July 12, 2012

Today's Everyday Fashion: Sandals At Work


I love heels and I wear them a lot, but let's face it - some days flats are a must. I don't usually wear close-toe flats; my size 9.5 feet are awkwardly long, and I think I look like a capital "L" (they look great on other people though!). I do, however, love the look of flat sandals like the ones I'm wearing here with a pencil skirt. I wore this outfit to shop with not one but two clients in the same day last week. I wanted to look professional, but I also did more than 8 hours of shopping, so comfort was key. Not all sandals are made to be worn at work though. Three things to look for:
  1. Material. I would stick with either patent (shiny) leather, metallic or real leather. Anything too inexpensive (like brown leatherette) is not going to be dressy enough to wear with a pencil skirt.
  2. Shape. I think a thong between the toe is fine, but the shoe needs to have a substantial shape to it, meaning a strap around the ankle, or in general a lot more shoe than a flip-flop would have.
  3. Heel. I am a huge fan of shoes like these with a slight wedge. Not only do they look more dressed up than totally flat shoes, but I think they are more comfortable, too.
Do you wear sandals at work? How do you determine if they are appropriate?

Cardigan: Limited, $18
Shirt: Limited, $22
Skirt: J.Crew, $45
Belt: Gap, $10
Shoes: Nine West/DSW, $60 (same shoes)
Necklace: My Stella & Dot website, $79
Watch: Michael Kors, family gift
Ring: My Stella & Dot website, $49
Left bracelets: My Stella & Dot website $49 and $32
Right bracelets: My Stella & Dot website $59 and $39


1. Forever 21 cardigan, $19.80
2. Urban Outfitters cardigan, $44
3. Lands End cardigan, $18.99

52 comments:

  1. Loving that color combo! There's so much you can do with mint green that I never thought about!

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  2. Couldn't agree more about ballet flats. I wear a size 11 shoe and always worry in ballet flats my feet can look bet. I think that's why I live in flat sandals.

    Amy

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  3. LOVE LOVE LOVE this outfit! The colors work so well together and I love the printed top with it too :-)

    Maria
    www.daintyanddecadent.com

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  4. pretty little thingsJuly 12, 2012 at 9:00 AM

    I always wear sandals to work but that's probably because I'm a teacher and constantly on my feet for most of the day. I love the ones you're wearing here. I think as long as they are quality and made well they are good for work!

    http://allthingsprettyandlittle.blogspot.com/

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  5. I love this outfit for work, but "I personally" would not wear a flat sandal with a pencil skirt for work.  The sandal for me would have to have at least a 3-4 inch wedge to be dressy enough for a pencil skirt and for work, but it all depends on where you work also.  Work plays such a huge role of what is considered appropriate or dressy enough.  These color combinations are a lot of fun though with this outfit and I find it perfect for Summer attire for work!  Great outfit!  Flared a line skirts work really well with flatter sandals also!  They are the perfect pairing!

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  6. It's funny because as I'm reading this post I am hiding my flip-flopped feet under my desk! I had heels planned for today but just couldn't do it! I need to get some cool work-friendly summer flats. I'm 5'1 and a size 9 so I know about long feet. I think the slight wedge suits me best and slightly elongates my legs. Thanks for sharing!

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  7. I always think close-toed flats make my feet look smaller -- and I wear a size 11! Perception is a funny thing :)

    I prefer to not wear sandals to work - they feel too causal for me, but I do LOVE those shoes! 

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  8. I wear flat sandals all the time, but to be fair, every office I've worked in has had a casual dress code -- meaning even (unripped) jeans are acceptable every day. 

    And I have an unrelated question, J.: You always have a perfect knot in your belts! What's your secret? Do you size up? Do you pull the tail past the holes for the buckle? I can never seem to get this look quite right.

