Forget diamonds, shoes are a girl’s best friend! Guys we know you like them too (there’s a section here for you).
When it comes to buying the perfect pair of shoes, it can become a daunting experience rather than a fabulous one. So here are some tips to improve your Corporate Image and help you select the correct shoe for work.
When it comes to buying the perfect pair of shoes, it can become a daunting experience rather than a fabulous one. So here are some tips to improve your Corporate Image and help you select the correct shoe for work.
1. SELECT THE CORRECT SIZE…
• Shop late in the day when your feet are their most swollen, this will ensure correct sizing
• If you have a wide foot try go for a half size – so if normally a 5 choose a 5 ½ – makes all the difference. If wearing ankle straps don’t have the skin bulging out between straps. Don’t have your toes creeping over the front end of sandals.
• Walk on an uncarpeted area to feel how cushioned and comfortable the shoe is as well as how much noise they make. Shoes that clatter are not appropriate for work
• Shop late in the day when your feet are their most swollen, this will ensure correct sizing
• If you have a wide foot try go for a half size – so if normally a 5 choose a 5 ½ – makes all the difference. If wearing ankle straps don’t have the skin bulging out between straps. Don’t have your toes creeping over the front end of sandals.
• Walk on an uncarpeted area to feel how cushioned and comfortable the shoe is as well as how much noise they make. Shoes that clatter are not appropriate for work
2. GET PEDICURES…
If your feet are on show ensure that you don’t’ have cracked heels, dirty nails, chipped nailpolish. Stay away from nail art and too fashion forward nailpolish like black, neon colours.
If your feet are on show ensure that you don’t’ have cracked heels, dirty nails, chipped nailpolish. Stay away from nail art and too fashion forward nailpolish like black, neon colours.
3. IT’S ALL IN THE HEEL…
• Stacked/wedge heels are great, especially if you are on your feet a lot. Fantastic for thick ankles. They can look very casual for work if the wedge is in rope or canvas type material.
• Kitten heels are low and delicate. They are extremely versatile and may be worn with anything from cocktail wear to cropped pants. If you are not comfortable with high heels; the kitten heel is a compromise, not too high to fall off but high enough to elongate the calf.
• Ballerina pumps/Flat shoes are best worn on casual Fridays.
• Pumps, court shoes, peep toes look the most formal for work. Buy peep toes – you can wear them in summer and winter.
• An appropriate and comfortable heel height is 5-6 cm. The highest you should go in the workplace is 10 cm.
• Thick winter fabrics require a chunkier shoe than light weight summer fabrics. However remember the chunkier the shoe the more casual the look
• Contrary to popular belief, it’s the position of the heel – not the thickness – that’s essential. Look for styles where the heel is right under the heel bone, not all the way at the back of the foot, to keep you pain-free and balanced.
• Stacked/wedge heels are great, especially if you are on your feet a lot. Fantastic for thick ankles. They can look very casual for work if the wedge is in rope or canvas type material.
• Kitten heels are low and delicate. They are extremely versatile and may be worn with anything from cocktail wear to cropped pants. If you are not comfortable with high heels; the kitten heel is a compromise, not too high to fall off but high enough to elongate the calf.
• Ballerina pumps/Flat shoes are best worn on casual Fridays.
• Pumps, court shoes, peep toes look the most formal for work. Buy peep toes – you can wear them in summer and winter.
• An appropriate and comfortable heel height is 5-6 cm. The highest you should go in the workplace is 10 cm.
• Thick winter fabrics require a chunkier shoe than light weight summer fabrics. However remember the chunkier the shoe the more casual the look
• Contrary to popular belief, it’s the position of the heel – not the thickness – that’s essential. Look for styles where the heel is right under the heel bone, not all the way at the back of the foot, to keep you pain-free and balanced.
4. CHECK THE QUALITY…
Yes you can save now only to buy later…again and again! Check out the stitch work, glue work, the material, will it last a long time? The best-quality heels have soles that are stitched on, not glued. Look for even stitching. Also look at how much care the shoes require, will you be able to commit to the care? Rather have 4 pairs of great quality shoes than 100 pairs of plastic ones.
Yes you can save now only to buy later…again and again! Check out the stitch work, glue work, the material, will it last a long time? The best-quality heels have soles that are stitched on, not glued. Look for even stitching. Also look at how much care the shoes require, will you be able to commit to the care? Rather have 4 pairs of great quality shoes than 100 pairs of plastic ones.
5. MAKE THE RIGHT COLOUR CHOICE
• Avoid 2 tone shoes or very seasonal colours – they are very limiting and go in and out of fashion very quickly. Don’t waste your money!
• Rather opt for more neutral (black, charcoal, brown, stone)colours that will work with a range of outfits in your wardrobe.
• Buy at least 1 great accent colour shoe that can stand out as the focal piece in an outfit –think red shoe, black and white shift dress.
