HEELS V/S FLATS – The footwear debate

The eternal question that haunts so many of us. In my 20’s, I always picked heels over flats. But now in mid 30’s, am wise and sensible to put comfort first. However, that is a personal opinion and today we are discussing when to pick heels and when to wear flat shoes.

 

 

Earlier, fashion followed 2 simple rules in picking heels/flats depending on the type of clothes.

If you are wearing a flared bottom than always wear heels. The flared bottom can be an Umbrella skirt, palazzo pant, A-line dress or Anarkali  (Indian Dress).

When you wear narrow/straight bottom, you can opt for heels or flats. These can be a straight fit skirt, narrow fit pant, simple straight cut dresses.

Shoes have a mood & message, whether you want to create casual, smart casual, street, casual, chic, etc… What mood you want to create dictates the shoes that you will wear.

 

Heels generally create a chic sophisticated look & flats create a more relaxed casual vibe.

 

What is more professional? Heels or flats?

Well, it purely depends on the style of shoes. A closed mary jane or simple ballet flat is more professional then wearing sky-high heels in red.

A block heel boot will be smart casual and a white sneaker worn over denim & jacket will also be smart casual.

The idea is to look for shoes as a totality of outfit and not a singular event.

In this image, as you can see the jumpsuit is fancy, by adding white sneakers to it, the whole mood and feel of the style is athleisure.

Add heels to this and make it dressy.

 

 

 

 

 

Jumpsuit from – Amanda uprichad, shoes – Sketchers, bag – Charles & keith

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Both the skirts are straight fit. Changing the type of heels creates a different mood and message altogether. 

In the first image with floral balc white yellow skirt, adding yellow heels has added a sophistication to the whole style. If I wanted to wear the same outfit for a regular casual day, I would switch the heels flat sneakers or some open sandals. 

In the second image, adding flat kolhapuri chappals, has made the whole look smart casual. The look is smart casual because the whole outfit with accessories is chic, adding the flats made it casual. 

Outfit 1 –

skirt – Ann taylor , Top – we are sui, bag & shoes – thrift shop

Outfit 2 – 

skirt – the jodi life , top – Cos, Vegan Shoes – Tijori, necklace – amrapali

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All the images above have heels, yet each image shares a different vibe, a mood or message to the whole look. 

The the first image with torn denim and top, adding the sandals with block heels has added a bit formalness to the style. 

The boots with Indian kurta and denims has added a boho feel 

The heels with utility pants, crop top and blazer, has made the street style office appropriate. 

Outfit 1 – denims – Levis, top – cos, fusion layer – Ajio , shoes – charles & keith

Outfit 2 – denims – Levis, shoes – charles & keith

Outfit 3 – pants – Zara, jacket – mango, crop top – Editors market, shoes – hush puppies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Similarly, the same jumpsuit / dungaree looks different by switching just 2 types of flat shoes. 

Outfit 1 – Jumpsuit – Forever new , crop top – Editors market, Vegan Shoes – Tijori

Outfit 2 – Jumpsuit – Forever new , top – cotton on, shoes – Sketchers, bag – Pedro

 

The whole idea is, you can change the mood & vibe of the style by changing the type of shoes you are wearing. 

 

Go to Moods & messages for shoes, and see how you can create a styling vibe with shoes.  

Go to Flat Shoes for comfort and style and see various styles on how to wear your flats

 

Got to Heels for love and read how to wear heels for various occasions.

 

 Trivia – In 2016, Nicola Throp made headlines for refusing to wear heels at work. Making women wear heels to work is discriminatory and Japan also has its #KuToo campaign – to demand a ban on high heels at work.