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  9. I am with Pretty Little Things. As a teacher, I am on my feet the whole day on concrete floors covered in tile, so I am constantly on the hunt for flat, comfy (extremely squishy!) shoes. I wear either flat sandals or flat boots with dresses and skirts or ballet flats or loafers with pants. (I don't like my feet enough in ballet flats to wear them with skirts either). I wear Sperrys when it rains because I have outside duty. It's hard finding shoes comfy enough to go the whole day that are also pretty enough to justify buying. I search discount shops for Born, Cole Haan Airwalks, etc.

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  10. THANK YOU for showing some flat sandals with pencil skirts.  I LOVE the look of all of your outfits when pared with heels, but heeels just aren't comfortable or practical for me.  Like you, I'm in Central Florida, and my office dress code is a LOT more laxed here than other states.  Your site is a fabulous source of inspiration!  Thanks for all you do --

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  11. CoffeebeansandbobbypinsJuly 12, 2012 at 9:42 AM

    I think flat/sandals are totally appropriate for work if they 1. go with the outift and 2. they have some sort of shape. However, lately I have been diggin' flats (closed toe) and pencil skirts. Im sure they look great on you too J, we are all our own biggest critics!

    http://coffeebeansandbobbypins.blogspot.com/

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  12. As a teacher, I would never be able to wear these sandals to work.  In many cases, jobs do have dress codes (closed toe shoes, no low cut or sheer tops, no capris, no short dresses, or tight skirts, etc).  I usually do not buy clothes that do not fit my dress code as I spend most of my days at work.

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  13. Flats are DEFINITELY a must to work somedays :) LOVE these sandals! I'm loving that urban outfitters teal cardigan!

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  14. I follow a rule of... "if you would wear it to the beach, don't wear it to work" ... for me this means leather, etc. for work. Fancier sandals. I wouldn't wear metallic Steve Maddens to the beach. I do have a business casual clothes policy though.

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  15. HappinessatmidlifeJuly 12, 2012 at 10:10 AM

    I would say sandals for the workplace is okay as long as it complies with any work clothes guidelines. I work in a pretty conservative office where these would not fly. I would wear some cute ballerina flats if I was in the mood for flats.

    Alice
    www.happinessatmidlife.com

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  16. Christina SandroniJuly 12, 2012 at 10:32 AM

    I never wear sandals to work, but definitely spring for flats during the later half of the work week. Similar question, what do you think about wearing wedges to work with pencil skirts? I am on the fence...

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  17. I used to wear heels all the time, but I'm definitely a flats girls now.  Throw on a tiny wedge and I'm in heaven!

    Lindsay @
    LindsayJEveryday.blogspot.com

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  18. I am a 9.5 too and well, flats aren't comfortable but a very low wedge sandal is. I don't wear them to work but commute in them and then switch to heels. I have a desk job though.

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  19. Lurve these colors!!!

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  20. 9.5, sometimes 10, here too and I totally agree.  I'll buy a pair of flats now and then, loving they way they look on others, and then every time I wear them Im thinking how bad they look! 
    My office is supposed to be business casual but its taken to the extreme in both directions.  I'd get away with any sandal above a flip flop just fine but I wouldnt feel very professional unless it was along the lines of what you described.

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  21. i wear sandals to work all the time! i actually feel weird in heels at work only cause of my casual work environment. although i do switch it up every once in a while. LOVE the colors in this outfit, BTW

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  22. Like your rules, the way you explained them..  Thongs/Flip Flops at work are out for me, too casual.  I feel good pretty much in anything with 'shape' as you put it, I like closure, for them to close at the ankle, feels like it finishes off and polishes the outfit.

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  23. I never would have thought that bright mustardy yellow and mint would go together, but you totally did it! Also, I just have to say I started following your blog recently, and I really enjoy it. One more thing. I quite like my own outfit today; I feel like it's something you would wear. :-)

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  24. Yes, I wear sandals or flats at work. Actually, I almost always wear flats except for a few wedged heels I love to death. I work as a social worker at a hospital, so pumps or heels are really inapropriate.
    I like that you paired these sandals with a pencil skirt but I'm not a big fan of the overall look. It's really busy and I don't think the colors go really well together. I like the mint cardigan though, I'm a huge mint fan, lately. ;-)

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  25. First of all, I love this color combination! Also, I think it depends on where you work. I used to teach, and I think we could get away with more casual choices (although I still say no to flip flops for sure). But I agree that with a pencil skirt, a dressier sandal is better. 

