WIW: Will I learn to love my Flat Stanley Sandals? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

What I Wore

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

WIW: Will I learn to love my Flat Stanley Sandals?

Vix

Veteran

I feel like this post needs a huge "I know I have this stupid neurosis but I HATE WEARING FLATS + this is shallow even for me" disclaimer. <--- there it is.

So: While I walk a lot in my everyday life and on vacation, for the most part I do it in sturdy boots, wedges, and the occasional pump. All are bought for comfort, most deliver.

Aside from exercise sneakers and hiking boots, I own no flats. [Every few years I buy a pair and donate them unworn.] My legs are a bit short for my height and I have a looooong torso, and I feel so low to the ground in flats it truly annoys me. Heels make me feel more balanced than bare feet -- insane, I know.

But for a variety of reasons I've been looking for a pair of hill-friendly flats for the last couple of summers (1" = flats to me; they're more comfortable for my super-high arches). When I saw the ECCO Bouillon Band sandals below I actually LIKED the style and they seemed to accommodate a lot of my tedious issues:

(fit) wide forefront/narrow heel + super-high arches + feet/ankles prone to swelling at the drop of a hat
(vanity) V-shaped ankle wrap to keep shoe on without chopping sturdier ankles as much as a horizontal strap + metallic/low-contrast

I liked them even better when they hit $75 and I got a price adjustment. [See link below. Despite reviews across the web, my correct size was my usual measured size.]

But arrrrgh -- even though I placated my all 3 of my style personas with this design instead of choosing yet another of the low-vamp/leg-elongating type I usually buy and donate, I still feel...

***DOWDY.***

Tell me it will pass, please, and I'll come to embrace the variety and occasional lack of fake-height. I'm in my mid-40s and am truly trying to shed one stupid style inhibition a year.

So far I've done 6 miles at one time in them with no anti-comfort issues, and worn them running around to acclimate my mind. Below are what I've paired them with along with some very similar ~ 2.5" wedges for comparison. It probably isn't helping me that my shorts/dress/skirt are all older and worn a million times...but only with heels!

I tried to pose in the same way to offset bias. [Easy as I only have one pose.]

* With my body type and modifiers I think a straight above the knee skirt looks best with flats, and in addition to the black knit pencil shown I have another that fits the bill. However, I didn't buy casual shoes to wear with two skirts, ha.

Shoes:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ec.....9;bouillon'

Scalloped ribbon Heidi (sale) demi-camisole from Second Base -- I always feel like a spendthrift when I buy any of their high/scoop/fancy camis but then wear them constantly: http://www.shopsecondbase.com/sale/heidi/

1
2
3
4
5

24 replies

Latest reply was from Vix

Lantana

Veteran

Dowdy? Pshaw!
Shed the inhibition and don the shoes.
Your long torso is not evident at all.
YLF.
Lovely cami too.

Lyn D.

Veteran

Well, I love them, and think they look FAB here!
The proportions a really flattering too, I am not seeing what you are seeing at all.

Deborah

Veteran

Vix, I'm not sure where to start. I am a shorty and for different reasons share your neurosis regarding flat shoes. I wear heel nearly all the time! (My sneakers have a hidden wedge heel!)I have quite a few pairs of gorgeous flats but they only get worn when I think I have mastered my outfit proportions and am still able to create a long line. In your case I see no reason to not wear these particular flats. They are flattering, modern and there is nothing dowdy about these looks. I do agree that they probably need to work with more than just two skirts but how about shorts or Bermudas or cropped pants?

Anonymous

They look lovely!

Agnes

I like them but also don't think they look wildy different to the wedges, which I also like. Thats not very helpful of me I know! But truly the flats look good.

Raisin

Veteran

I love flats, so I can't really see hem being dowdy. Are these flat though? They have a heel right? 2.5" is like a super heel to me, haha! Anyway, these look really good, not dowdy at all. The metallic crossover is really lovely.

Irene

Veteran

You look nothing like what I had imagined when reading your self-description. You don't have short legs, or they don't look short in those outfits. You seem quite tall and the fact that you are slim helps elongate your whole body.

