Proper Shoes

My husband's grandmother used to say, "If your feet are dressed, you are dressed." Wise woman, Grandma.

Lately I've been on a shoe buying spree. It doesn't happen often but a new job demands it. Black was pretty much already taken care of as well as navy and buff/taupe/neutral/tan. What I'm really missing is dark brown and dijon yellow.  So, out come all the rules about shoes for the office.

• Closed toe
• Leather upper
• Leather sole (if possible)
• Rounded toe (flat toe shoes can lead to ingrown nails)
• Higher vamp (better for your feet and doesn't show toe cleavage)
• Reasonable heel height.
• Comfortable

Granted, these are my rules, but they have never let me down. The first six are all geared toward the last one. Work days can mean being in a pair of heels for up to 14 hours so I'm willing to spend a little more on them in order to protect my feet and maintain my energy level.

My favorite brands for work include Anne Klein, Circa Joan & David, Ralph Lauren (the Zabrina pump is fantastic), Ivanka Trump, and Steve Madden. Donald J. Pliner shoes are worth a mention here. Although they are usually better suited to out-of-office wear due to their casual style, they are consistently the most comfortable shoes I own.

Shoes I steer clear of: Bandolino (these actually damage my feet), crocs (just too ugly for words), and sandals (not office appropriate).

Other considerations:

• Cole Haan tends to run narrow so I don't buy them unless I am in the store and have tried them on.
• Nine West is a win most, lose a few, gamble. I stick to their leather shoes that meet the above criteria.
• Comfort brands are great but often look clunky.

So what did I buy so far? A few pics are worth a few thousand words.