Style Matters: Shoes for the Law Office

Caveats before we begin: My shoe opinion is colored by two experiences: shadowing an attorney in my best “business-y” clothes as a high school student and becoming embarrassed by the fact that because the heels were a little too chunky (early 2000’s y’all) that they made loud noises on the stairs, and that I couldn’t walk as fast as him, which was annoying. My slower walk wasn’t because I was a novice to heels (hello, I rocked Rocket Dog and Steve Madden platforms all the time–again, early 2000s), but rather the fact that generally most people cannot walk as fast in heels as a someone wearing non-heeled shoes.  Second, an intern I knew in college, who was completely oblivious (or didn’t care) about the fact that many comments were made about her way-too-high shoes.  Now on a daily basis at work, I tend to opt for flats most of the time. I’m short, but not the kind of girl that pines to be taller so flats work fine for me.

However, I love the aesthetics of a nice heel and I’m constantly buying really pretty heels just because I like how they look, not necessarily because will wear them, which is a horrible habit. But I don’t wear them because even though they are appropriate work shoes for a law firm, the culture of where I work is very casual and I would look out of place. I’d argue that getting attuned to your work culture is much more important than simply believing that the generally conservative field of law is all one way.

Second caveat: wear what you want. If you want to wear high, wear high.  Whatever you want. I hate that certain attributes are attached to shoes (i.e. “prostitute shoes”) just because of the height. I mean let’s be real, anyone of us can be overtly sexual regardless of shoe type so the idea that certain heels should be seen as shameful just because of what they look like (because the negative connotation of the show is always imputed on the wearer) is a half-assed argument, in my opinion. But, I also get that there is a time and place for everything. I wouldn’t wear slip ons (like Lacoste or Toms) to court, anymore than I would wear a 6 inch heel. So the point in my rant is that there is a way to advise on appropriate shoe wear that has nothing to do with our active or inactive sex lives and rather it’s about learning what is expected within the professional attire spectrum of your workplace.  /end rant.

So with all that said, Shoes!

My top three styles for work in the order I wear them are:

Flats: I think the key to a stylish flat is to avoid anything that looks like something a little girl would wear. I try to keep it neutral and without bows. Pointy flats with pants work best as they give an illusion of a heel–I almost always opt for a pointy heel in either a unique color (like cobalt) or neutral.  My nude flats (though not really a nude for me–I just like the pinky blush) work well with pants and skirts.
Wedges: I love wedges! I think they are great for almost all seasons, especially summer if you go with the peep-toe options. They are steadier to walk in than regular heels as well. That is always my litmus test: can I walk in these shoes easily and can I remove them quickly during an emergency? I know that sounds funny, but when we do fire drills at work, I’m always amazed at how unable people would be to hustle down the stairs because of their shoes. So, call me a kill-joy, but I’d like to not burn to death. Anyway, I think most wedges are appropriate for work, but can easily be worn in other parts of your life (meaning you won’t look stuffy wearing them to other events).  I almost always opt for wedges as my preferred shoe when I want to look “very professional,” but still fit in with the atmosphere of my job.
Heels: A whole post could go on and on about what are good option.  For me, I would say heels shouldn’t be higher than 3.5 inches for most people.  Simple and clean looks are best; though printed heels can look nice and professional as well (it all depends on where you work). I also know strappy heels are coming back in style, and I would caution before jumping on that trend because I think they may be too casual for most offices. However my only real “do-nots” would be: do not have higher than 4 inches (unless you’re under 5 feet and it’s your preference); do not buy them if you can’t walk more than five minutes in them at a reasonable pace; and determine if the style is typical or similar to what other co-workers wear (especially the higher ups). If not, tread carefully because failing to understand work culture can be a detriment to your ability to progress.
What are your favorite styles for work and what are on your do-not wear lists?