Summer shoes for tech workplace?
March 28, 2018 9:47 AM Subscribe
I am an engineer who doesn’t wear sneakers. Could use your fashionable but not too dressy shoe recs.
I’m 28. Most of the fall/winter I wear suede boots with a low block heel, kind of retro, with jeans and sweaters. I wear a lot of cropped jeans in summer time, and every shoe I think looks smart with them seems to peg me as a non-tech professional, which is problematic in a workplace where I already have to prove myself constantly. I like this look for my days off, but it’s too much for work (sadly). I’d prefer closed toe but otherwise it might not be so bad. No preference as to material but I’ll probably be wearing them every other day so high quality is best.
It doesn’t HAVE to be a heel, but I have rather short legs so anything that looks stumpy is probably a no.
Any recommendations?
I’m 28. Most of the fall/winter I wear suede boots with a low block heel, kind of retro, with jeans and sweaters. I wear a lot of cropped jeans in summer time, and every shoe I think looks smart with them seems to peg me as a non-tech professional, which is problematic in a workplace where I already have to prove myself constantly. I like this look for my days off, but it’s too much for work (sadly). I’d prefer closed toe but otherwise it might not be so bad. No preference as to material but I’ll probably be wearing them every other day so high quality is best.
It doesn’t HAVE to be a heel, but I have rather short legs so anything that looks stumpy is probably a no.
Any recommendations?
I rely on Sperry Topsiders for summer; light, comfortable, and professional enough to wear in a conservative industry on quiet days and summer Fridays; should be fine for everyday in tech. (I'm wearing black boat shoes right now!)
The women's cut is WAY cuter in person than they look on the website. it's worth checking out in person.
Not sure why, but some pairs have been astoundingly comfortable out of the box while others needed a week to get broken in. I usually walk 1-2 miles a day commuting
posted by larthegreat at 10:18 AM on March 28, 2018
The women's cut is WAY cuter in person than they look on the website. it's worth checking out in person.
Not sure why, but some pairs have been astoundingly comfortable out of the box while others needed a week to get broken in. I usually walk 1-2 miles a day commuting
posted by larthegreat at 10:18 AM on March 28, 2018
Free people has a really cute open sided flat that would look good with cropped denim. I’m an engineer and I’m wearing the 3-years-ago version to work today; the PM I work with was wearing the linked pair yesterday.
posted by asphericalcow at 10:46 AM on March 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by asphericalcow at 10:46 AM on March 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
I'm also an engineer in tech, in the heart of Sloppy-Dress-Code, CA, with an interest in looking a little bit fashionable. I empathize!
In the sandals category, this kind of refined sandal has a dressy vibe but the flat (anything 1" or lower) heel tones it down.
Or how about a perforated bootie? This has the advantage of letting you get away with heels, because low-heeled booties read less dressy than other heeled shoes.
If you're willing to give sneaker-type shoes a try, I really like slip-on sneakers with suede/leather/perforated uppers.
There's also the flat espadrilles / TOMS / boat shoes category, but fair warning, I find this type of covered summer shoe the most leg-stumpifying.
For leg lengthening, low-vamp ballet flats are the classic choice, and they've been around long enough to read as casual. But by the same token, they can read a bit "dated" -- I'd go for either super classic (e.g. the Repetto look) or super modern (e.g. Camper).
posted by serelliya at 10:46 AM on March 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
In the sandals category, this kind of refined sandal has a dressy vibe but the flat (anything 1" or lower) heel tones it down.
Or how about a perforated bootie? This has the advantage of letting you get away with heels, because low-heeled booties read less dressy than other heeled shoes.
If you're willing to give sneaker-type shoes a try, I really like slip-on sneakers with suede/leather/perforated uppers.
There's also the flat espadrilles / TOMS / boat shoes category, but fair warning, I find this type of covered summer shoe the most leg-stumpifying.
For leg lengthening, low-vamp ballet flats are the classic choice, and they've been around long enough to read as casual. But by the same token, they can read a bit "dated" -- I'd go for either super classic (e.g. the Repetto look) or super modern (e.g. Camper).
posted by serelliya at 10:46 AM on March 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
I wear a lot of loafers to work, ranging in formality from casual boat shoes like this to leather ones like this. Depending on how hot it gets at work, there are some nice ones from more breathable materials (I just got a perforated leather pair for summer). Would something like that work?
posted by mosst at 10:48 AM on March 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by mosst at 10:48 AM on March 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
I'm not sure this gets the aesthetic you're going for quite right, but maybe some modern, plain clogs, sandals, or mules? I don't know how those read in the tech world, but they seem pretty low-key fashiony to me, which I think is the spot you want to hit?
