The Working Closet
with Susan Wagner
The Working Closet is your source for the best of what's hip and fresh in fashion and beauty. Susan Wagner keeps you up-to-date on trends and offers tips and tricks for making everything in your closet truly work for you.
You can also catch Susan over at Working Closet.
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Tod’s driving mocs , from $395. Old school, truly.
The easiest outfit ever is a pair of jeans, a basic tee, and pair of beautiful flats. But not every pair of flats works with every pair of pants; it’s all about balance and proportion.
So what goes with what?
Ballet flats are an easy way to make even the most casual outfit look a little more chic, but keep your pants slim; a boot-cut or flared hem will overwhelm a pretty ballet flat. Pair ballet flats with a skinny jean or cropped trouser, or with a slightly shorter skirt (at or above the knee, ideally, to make your legs look as long as possible)
Loafers, which have a more substantial shape and slightly higher vamp, are perfect with boot-cut jeans. A wider leg trouser needs a more substantial shoe, for balance. If you prefer the light feel of a ballet flat, look for a driving moc, which will be softer but still structured enough to stand up to your jeans. (Extra bonus: Loafers can accommodate socks, which a ballet flat cannot. Good to remember on cold days.)
Boots are great with skinny pants and jeans, if you’re comfortable tucking, or with very wide-legged jeans and pants if you’re not. A flat boot is super practical, but if you want a little heel, look at a boot with a small wedge; this will give you height and traction. A pointy toe will lengthen your leg line, too.
In the end, it’s all about proportion; a delicate shoe is best with a slimmer, streamlined leg, while a wider trouser works well with heavier footwear.
What’s your go-to trouser-and-shoe combination?
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I like a wide-legged trouser with an peep-toe wedge. Otherwise it can feel a bit masculine to me, somehow.
rb | January 22nd, 2010 at 1:25 pm
I like a great peep toe, too — but every time I suggest them for winter, someone says “But they’re too cold!”
However, you are exactly right about a great peep toe wedge softening up a tailored menswear trouser. Perfect.
Susan | January 22nd, 2010 at 2:01 pm
THANK YOU! I was wondering why I hated my ballet flats with my jeans (they are boot cut). I looked like I had mini-feet. What about pointy flats? When you say higher vamp, what does that mean? It goes higher up onthe top of the foot?
Terri | January 26th, 2010 at 4:12 am
Thank you for this! I could never quite put my finger on why ballet flats didn’t work with most of my pants! Boot cut! *smacks self in head*
Sue @ Laundry for Six | January 26th, 2010 at 6:32 am
I agree with the last commenter. I never could figure out why I didn’t like ballet flats on me. It’s because of the boot cut jeans.
So what do you suggest for those of us who are a bit bottom heavy? I feel like I look like an ice cream cone in skinny jeans. Am I completely out of luck on the ballet flats and jeans look?
Robin Sparks | January 26th, 2010 at 10:59 am