Comfortable Flats

While heels are sexy and make your legs look nice and long, every woman should have a great pair of flats for when she needs to move far and fast.   

Here are some of my favorite (and stylish) brands I recommend for clients.

*  Attilio Giusti Leombruni, otherwise known as AGL - These are the Rolls Royce of flats.  If you want something to walk around in all day (on vacation, to and from work, running errands), then these are it! 

I've had at least one woman on each of my Paris trips in a pair of these and they love them (available at Nordstrom).  They are about $325/pair, but when your feet hurt, you can't focus on anything else.  

*  Corso Como - Yes, named for the famous street in Milan, these are padded so they're super comfortable and each pair has a little rhinestone placed in the middle of the sole of the shoe!  So chic!

*  Sam Edelman - Tons of styles available and at a great price point.

*  Me Too - This is the brand of my flats that I take on vacation.  They're padded and the styles are very basic (I stuck with a pointy toe and bought a size bigger, but a half-size bigger is probably all you need -- I have super flat feet! :).

*  Ivanka Trump - She has classic and some trendy flats available (the basic styles are usually available in wide, narrow and extended sizes). 

*  Anyi Lu - Another fabulous brand that so many of my clients swear by (especially those that have to stand on their feet all day!).  This brand is usually found at Nordstrom and can be expensive, but again, well worth the money.  She doesn't offer a lot of flats, but instead has a wide range of boots, heels, flats et cetera. 


Shoes say a lot about your sense of style, but just because you're not in heels, doesn't make you any less stylish than anyone else - it's the whole look that counts.  :)

**  Many people tell me they feel dumpy in flats.  My advice is to opt for a pointy toe (go up a half size if you feel your toes get squished) and look for something with a slight wedge - about a half-inch is all you need to give you a little elevation so you don't feel so "flat." 

Do you have a favorite brand for flats?  I love check out new brands and would love to hear what has worked for you!  

Break The Mold - Shopping for Plus, Petite, Tall, Dark Nude Shoes or Large Shoe Sizes

The fashion world might seem a bit narrow minded at time, but there are plenty of brands that sell large shoe sizes, plus sizes, and items for petite and tall men and women!

Women

Shoes
This is an area where I can relate because I wear a size 11.  Most shoes stop at size 10, but these brands offer size 11+ and many times, start at a smaller size such as 4.5 or 5.

*  Stuart Weiztman is a go-to brand for many women because his shoes are so comfortable and he always offers a range of styles - classic, on trend, dressy and more.  Most of his shoes start at size 4 and offer full and half-sizes all the way up to size 12.  Woo hoo!  He also offers narrow sizes and his shoes work well for people who have a narrow heel (this is more common than you think!).

*  I never knew waterproof leather and suede boots existed until I discover Aquatalia.  Their shoes are stylish AND functional, but they also offer wide, narrow and extremely narrow sizes.  Their boots also come in extended calf width as well and some styles go up to a size 12.

*  I like Ivanka Trump's shoes because she always has a fun pair of flats and some classic kitten heels for my clients.  Many of her class styles start at size 4 and are available in narrow, medium and wide widths up to a size 12. 

Nude Tights and Shoes
*  Tights are usually very limited in their range of size offerings, but Nordstrom (their own brand), Spanx, and Hue offer plus size.

*  Nubian Skin offers tights in a wide range of skin tones from cafe au lait to cinnamon.  They also have plus size available as well!

*  Bare Necessities and Nude Barre offers tights in a wide range of skin tones. 

*  If you're darker than the color "buff", it can be hard to find nude shoes to match your skin tone.  Christian Louboutin launched a line called "The Nudes", which offers his classic pointy toe pump in several different shades.  While Christian Louboutin can be pricey, you can check other brands such as Nine West, Stuart Weitzman, and Enzo Angiolini. 

Clothes
The average height that mainstream brands work off of is 5'8" or an inseam of 32" (30" is considered short or ankle length). 

*  If you're tall, some of my go-to brands include MaxMara (many times their pants are unfinished), but they have beautiful, timeless clothes.  Theory is another good brand for long pants as well as Rachel Roy, Hugo Boss, and Halsted Heritage.  Each of these is cut a bit longer and work well if you have a long torso.  I've also had great luck with Ralph Lauren wrap dresses for some of my taller clients. 

*  I know people hesitate to shop online, but I love it and this is where you can find some amazing things!  Especially tall and petite sizes.  Banana Republic, Ann Taylor and Loft all have a good selection of tall and petite items online. 

*  Petites can also check out Tahari, Eliza J, Nic & Zoe, Vince Camuto and BCBG, which is cut a bit smaller for blazers, tops and dresses. 

*  For plus size, surprisingly, a good place is, wait, don't be shocked, but Talbots!  While I don't usually like Talbots style, they are a go-to when I'm shopping for plus size basics like a pencil skirt, button down blouse or fitted dress. 

*  Some other plus size favorites include Michael Kors and Vince Camuto (both of these can be found at major department stores or online).  Elloqui, which is only found online, is another great brand for stylish separates and suiting basics.  They also have trendy dresses, skirts and tops. 

*  And, don't knock 'em until you tried them, but Not Your Daughter's Jeans offers a ton of colored jeans, ankle and knit pants.  The basic colors and styles are usually available in size 16, 18 and 20.  Good news is that all of their cuts are very generous so you will probably go down a size.

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Men

Shoes
A lot of men wear insoles and it can be hard to find shoes that fit.  Fortunately, Memphisto has come a long way with its styles and their insoles are removable.  Ecco also has removable insoles and Allen Edmonds offers a wide range of sizes in width from very narrow to very wide.  Their cork sole makes this a reliable and comfortable shoe (that's also made in the USA! :).

Clothes
If you don't have broad shoulders, then European brands are going to fit best.  Ted Baker is stylish, yet cut a bit smaller.  Hugo Boss is also a slimmer cut, but it's not too narrow so don't be afraid to try this brand if you want a nice, tailored look.  Theory is also a good, slim-fitting brand. 

For tall or larger men, some good go-to's include Peter Millar, the Nordstrom brand and AG jeans.  In fact, every client has always gone down one size with AG jeans.  These are also terrific because they come in a wide range of colors like a bright blue, gray, olive and khaki-colored brushed cotton jeans. 

What are you favorite go-to brands for less than average sizes?  There are so many sites and styles out there - I would love to include them on this list!