Seriously, those shoes look fine on you. If they are comfy, keep them for sure!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

First off you have a great figure and it is impossible to see anything remotely resembling short legs or a disproportionate torso in these pictures. Furthermore I really can hardly tell the difference between the flats and wedges from the front. I love the bermudas - are you wearing the flats in the large picture? You don't look one bit frumpy in any of these pictures and doubt you could if you tried. Hope that helps!

MovingFashionForward

For many years, whenever I was going to be walking a lot (I can easily walk 12 miles in a day), I would wear one of my many pairs of Dr Martens, and not bother too much about looking stylish, and the rest of the time I would wear high heels, but this was beginning to annoy me because I don't want to be limited to Dr Martens (which to this day are by far the most comfortable shoes I have ever found, once worn-in). So what I have done is to buy noticeably-fashiony shoes rather than just buying any random comfortable flat (not that yours are random!). I now have four or five pairs of surprisingly comfortable pointy-toe flats (sandals and also closed shoes) from the likes of Topshop, Joe's Jeans and a pair of Alexander Wang inspired Jeffrey Campbell shoes. I also have some clunky chunky soled shoes (Jeffrey Campbell Clarksons) that feel flat and comfortable to me. For me, the flatness is undowdified by the coolness/fashionyness/edge. (I too have a horror of dowdy shoes.) This works for my own style, or at least, one aspect of my style, but I have not yet found a pair of flats that would work for a simply chic outfit.

Sorry, this is completely unhelpful. I do sympathise with you -- I have so many pairs of flats I never wear because they feel dowdy. I love your black dress and cami look. I'd probably wear my Alexander Wang inspired JCs with that, or my Office Perfection sandals, but thinking about it, it would be nice to have some low-contrast flats as you say, because I too have the long-torso-short-legs issue (though BTW, your photos do not in any way suggest that that is an issue for you). I like the colour and lack of contrast of your chosen sandals but if they feel dowdy to you, they may not be quite right for you. I suggest that you look for flats that you actually LOVE, rather than settling. Someone posted some amazing Senso Diffusion brogues that I would definitely buy were I to see them. Perhaps if you do a thorough search you might find one or two pairs of flat sandals that draw you rather than feel dowdy? Best of luck!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Vix, you beautiful woman, get a grip!!

No, seriously, I don't mean to make light of your concerns. With a similar body type (except less endowed up top) I understand 100% your proportion concerns. Mine are very much the same.

But I actually did Imogen's proportions self-test and worked out (to my surprise) that my legs overall are not proportionately short! Instead, it is a combination of things: My head is big (which sort of screws all the other measurements in a way). My neck to bust is relatively long, waist is short, rise is slightly long, hip to thigh is pretty normal, but the calves are short.

Your particular measurements might be slightly different, but anyway, for me, the net result of the combination is that whatever the numbers say, I cannot see my lower legs as anything but short. They just are!! And when I put on midi-lengths, I want a heel. And even anything baggy just below the knee, I want a heel. And I can't even feel comfortable or proportioned in clams when they are tapered...without a wedge or heel. Not a high heel, but a 2 inch thing.

Not only that but my foot is similar to yours with similar fit issues. So it is actually hard to find comfortable flats anyway.

Having said all of that, I return to your photos. And what I see is not disproportionate in the least! You do not look frumpy, dumpy, or in any way bad in those flats. As others have said, you actually look about the same from the front.

BUT I agree with you that part of this is due to your skillful styling. If you were to pair them with different lengths you would look different and probably not as good to your own critical eye.

And your problem is (perhaps) that your others skirts are too long to wear with these?

Or is it a problem? Is it not okay to have a pair of shoes that you wear with shorts, 2 skirts, and skinny or straight leg pants (or slouchy tapered pants, for that matter)? I only have a couple of pairs of flats (for all the reasons you mention). And I wear them only in relatively casual or high walking situations with....you guessed it....my one or two knee length or just above knee length skirts, my knee length or above knee length shorts, and my straights or skinnies or tapered pants.

And now, you are making me want a pair of those sandals....