• With lighter coloured outfits avoid white (unless in a narrow strap of a sandal)– a fatal image mistake, even if fashionable. White shoes look cheap and nasty, make your feet look enormous
• Avoid 2 tone shoes or very seasonal colours – they are very limiting and go in and out of fashion very quickly. Don’t waste your money!
• Rather opt for more neutral (black, charcoal, brown, stone)colours that will work with a range of outfits in your wardrobe.
• Buy at least 1 great accent colour shoe that can stand out as the focal piece in an outfit –think red shoe, black and white shift dress.
• With lighter coloured outfits avoid white (unless in a narrow strap of a sandal)– a fatal image mistake, even if fashionable. White shoes look cheap and nasty, make your feet look enormous
6. THE CORRECT VAMP AND SOLE…
• The vamp of the shoe is the section that cuts across your foot at the front and the more it exposes your foot the longer and leaner your leg will appear.
• The more your foot is covered by the shoe/boot, the shorter your leg will look – short = fat.
• Skirts that are knee length or longer look best with a low vamp shoe. It elongates the legs and makes you look taller.
• Cropped trousers should only be worn with low vamp shoes to work. (see last shoe 2nd row)
• Stay away from thick soles and platforms if you have heavy lower leg rather go for a medium to thin sole that will create a more flattering and balanced effect.
• The vamp of the shoe is the section that cuts across your foot at the front and the more it exposes your foot the longer and leaner your leg will appear.
• The more your foot is covered by the shoe/boot, the shorter your leg will look – short = fat.
• Skirts that are knee length or longer look best with a low vamp shoe. It elongates the legs and makes you look taller.
• Cropped trousers should only be worn with low vamp shoes to work. (see last shoe 2nd row)
• Stay away from thick soles and platforms if you have heavy lower leg rather go for a medium to thin sole that will create a more flattering and balanced effect.
7. IT’S ALL IN THE LENGTH…
• If you want to make your legs look slim buy a shoe with a longer length toe end. A square or round short toe end will make you leg appear shorter and chunkier. A longer rounder toe (it does not have to be pointy) will make the leg appear slimmer.
• Large feet need to avoid very pointy toes, rather choose a square or oval cut.
• If you want to make your legs look slim buy a shoe with a longer length toe end. A square or round short toe end will make you leg appear shorter and chunkier. A longer rounder toe (it does not have to be pointy) will make the leg appear slimmer.
• Large feet need to avoid very pointy toes, rather choose a square or oval cut.
8. To look taller and slimmer
• Beware of ankle straps and gladiator shoes (specially if you have thick ankles or heavy calves) these will shorten and widen your leg drastically. If you want to do ankle straps go as narrow and as close to your skin colour as possible
• If wearing a skirt or a dress a shoe matching your skin tone will make you look taller.
• Tone shoes and stockings to your hemline to create a vertical line of colour which makes you appear taller
• Beware of ankle straps and gladiator shoes (specially if you have thick ankles or heavy calves) these will shorten and widen your leg drastically. If you want to do ankle straps go as narrow and as close to your skin colour as possible
• If wearing a skirt or a dress a shoe matching your skin tone will make you look taller.
• Tone shoes and stockings to your hemline to create a vertical line of colour which makes you appear taller
Men – put your best foot forward
• For men the only colours necessary in a business wardrobe are black, a very dark brown or ox blood. No grey shoes please!
• A formal work shoe is a lace up or a lace up brogue (has punched hole detailing)
• Slip on shoes need to be in a good quality leather with a discreet clasp or buckle.
• The metal of the buckle of your shoe should match e.g. silver or brass
• In a smart shoe the sole tends to be thinner. The thicker and more synthetic the sole appears the more casual the shoe becomes
• Shoes and belts should be in the same colour
• Socks need to be long enough, to avoid expanses of hairy flesh showing when you cross your legs
• Socks may be the same colour as your shoe, but are always darker than the trousers
• Using a shoe horn makes getting into shoes without wrinkling socks easier. It also prevents damaging the top edge of the heel
• A formal work shoe is a lace up or a lace up brogue (has punched hole detailing)
• Slip on shoes need to be in a good quality leather with a discreet clasp or buckle.
• The metal of the buckle of your shoe should match e.g. silver or brass
• In a smart shoe the sole tends to be thinner. The thicker and more synthetic the sole appears the more casual the shoe becomes
• Shoes and belts should be in the same colour
• Socks need to be long enough, to avoid expanses of hairy flesh showing when you cross your legs
• Socks may be the same colour as your shoe, but are always darker than the trousers
• Using a shoe horn makes getting into shoes without wrinkling socks easier. It also prevents damaging the top edge of the heel
Unsure if you or your staff are putting the right foot forward?
Contact Professional Impressions for more information on their Corporate Image Presentations
Contact Professional Impressions for more information on their Corporate Image Presentations
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