Crash! Bang! Ouch! I pick
myself up off the ground, embarrassed, covered in dirt, holes in my stockings. Damn these new shoes!
When it comes to choosing the right work
shoe, the decision can be really tough. Do I buy a stiletto heel or a wedge? Do I go for a point or a peep-toe? There are many styles, colours, heels, and materials to choose from.
So, how do you know what style works best
for you?
I interviewed Nine West Manager, Laura
Nihill to get her opinion on the topic.
“Choosing the right work shoe comes down to
comfort, style and season,” she says.
Most women spend roughly, nine hours a day,
five days a week, in their work shoes, which means, the style
they choose needs to be comfortable.
“It is important to consider how long you
will be on your feet; comfort has to play a big role in picking a shoe style.
“The best style for working women is
something that supports your heel, has a strong shank and some sort of a
platform. The shank is the support under the arch of the foot.”
Heel height is a difficult concept for most.
So, how do you know what height, is too high?
“A safe height is between two centimetres
and eight centimetres, any higher can become unprofessional,” she says.
There are many different types of heels
available.
There is the kitten heel, which is traditionally
a short, slim heel with a maximum height of two and a half centimetres.
The stiletto heel is a tall, slim heel with
a minimum height of two centimetres.
With a wedge, the heel
occupies the entire space under the arch of your foot and equally distributes the weight comfortably.
Then, there is the chunky heel.
This is similar to a stiletto heel, with a minimum heel height of two
centimetres, however the diameter of the heel, is more that two centimetres.
“It is important to pick a versatile shoe
style and colour that can go with more than one outfit. Points team up nicely
with tailored suits and trousers as well as skirts, dresses and stockings and
looks very professional.”
The shoes you wear to work also depend on
where it is you work. The common work places are desk-based office work, indoor
retail work and indoor/outdoor messy work.
“Consider your workplace: if you have to
wear a suit, a pointed toe whether flat or a heel looks very neat and
professional and chic under trousers or with a skirt. If you can be more casual
then experiment with your colours and textures more.”
When you work in an office, you have to
comply with the office standards. It's safe to stick with the classic shoe
styles, whether a court shoe, a pump or Mary Jane style. These styles are
available all year round and never date.
If your office is not as strict on the
attire, you can bring out, the funky heels, different materials, the bright
colours and patterns. Bright coloured heels make a statement and look great
with a plain outfit, and people will notice you.
If you work in an indoor retail job
remember you will be on your feet for the entire shift so the shoe you pick has
to be practical and comfortable. A classic pump with a small heel or a flat
will work great and be comfortable for a long shift.
“Black or brown flats are a great choice,
they are versatile and can be worn with any colour. If you wear a lot of plain outfits, you can experiment with different colours.”
If you have a messy job, either indoors or
outdoors, with a uniform, it is always safe to stick with a black leather pump,
whether round toe or pointed toe, as they go with everything and look very
professional. Leather is more durable and can last a couple of seasons if you
look after them and if your shoes get dirty, it's easier to clean them up.
Choosing the right work shoe also comes
down to the season. Like clothing, shoes also have different styles, colours
and fabrics for the different seasons.
“In winter you tend to wear darker colours
and heavier fabrics, so do the same with your shoes.”
“Go for darker tones, not necessarily
blacks but deeper plums, tans, burgundy, purples, greys etc.”
“Summer shoes are lighter in colour, depending
on the colour trends for the season. During summer you’ll usually see pinks,
oranges, blues, greens and skin tones in lighter materials like satin or fabric.”
There are so many variables to take into
consideration when it comes to choosing the perfect work shoe but if you
consider all the points, it should make it easier for you to
choose, without feeling
overwhelmed by all the styles available.