Vix

Veteran

Lantana, Lyn, Deborah, Ceit, Agnes, Raisin, and Irene --

Thank you for the moral support over such a trivial thing! Summer brings out my envy of those with endless legs, tapered ankles, and finely boned feet/toes.

[On the plus side, apparently most women are surprised to get compliments on their ankles and toes so I have brightened some days by being a weirdo!]

Thank for casting your eyes on the proportions and weighing in. I'm glad to hear you think these looks don't seem off. I've learned to dress my proportions to emphasize/downplay what I want but I admit heels always factored in.

Casual is a struggle at the best of times, the flats make it more so for me. I have a short summer + 2 days a week where it's an issue so I will keep experimenting with my dresses/skirts. Aside from a pair of white denim ~ knee-length cut-offs, you're looking at my shorts wardrobe.

Lantana and Deborah --

A special thanks for prodding me to do as I say I want to do! As I never take my health/ability to move these feet/legs for granted, it feels ungrateful to look askance at their qualities (or lack thereof) but eh, stupid hangups!

That said: sneakers with hidden wedge heels...where do I find them, Deborah?

ps Agnes, no worries -- I bought the sandals because they look so much like the (DIYed-to-silver) wedges. So if you like both that's a plus in my book. Raisin, you're correct...they have a "baby heel" of 1". Flat-flats kill me as I need cushioning and arch support.

Vix

Veteran

While I was typing one of my usual novels, Shevia, MovingFashionForward, and Suz jumped in. I'm going out of order with my responses....

Suz --
Consider yourself added to my above thanks to the Tough Love types. Also, thanks for confirming I'm not alone in my particular brand of...special snowflake syndrome. Everything you wrote about proportions and what SORT of item you wear to get that mental comfort = YES.

And no, at this point in my wardrobe it's not really a problem to have a pair of sandals I wear with a fairly limited number of items. For some reason I feel the need to maximize my cost-per-wear with everything, especially shoes.

I need to let go of that and think of these as JogBras for my feet -- specialized!

Shevia --
I tried to add you to the Tough Love bench but you're way too sweet; thank you! The reassurance does help. Yes, the large photo with the bermudas = new flattish sandals. I've worn those shorts for 4 years now with wedge heels so maybe it's just a matter of adjusting. The downside of having a fairly classic wardrobe, low-turnover wardrobe + limited imagination, ha!

MFF --
I'm beginning to think there may be enough of those of us who worry about flats/flatter shoes to form a little club; thanks for chiming in!

I actually love the way pointier toes elongate my also short-for-height foot (6/Euro 36 or -7 at 5'4) and legs so would love to see yours, but I really need a supremely flexible and rubber sole for traction and thus far haven't seen any that fit the bill.

It's funny but when I read your comments I thought -- noooo, I don't want to look for others I love these. [Ok, my Persnickety Bohemian/Boho Luxe side loves these.] That's a good sign, isn't it?

I actually had to jump through a lot of hoops to get these in the correct size with UNBROKEN straps at the 50% off price (and have a zillion returns to make as a result) so despite my annoying ambivalence I don't feel I'm settling for the shoe per se. I think I'm trying to get over feeling like I'm settling for the genre, ha!

MovingFashionForward

Yay! So glad you love them after all.

FWIW, I do think that as fashion/style changes, one's eye adjusts, and that it may be that our eyes are still in the process of adjusting WRT flats. When oversized/baggy/loose/waist-surrendering clothing styles came back into fashion, it took me a little time not to hate it all because of the lack of waist definition and the sheer width the look seems to add, but my eye adapted and now I do not see such looks as all wrong in terms of proportions. Similarly, with my short legs I have felt as though I need heels, and yet, my eye has adapted considerably, I think. Flats are very much on trend now, so my guess is that your eye will adapt if it hasn't already.

Sarah

Sara L.

Veteran

I think the sandals look great! The 1" heel helps by giving them a little more height so they're not completely flat. You don't look out of proportion at all to me and look lovely in the outfits you've shown.

Thistle

Veteran

I think the shoes are fab, both on you and just in general. And 1" should have enough support for high arches.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Vix: These are a graceful, very chic way to add flats into your shoe wardrobe. They have a slight wedge and are low contrast, which will help elongate your legs. They are cushioned, and wrap the foot in a supportive way, which is crucial, since we all know that some flats are no healthier for the feet than their stilt-living cousins!