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  26. You should check out the Limited's sale on their site right now.  Very good deals!

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  27. it is so hot where i live, sandals are usually accepted at work. i wouldn't go with anything over the top crazy, but i wear sandals almost everyday when we go back to school from august through october!

    http://ohhhsolovely.blogspot.com/ 

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  28. I wear sandals to work all the time (including today!) buttttt...I can also wear jeans to work, so I suppose my answer doesn't count, hah.

    I think if you didn't want to go the sandal route with a pencil skirt, you could opt for a peep-toe flat, which would look equally cute. Or even more sandal-like, a woven peep-toe flat.

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  29. This is absolutely gorgeous!  Loving these colors together.
     

    Creamy


     

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  30. I'm a stay at home mom but when I was working, I wore sandals as long as they were nice. My boss was really laid back so she didn't really mind. Love your outfit by the way!

    Amy

      Fashion and Beauty Finds

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  31. J, I love this look. I really need to try pairing my pencil skirts with sandals instead of flats to give my back a serious break.
    Quick question, is the skirt a mustardy kind of color?

    Dayi

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  32. Love this look J!  The mint is gorgeous with the yellow. 

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  33. Yay for size 9.5! Me toooooo.

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  34. I had to giggle at your capital L statement because I wear a size 10 and feel the exact same way. I hardly ever wear skinny jeans and flats because that's exactly what I think I look like!! However - I do wear flat sandals to the office - mine is pretty casual so it's a non-issue!

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  35. My office is laid back and we can wear sandals.  I do wear flip-flops sometimes on Friday's, but try to wear more appealing sandals M-Thurs.  I like sandals with an ankle strap or coverage on the feet so my feet don't make a bunch of noise when I walk.

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  36. we can wear flats at work too but I have a size 10/11 sometimes shoe size so I completely feel you on looking like an L.  Sometimes I even feel that in certain kinds of sandals!  Love these color's together J!

    *sarahsavvystyle.com

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  37. No sandals for me at work, as I work in a corporate environment.  Mostly pumps and sometimes peeptoe heels, but nothing at all "bare."  I do, however, live in Jack Rogers navajo flat sandals on the weekends, and I LOVE them. 
    www.colorfulcorporate.blogspot.com

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  38. J, you look fantastic! I've been considering investing in a J. Crew skirt. How do you like this one? Since I've never bought a skirt from J. Crew and I don't have one near me, how would you compare the sizing to a place like The Limited? Do you get the same size? Thanks!!

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  39. Thanks Kate! I love this skirt, you can tell the quality is really high! I would size down one size - I get size 2 at Limited, but this one is a size 0.

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  40. Dayi, thank you! And yes, I would definitely describe this skirt as mustard in person! 

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  41. I definitely think wedges with pencil skirts could work!

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  42. Love this rule, thanks Laura!

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  43. Too funny Michelle! I agree, it is all about perception!

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  44. THanks Nikki! In this video I show you how I tie my belts. I always get a big enough size to fit the largest part of me, which sometimes means sizing one or two up. Hope this helps! http://www.jseverydayfashion.com/2010/11/video-how-to-belt-cardigan_12.html

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  45. I wear sandals to work but as you said, only if structured or has a decent heel. Flip flops are a no-no for me... it looks so unprofessional.

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  46. pretty colors!
    work-it-blog.blogspot.com

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  47. I LOVE this outfit!!!!!  Can't wear flats to my job but this outfit is AWESOME!!

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  48.  I meant open toed shoes like the one in photo. 

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  49. Nothing like a pair of sandals for the Indian summers!

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