On preview, yes, weird loafers could be a winner.
posted by snaw at 10:50 AM on March 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
On preview, yes, weird loafers could be a winner.
posted by snaw at 10:50 AM on March 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
A lot of powerful women I know in tech wear tieks.
posted by batter_my_heart at 10:59 AM on March 28, 2018
posted by batter_my_heart at 10:59 AM on March 28, 2018
I moved to a much more casual office.
I have had some luck looking at really casual shoe brands (eg just got Tevas) and picking the most officey version (eg leather etc) they offer.
posted by typecloud at 11:31 AM on March 28, 2018
I have had some luck looking at really casual shoe brands (eg just got Tevas) and picking the most officey version (eg leather etc) they offer.
posted by typecloud at 11:31 AM on March 28, 2018
Dansko makes some really cute, comfy closed-toe sandals with a bit of a heel, like the Thea or Malin. Here's a link to all their sandals.
I have several pairs of Dansko sandals and they don't last forever, but they last me at least 4-5 summers.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 12:03 PM on March 28, 2018
I have several pairs of Dansko sandals and they don't last forever, but they last me at least 4-5 summers.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 12:03 PM on March 28, 2018
I'm also not sure if I've got your aesthetic right, but maybe something from Poppy Barley's spring collection? In particular, the Slingback Mary Jane caught my eye.
posted by Juniper Toast at 12:12 PM on March 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Juniper Toast at 12:12 PM on March 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
Yeah, simple ballet flats are what I would go with in this situation. A cute or funky pattern could maybe convey "tech professional", like these navy T.U.K. flats with freakin' dinosaurs on them! (I may have persuaded myself to buy a pair of these.) Modcloth in general might be a good fit - they are chic/dressy, and appropriate for a professional in their late 20s/early 30s, but still a little on the edgier side.
posted by capricorn at 12:25 PM on March 28, 2018
posted by capricorn at 12:25 PM on March 28, 2018
PM in tech with a similar aesthetic here! I’m wearing the same freepeople booties linked above today. I’m planning on snagging the clogs and slingbacked Mary Janes linked too.
posted by Marinara at 12:35 PM on March 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Marinara at 12:35 PM on March 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
Cobb Hill Women's Abbott Ankle Strap Pump is more of a modified, heeled mary jane, as is the Josef Seibel Tina 17.
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:01 PM on March 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:01 PM on March 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
Missed one - Earth's Lynx, which, though still closed-toe, has a woven detail for more of a sandal effect.
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:04 PM on March 28, 2018
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:04 PM on March 28, 2018
I highly recommend the Merrell Freewheel Moc, on sale at Sierra Trading Post for $50 and I really love mine.
posted by masters2010 at 1:53 PM on March 28, 2018
posted by masters2010 at 1:53 PM on March 28, 2018
Can you give examples of the shoes you have that don't work?
Would mules, perforated loafers, or something like these slingback oxfords work, or are they all too "dressed up"? How about perforated slip-on sneakers in a color you like?
Not closed-toe, but low-heel perforated booties? I wore these to SxSW and felt like I fit in.
posted by CiaoMela at 8:58 AM on March 29, 2018
Would mules, perforated loafers, or something like these slingback oxfords work, or are they all too "dressed up"? How about perforated slip-on sneakers in a color you like?
Not closed-toe, but low-heel perforated booties? I wore these to SxSW and felt like I fit in.
posted by CiaoMela at 8:58 AM on March 29, 2018
Betabrand, which is sort of the apotheosis of tech-officey "going-bouldering-on-my-lunch-break" athleisure, makes a ballet flat that seems like it would convey the vibe you want, if it works with the rest of your style.
posted by en forme de poire at 12:02 PM on March 29, 2018
posted by en forme de poire at 12:02 PM on March 29, 2018
Actually, Betabrand's entire women's shoe collection is probably worth looking at, given their target audience. They're spendy and may not be right for your style but the way they achieve that sort of nerdy-sporty look may offer some inspiration.
posted by en forme de poire at 12:15 PM on March 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by en forme de poire at 12:15 PM on March 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
Similar to the Betabrand ballet flat, I have three pairs of Rothy's flats (black round toe, navy round toe, leopard pointy toe) that I love with all my heart. They're made of recycled water bottles, seamless, and machine washable. You can buy extra insoles if you want to stretch your washing interval, and I find that Hue's no-show socks hide comfortably in the round toe shoes (the pointy toes have too deep a V for socks.)
posted by workerant at 7:43 PM on March 29, 2018
posted by workerant at 7:43 PM on March 29, 2018
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posted by filthy_prescriptivist at 9:54 AM on March 28, 2018