyway) and they might work.

So can you rate these three for me?

Fitzwell Justice:
http://www.zappos.com/fitzwell.....-white-kid

Miz Mooz Histeric:
http://www.endless.com/dp/B003.....B003LVROPY

Steve Madden Melin:
http://www.stevemadden.com/Item.aspx?id=49305

I think I like the black-at-the-toe, white-in-the middle of the Histeric and Melin better than the reverse on the Justice.

Auburn

Veteran

Personally, I like the Miz Mooz best of the three you posted.
The Steve Maddens are a little bit too literal on the oxford front for my taste (which makes them read more masculine to my eye), but that is totally a personal preference thing.
I ordered the Fitzwells in black patent because I know Angie has the two-tone and raved about their comfort. For me, they were a bit too flat and too much like a jazz shoe which I felt made my foot look very wide. I needed more structure.
I think the Melin looks like a good option!

shell

I'm with Auburn - I immediately see "saddle shoes" with some of the two-toned black & white versions. Not that I'm completely opposed to the look - I did sport a fun pair with my Catholic-school uniform back in high school for a cheeky look. But they were definitely more costume-y than I'd care to wear now. So, I'm not a great judge on the black/white pairs you've posted.

Have you tried a brown/cognac version at all? Just a thought!

Tricia

Veteran

I don't really wear brown much - I have a tall pair of brown boots I wear with skirts, but that's it. I wear a lot of black and grey.