Now, with a growing selection of women's sling backs, you can find a pair for every season and every occasion—from stay-at-home clothes to wedding attire. What determines the sling back's suitability is the design of the shoe, the material, the embellishments, and whether it contributes to the overall desired look.
If you feel the shoes complement your outfit and you feel comfortable wearing them, let your personal sense of style guide you. Cut corners elsewhere, but never with your shoes. Regardless of the style you wear, ensure that your shoe are in A-1 condition, with perfect soles and heels and that the fabric is clean, the leather polished, or the suede brushed.
Stay-At-Home Attire
Any of the popular fabric, leather or suede casual flat or low-heeled slingbacks complement stay-at-home attire. Slingbacks are available in denim as well a wide variety of other fabrics. Wear mesh or cutout slingbacks with shorts, skorts, culottes and other skimpy summer attire. The perennial favorite, the sandal, fits into the slingback category, and for summer casual clothing, nothing beats a pair of flirty sandals, particularly with a pretty, freshly manicured set of toes peeking through.
Business Casual Attire
Business casual attire requires a polished look, so select accompanying slingbacks accordingly, just as you would any other shoe. A medium-heel leather, suede or fabric slingback adds polish to a business casual pants suit or a skirt and sweater set. Add bows, buckles and other embellished clips to your slingbacks to extend one pair of slingbacks into multiple looks. The term business casual varies from company to company, so if your company has a policy that requires closed shoes, you should avoid wearing slingbacks to work.
Business Attire
Suits destined for the boardroom can carry off slingbacks with a sophisticated, classic design. Spectator pumps and unadorned, simple leather slingback pumps coordinate perfectly with a classic, tailored suit. Always wear top quality, color-coordinated hosiery with business attire, regardless of your shoe choice. If you frequent the boardroom, it's unlikely that you have to inquire about the dress code; more likely, you set the dress code.
Evening Attire
The little black dress never looked better than when accompanied by silk or satin slingbacks. If your dress is simple, concentrate on jewelry and shoe embellishments. If your outfit is the centerpiece of your look; for example, a peplum top, a close-fitting wrap skirt or a plunge neckline, downplay your accompanying slingbacks—a simple slingback with no accompanying adornment. Feel free to wear sandals year-round with evening wear.
Formal Attire
Formal eveningwear requires formal accessories, and while closed toe slingbacks are too casual for a formal occasion, you can find formal open toe shoes in a slingback—sandals. Sandals often finish a head-to-toe formal look. Find the most stunning formal shoes and handbag you can afford to add the final touch to your formal attire.
Regardless of the occasion, the design of the shoe, the look you're trying to achieve, none of it is worth wearing an uncomfortable pair of shoes. If you're wearing uncomfortable shoes, it will show in your face, your posture, and your demeanor—and that's enough to spoil the look of casual sophistication or elegance that you're trying to achieve.
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