I say go ahead and wear these with your carefully vetted outfits. Go ahead and be picky about proportions. Just wear them as a way of loving your feet as much as you love fashion, and giveyourself a stylish way to cover miles in a day doing magnificent things. Who wants to take a break to rest? For tea and cake, sure, but not for sore toes!

Alas, I am sending my twin pair back. The last was just a little too narrow for my peasant feet, but I can vouch for the comfort and good design of the shoe. My search goes on, but I do have some good, if not stellar, sandals to wear in the meantime!

Karie

(website)

Veteran

I think the new sandals look great! But then again, I love flats and own a truckload of them, and I'm of the long-legged variety. I don't see any proportion issues with the way you have them styled in the photos.

Vix

Veteran

MFF --
Good point about flats being so popular now -- I've always liked them on others, but will take comfort knowing I blend in a bit with the masses and of course the more one wears something the more "normal/average" it seems!

Sara L, Thistle, Beth Ann, and Karie --

Thanks much; I'm glad my first instincts around proportions are working and will just have to be patient going through my closet and testing things. I'm clinging to that 1" as I adapt to my missing 1-2", ha.

Beth Ann, sorry they were close but no cigar for you; I'll hold a good thought for the universe to light the way to your perfect sandal.

***For those who may be contemplating buying, I think the arch support is OK but not fantastic for high arches (at least after 6 miles without stopping). TBH the Clarks wedges I'm wearing as contrast are about the same mile by mile. But I have all kinds of inserts etc so may just stick an aftermarket "egg" in. So far Earthies (Earthie$) are the best for my arches but stylistically the hardest for me to get into!***

Adelfa

Veteran

I'm thinking it's okay not to love flats.... You have a pair now that you can wear when you need to walk six miles. (I love them BTW.) I say wear them when you need to, and wear your heels all the other times. Why force it? And don't buy any more flats for now, lol!

I'm the opposite. I love flats, though I'm not at all sure they're best for me style-wise. I didn't wear heels for over 20 years. Then I suddenly realized that a lovely colleague was my height but she wore HEELS and looked so tall. So I wore heels for about 5 years. Then I admitted to myself that I wasn't very happy in them. So I gave away some lovely high-heeled shoes and boots, and now I'm happy again.

Point being... be yourself! Yay!

Vix

Veteran

Adelfa --

Thank you for sharing your two sides of the coin wisdom!

Who knows, maybe this is the start of a love affair with flats...but I think you're right in that I am likely not going to change barring a significant life/lifestyle shift. In the meantime I have a shiny addition to my closet, so my magpie side is thrilled.

Ariadne

Veteran

JEALOUS! I wanted these but they're too narrow for my feet. I love them on you!

L'Abeille

Veteran

Chiming in a little late to say, I love the way those flats look on you. And I don't see short legs at all (I think I have the same proportion problem--long torso/short legs--but I can't see it in your pics). More than that, I actually think the outfits with the flats are MORE leg-lengthening than the same outfit with the wedges. I think because there is less shoe/foot taking up the length from the knee/hem to the ground, so it looks like more leg. Most especially from the back, where you remind me of certain off-duty models who make me wish I had their long slim legs. These views are ones you don't see looking down on your own legs.

sarah

Veteran

I love them on you - truly. Wow.

Vix

Veteran

Ariadne -- Thank you and sorry! I just squeak in to them width-wise; wish they'd worked out for you as I have found them to be really comfortable.

L'Abeille --
Nice to see you around...and hey, coming in late with wisdom + lavish praise is never a problem, especially when we can do the longer torso/shorter legs secret handshake! Skirts/dresses are always better camo for me (ditto on floor-length pants with heels), so I appreciate your perspective about the proportion of new sandal/leg-to-ground helping create length.

Sarah --
Thank you as well. I loved them at first online/out-of-the-box sight; your cheerleading is helping me "get ova myself" and love them on. Luckily I got a lot of wear in the last few weeks as it's back to *pouring* rain and cold-ish, sigh.