a day ago
5 Flat Shoes Stylish Women Say They Are Actually Wearing To The Office This Summer
Here in Blighty we like to moan when the weather is drizzly and grey, but we love to moan when it's sunny and hot. While Pimms in a pub garden and picky bits for tea is always welcome, our houses and, more importantly (to us) our wardrobes are simply ill-equipped for temperatures above 23 degrees.
As for what to wear on our feet when it's warm and you're trying to be professional - well that's a total minefield. That's right, this weather is wreaking havoc on our usual office appropriate shoe options and we're a little flummoxed. Being office appropriate, of course, depends on your office, so we spoke to the most stylish and professional women we know, to learn exactly what they're wearing on their feet while being the bosses they are, and where to buy them.
From M&S' Head of Womenswear Design, Lisa Illis, to Head of Brand and Communications at The British Fashion Council, Davina Wedderburn, this is what shoes stylish women are wearing to work, right now.
'As someone who has built a business based on the absolute necessity of dressing for comfort yet not comprising on style, it's fair to say this applies down to my feet!
'My working days consist of school runs, Lime bikes and running across town for meetings, so I need my shoes to help me get from A to B with ease and as someone with narrow long feet this can be hard. However, I have my favourites that I return to again and again. Recently the Chico style in black from Penelope Chilver has been a go-to; super elegant with the cross over the foot but also ludicrously are the perfect pairing to one of our nightie-come-day dress options like our Gingham Brigitte and headscarf. A really cute match but crucially, crazy comfy.'
'I wear my ruby-red Prada ballet flats at least three times a week; they instantly make whatever you style them with 10 times more special. Most recently I wore them with a vintage slip skirt, crisp white tee, and sharply tailored, pale-pink blazer for a day of meetings. I also love how they look with capri pants and an oversized shirt.'
'This summer, I have lived in these gem mesh flats from Hush. There's something quietly decadent about the sheer mesh and subtle embellishment — they feel polished yet undone, which makes them ideal for the office, meetings, events, and everything in between.
'Honestly, they pretty much go with everything but most recently, I've been wearing them with oversized black or white barrel leg jeans, a structured vest or tee, and a sharp blazer — effortless, but considered.'
'These shoes are my current obsession. I love a hybrid shoe and these Mary Jane Adidas trainers are super comfy but also manage to feel more dressy than a regular trainer?! I've been wearing with jorts, T-shirt maxi dresses and mini bubble skirts.'
'I can't count the number of times I've worn these backless suede loafer mules. The slip-on silhouette is stylish and iconic – ideal for high-low office dressing. They come in neutral black and a vibrant red. I've been styling these shoes with tailored trousers or Bermuda shorts, which are key this season. Equally, they'd look amazing with a mini dress and tailored jacket for a modern take on the workwear suit.'
Daisy Murray is the Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, spotlighting emerging designers, sustainable shopping, and celebrity style. Since joining in 2016 as an editorial intern, Daisy has run the gamut of fashion journalism - interviewing Molly Goddard backstage at London Fashion Week, investigating the power of androgynous dressing and celebrating the joys of vintage shopping.
