How to buy the best ballet flats for women

With such a wide selection of heels in women’s shoes, from boots to sandals, it seems almost old-fashioned to pick out a pair of flats to wear. But in fact, ballet flats can be just as stylish as stilettos. There are many reasons to choose a flat shoe, and with the innovative styles of today’s designers, flats can be as prim and proper or as sexy as you want them to be.

Ballet Flats

What to wear with flat shoes

One of the best features of a ballet flat is its flexibility. With the right style, flats complement almost any outfit. You can wear a classic flat shoe with skirts and dresses, although with some shorter skirts you may want to consider boots or heels rather than flats. A flat shoe can certainly be worn with slacks for a work-appropriate look, but ballet flats can also add elegant flair to jeans. They can make almost anyone’s feet look delicate and graceful.

Which flats are right for my feet?

Ballet flats come in a wide variety of colors, materials, and styles. Not all flats are totally flat: The basic flat shoe is designed to have a heel of 3/4 of an inch or less, so you do have some flexibility in heel height. Also, take a look at your ankles; if you have narrow ankles, don’t overwhelm them with a heavy shoe. Choose a daintier flat that’s narrow, with pointed toes.

Pointed Toe Flats

If your ankles are a bit thicker, try a heavier shoe with a lot of definition to the shape, and avoid ankle straps since they will just emphasize the widest part of your ankle.

Finally, are you buying flats because you don’t want or need the extra height of heels, or because you want comfort? If you’re looking for comfort, avoid pointed toes. Make sure that the width of the shoe is right for you; many designers make shoes in regular, wide, and narrow varieties.

What color flats should I wear?

If you like to change up your shoes with every outfit, look to bright colors and unusual styles to brighten up your wardrobe. Keep in mind that the funkier your shoes are, the more options you will need in your other accessories to match. If you only want a couple of pairs, then stick to more traditional styles that will be more versatile with the pieces you already own. Also, choose more neutral colors like black, brown, or metallic.

In addition, keep in mind that many dressy flats have special dyes in them to create those knock-out colors. That dye can rub off initially, so be careful the first few times you wear them not to stain your outfit.

Some tips on shopping for your new flats

Once you have decided what you want in a shoe, don’t stray from your decision—you could spend days trying on all the different ballet flats. Shopping for your new pair of flats should be done in the afternoon, when your foot is at its largest, since you will want these shoes to be as comfortable as possible no matter what time of day it is or how long you’ve been on your feet. Remember to wear the type of hose or tights you plan on wearing with the shoe to the store. It will make a big difference in how the shoe feels and fits. If you measure your foot and find that you fall between sizes, get the pair a half size up. If you typically buy a narrow or wide shoe and these are not available in the flat of your choice, try a half size in either direction to compensate. When in doubt, go with a larger size. It is best to try them on in person to ensure the comfort and fit, but if you’re buying online, some websites do offer extensive guides for sizing your foot—just be sure to measure carefully.

How much should I spend on ballet flats?

Flat shoes come in a variety of prices as well as styles. Many discount retailers have options for under $20, although it is possible to spend well into the hundreds of dollars for a single pair. Some popular designers of flats (listed in order from most expensive to least) include Lanvin, London Sole, and Chinese Laundry. While you may be floored to spend upwards of $150 on a pair of flats, more expensive brands will often outlast many of the cheaper brands and will usually come in far more modern and fresh styles and colors. A wide range of styles and prices can be found at websites like Piperlime and Zappo’s. So whatever your preference in flats may be, keep in mind your comfort, your body type, your vision for your shoe, and your pocketbook when you search for the perfect pair of shoes. Good luck!

With the wide selection in women’s shoes, heels…