Shoe Styles for Your Body Shape

How to Wear Ballet Flats, Boots, Platforms, Stilettos & Wedge Heels

Jan 30, 2008

J Jeans by Jasper Conran Pumps, Debenhams.com

Just as it is important to buy outfits according to your body shape, the same equally applies to shoes. Wearing the wrong style footwear can shorten or fatten your legs.

How many of us actually think about the style and shape of our shoes in relation to our body type? The main considerations when determining what shoe styles to wear are:

The size and shape of your body frame
The size and shape of your feet
The color and heel height of your shoe
The style of the outfit you want your shoes to go with.

Ankle Straps

Shoes with ankle straps need to be avoided if you have thick ankles and calves. According to Trinny and Susannah, authors of What Not to Wear (Weidenfeld Nicolson Illustrated 2004) “encircling the offending ankle will make it look like it's being throttled.”

Ballet Flats

Ballet flats or pumps are probably the most comfortable and versatile of all today’s shoe styles given that they have recently been reinvented for both day and eveningwear. The traditional ballet flat was initially a casual, no fuss shoe but today there are also embellished and metallic ones, perfect for a night out on the town.

If you have short, chunky legs then only wear ballet flats with dresses that finish above the knee, advises Jacqui Ripley, of The Makeover Book, (Piatkus 2004). “They also look great with narrow or cropped trousers.” If you are short then choose a more pointed toe rather than the traditional rounded or squared one.

Large chunky ankles and calves fare better with a heavier weight shoe as the delicacy of many ballet flats can make legs appear even larger

Boots

If you are short, use high-heeled boots to elongate the leg when wearing a below the knee dress or skirt. Make sure they are the same color as your outfit, to provide a lengthening block of color.
Avoid calf-length and ankle boots if you have thick legs. Go for a slimming, full-length boot which ends just below the knee. Long pull-on boots which are tight around the ankles give legs some shape.

Flat Sandals

These are versatile and sexy with today’s embellishments and metallic colors. Almost any body type can wear them but be careful what you team them with. If you have short legs then do not wear flats with any hemline that finishes at calf length, unless you want to appear frumpy. If you have thick legs then avoid delicate strappy sandals and go for something more chunky instead.

If you have big feet you will also need to avoid delicate sandals. Choose a more enclosed shoe like a peep toe or a sling back.

Gladiator and Bondage Sandals

Whilst these still may be fashionable, avoid chunky, wide-strapped gladiator styles if you are short, unless you want to appear as if you have just walked off the set of Spartacus. These do nothing for your height!

Mules

Avoid this style if you have thick legs and ankles as the enclosed front of the shoe chops up the foot, making it appear shorter and chunkier.

Peep-Toed Shoes

Warning! Always make sure you have manicured nails if you want to wear a peep-toe shoe. Alternatively wear them with opaque tights in fashionable contracting colors – right on trend this season. If you are vertically challenged then go for a similar or same color, otherwise you run the risk of looking like Alice in Wonderland.

Platform Shoes

Platformed shoes and sandals are good for big ankles and thick legs as they balance out the bulk. Open toes give the appearance of length. Most body shapes can wear this style except for the very petite. If you are short then platforms provide the necessary height to carry off great outfits.

Pointed-Toed Shoes

Pointed toes give the impression of lengthening the foot. However, very sharp points (known as “Winkle Pickers” in the UK) are difficult to walk in, have a tendency to squeeze the toes and come and go out of fashion very quickly.

Pointy-toed shoes can make even the daintiest of feet appear long. Since they're also close-fitting, they also make the foot look slender.

Rounded-Toed shoes

As a general rule, medium height to tall frames look best in rounded or square-toed shoes as they can make a short frame look dumpy.

If you have very long feet, rounded toed shoes will help to shorten them. Conversely, if you have wide feet and short toes then go for a more pointed toe.

Stilettos

The greatest look-at-my shoes of all time. Feet look smaller and more feminine and no matter if you are tall or short, a few extra inched never hurt anybody! Stilettos can transform even the most mundane outfits and can be particularly flattering for short frames, giving hidden height underneath maxi dresses and long pants.

Sadly tall women tend to shy away from stilettos as this means they often tower above their partner, but many would die for a pair of Manolo Blahnik’s killer heels! If you have large feet avoid very high heels.

Wedge Heels

Wedge heels make you look taller and elongate the foot. They are also more comfortable and easier to wear than stilettos. Wedges balance out thicker ankles and calves, and are flattering to the leg, providing toes are not enclosed.

Shoe Colors and Embellishments

Metallics work better than blacks and browns when it comes to elongating the foot. Break the rules by teaming a black outfit with metallic or contrasting colored shoes.Matching black shoes make an outfit heavy, unless they have decoration/embellishments to break up the line.

Bright colors and colored appliqués look great on small feet. Red shoes are right on trend at the moment, this season’s spring and summer pinks, purples, blues and reds add a splash of color to even the drabbest outfit.

According to about.com, in their article “Tips for making Big Feet Appear Smaller,” embellishments such as bows, buckles, lace overlays will make feet appear more petite.

Having thought about your footwear styles it is now time to think about dress styles and handbag styles in conjunction with your body shape.

The copyright of the article Shoe Styles for Your Body Shape in Women's Shoes is owned by Gill Hart. Permission to republish Shoe Styles for Your Body Shape must be granted by the author in writing.