Even though I strongly believe one should wear the same shoes on one's way to and from the office one intends to wear at the office, I understand some of you - the majority of you, actually - are sticking to your guns on this one, be it for comfort, principle or some other reason my appearance-first-practicality-last priority set can't quite comprehend.
As we begin to transition away from treks to the pool and the rooftop happy hours of Summer and move toward long-sleeved runs and the grande pumpkin spice lattes of Fall, so too does our footwear need to undergo a reshuffling of seasonal sorts. The ground will soon become colder, the precipitation less refreshing, the wind less a relief, all of which will have the tops, sides and tippy-ends of our feet begging for shelter, not exposure.
On the one hand, I'm very excited about Sunday, the first official day of Fall. I love opaque tights and rich autumnal colors like wine, gunmetal and of course, black and brown. I love thick, fitted sweater dresses, structured military-style coats and seeing more women rock the short dark nails.
And then, of course, there are the boots. Like most women (and all men), one of the great joys of the crisper air is the emergence of those tall, slim, sleek cold weather boots.
But you all seem to want flats from me, so fine, I've put together a small collection thereof, nearly all of which - save for the Marc Jacobs pair, oddly enough - are aesthetically pleasing enough to pair with any upmarket professional ensemble not just for the commute but for the entire day.
What did it take for a flat to make my short list? Well, for starters, the material needed to be of a thicker, sturdier, more weather resistant variety. I like suedes (provided you use a good weather protectant), patent leathers, hearty matte leathers and yes, in one instance, even a jelly. After material, the next most important factor in a good cool weather commuter shoe is the sole. I can't tell you how uncomfortable I was this past weekend in the chilly high-40s of the Upper Midwest in my favorite t-strap flats because the wafer-thin soles were so wafer-thin I could actually feel the steely cold of the ground underfoot with every step I took.
Not to mention every crumble of gravel.
Finally, I chose only those flats I thought complemented the Fall color palette, most of which I previously mentioned.
So here below are nine very pretty pairs of flats that will help make the 'goodbye' to Spring sleevelessness and Summer suntans a bit more palatable.
Enjoy.
Minetta flat by Matt Bernson ($165 at barefootess.com)
Jelly mouse shoes by Marc Jacobs ($155 at net-a-porter.com)
Peaches patent tap shoe flat by Loeffler Randall ($375 at shopbop.com)*
Simona patent flat by Calvin Klein ($97.95 at nordstrom.com)
Gumdrop t-strap flat by Oh Deer! ($95.99 at amazon.com)
Adelle lined flat by Kate Spade ($248 at lorisdesignershoes.com)**
Cutie suede flat by Jeffery Campbell ($74 at lorisdesignershoes.com)*
Skyler Mary Jane by Poetic License ($92.95 at zappos.com)
Gillian flat by KORS Michael Kors ($98.95 at zappos.com)
*your Editrix's top picks
**only acceptable if snow is on the ground and your other flats are at the cobbler's
8 comments:
j'adore the MJ jellies - they are perfect for running weekend errands and walking the little one, says the owner of a light grey pair. You can't really wear them other than with bare feet, though, so I don't know if they are really cold-weather gear.
elle-
That's a very good point and something I would never have known unless you brought it up. Good thing here in DC "cold weather" doesn't really hit 'til November, so girls can totes wear those jellies for a couple more months!
best,
J
Since you brought it up, can we talk about tights? What do people think of Spanx? I am considering investing in a pair. I'm a petite lady, but feel my belly is my problem area. Is it worth it, or will any pair of control top tights do the trick?
Thanks,
N
Spanx are a wonderful thing. I think the Target-brand ones called "Assets" are just as good and about $10-15 less expensive, too.
I think the main difference is the band goes up to your bra line, so you don't get that lumpy, uncomfortable belly band that creates a muffin-top where muffins don't belong. If you can get super high-waisted control top tights, it'd be about the same thing, though. I destroy stockings at an astounding rate so I'm reluctant to buy the expensive spanx-tights and then immediately put a stiletto through them.
Thanks, Theresa. I am looking into the Target Spanx. I once tripped on my own feet and caught my heel on my tights, so I understand your pain.
All these shoes are cute, but I find them expensive for just walking to and from the metro.
I love my nice shoes and part of the reason I don't wear "good" shoes tromping through the metro is because I don't want to ruin them in the dirt, mud, snow and crap on the street.
Amen anonymous...these shoes are too cute and expensive to let them get battered by a daily commute.
They also don't look very comfortable, or good for keeping rain and snow off my cold feet!
I liked your feature earlier this year on "work appropriate" sneakers...I would never wear sneakers at work, but they are great for the long walk to the Metro, and still look cute.
Anonymous 2:21/Danielle-
One of my biggest cringes is when I see a woman in a really lovely outfit with really UN-lovely shoes. Even if it's just for the commute. Unless you're crossing through a landfill to get home, I'm not quite sure why you would need - or want! - a less than super cute shoe to get you there. The shoes I've shown are within the same price range as the heels professional women in this city buy -- and for the most part, a more expensive shoe is going to be a more *comfortable* shoe.
I recently acquired a pair of pricey Jean-Michel Cazabat 4.25-inch stilettos, and let me tell you, they are about as comfortable as my running shoes. Something about that high-end ergonomic structure that really makes for a pain-free experience.
best,
J
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