If you love high heels, great! More power to you. But for many people, high heels are torture devices. The truth is, there are enough great flat shoe options out there that if you don't want to wear heels, you seriously never have to again — not to a wedding, to work, or on a date.
Here are some tips to keep in mind as you leave your high-heel masochism behind you and journey into a more comfortable, but equally chic, future.
1Sleek Black
Black flats can be just as sexy, sharp, and versatile as classic black pumps. Even a black sneaker can feel sleek and sophisticated when it has a pointed toe and a glossy finish.
Top to Bottom: Black Pointed Toe Flats, ZARA, $30; Black Ankle Strap Flats, TOPSHOP, $40;Black Pointed Toe Ankle Strap Flats, ALEXANDER WANG, $395; Black Snakeskin Sneakers, CHARLOTTE RUSSE, $28
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2Animal Print
A little bit of animal print can go a long way, whether it's accompanied by a stiletto heel or not. Stick to natural-looking color combinations and rich textures for a more expensive look.
Top to Bottom: Nude And Black Sandal, LOEFFLER RANDALL, $295; Snakeskin Lace-Up Flats, ASOS, $51; Black And White Sneaker, ISABEL MARANT (Available at Tessabit), $389;Leopard Print Flats, SAM EDELMAN (Available at Revolve), $100; Black Spotted Flats, BANANA REPUBLIC, $118
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3Bold Color
Bold colors look especially rich in suede, even if it's a faux suede. The texture of the material adds a dimension to the colors in a way that's not always present with matte leather (especially faux matte leather which often makes colors look flat and slightly dingy).
Top to Bottom: Blue Strappy Flats, CANDELA (Available at Anthropologie), $210; Burgundy Pointed Toe Flats, CHARLES DAVID (Available at Pink Mascara), $170; Yellow Lace-Up Flats, JEFFREY CAMPBELL, $130; Cobalt Pointed Toe Flats, J. CREW, $148; Red Lace-Up Flats, STUART WEITZMAN, $398
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4Tall Boots
A good tall boot should never be baggy around the ankle. Slouchiness is better saved for shorter boots. Instead, it should taper in just above the ankle joint and then follow the natural line of your leg. Unfortunately, less-expensive tall boots often come with a lot of extra room around the ankle to accommodate for a more diverse range of sizes and body types, but a cobbler can sometimes taper them for you to create a more expensive and flattering look.
Top to Bottom: Gold Heeled Black Boots, VINCE CAMUTO (Available at Bloomingdale's), $249;Burgundy Over-The-Knee Boots, STUARD WEITZMAN, $798; Black Suede Boots, CHRLES & KEITH, $99; Camel Suede Boots, FRYE (Available at Shopbop), $498; Black Lace-Up Boots, GUESS, $179
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5Day-to-Night Metallic
Metallic shoes shoes are the ultimate in day-to-night footwear and in their flat form, you will actually be able to wear them all day and night.
Top to Bottom: Gold Double Strap Sandals, LONDON REBEL (Available at Asos), $14; Silver Lace-Up Sandals, SCHUTZ (Available at Shopbop), $140; Gold Lace-Up Sandals, STEVE MADDEN, $70; Silver Double Strap Sandals, LAND'S END, $20; Gold Lace-Up Flats, TOPSHOP, $90
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6Statement Shoe
If you are worried that a flat shoe in a bold print will draw too much attention to your feet and make them look bigger than they are, balance your look with other fun, colorful clothes and accessories higher up. That will keep the eye moving all over your outfit — from shoes, to bag, to shirt, to sunglasses, and so on.
Top to Bottom: Rainbow Flats, DUNE LONDON (Available at Nordstrom), $125; Paisley Flats, JEFFREY CAMPBELL, $145; Pink Marbled Flats, J. CREW, $145; Striped Sneakers, ADIDAS (Available at Urban Outfitters), $90; Floral Slingback Flats, PAUL ANDREW (Available at Nordstrom), $545
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7Minimalist Sandal
A good minimalist sandal should be as low-profile as possible, the color blending seamlessly with your outfit or even matching your skin tone so as not to steal focus from the rest of your look.
Top to Bottom: Strappy Snakeskin Sandals, K. JACQUES (Available at Bergdorf Goodman), $285; Black Strappy Sandals, VINCE CAMUTO (Available at Sole Society), $45; Black Double Strap Sandals, BDG (Available at Urban Outfitters, $10; Black Sandals, H&M, $18; Nude Over-The-Toe Sandals, LOEFFLER RANDALL (Available at Neiman Marcus), $225
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8Statement Bootie
Booties are most flattering when they end right around the narrowest spot on your leg — somewhere between your ankle bone and the bottom of your calf.
Top to Bottom: Brown Studded Boots, ISABEL MARANT (Available at Matchesfashion.com), $585; Brown Buckled Boots, ZARA, $119; Black Open-Back Boots, CHARLES & KEITH, $79;Leopard Print Boots, MICHAEL BY MICHAEL KORS (Available at Neiman Marcus), $195;Brown Fringe Boots, DUNE LONDON (Available at John Lewis), $112
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9Perfectly Nude
Clean shoes, free of scuffs and stains, always look nice, but that's especially true if your shoes match your skin tone and even more true with flats. The illusion with nude shoes is sort of like you are not wearing any shoes at all, so when they are dirty and messed up, it just looks like you are walking around with grimy feet.
Top to Bottom: Beige Lace-Up Flats, ZARA, $70;Brown Pointed-Toe Flats, FOREVER 21, $11;Brown Toe Loop Sandal, DOLCE VITA (Available at Gilt), $70; Beige Flame Sandals, STUART WEITZMAN, $188; Cream Strappy Sandals, DUNE LONDON, $74
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