Shoes for working adults

July 31, 2018 4:04 AM

I am a professional in the K-12 education world and I still don't know what kind of shoes to wear as an adult woman.

Education is pretty informal but I do frequently meet with parents so I don't want to look sloppy but the ballet flats I usually wear are killing my feet as I spend a lot of time walking and on my feet.

I typically wear skirts with leggings, and occasionally pants. I also don't understand socks. Am I supposed to go bare? My feet tend to get sweaty without socks.

So my question is, what kind of shoes can I wear that are business casual for a woman, but more on the casual side and can socks be worn with them?

Explain like I am three as fashion-wise, I basically am.

posted by anonymous to Work & Money (25 answers total)

My job has similar restrictions (I work in a hospital so am on my feet all the time, but not in a scrubs/sneakers type role).

I don't have statistics on this, but anecdotally based on conversations with my female friends, most of them are wearing some kind of no show sock under their ballet flats.

I find ballet flats incredibly uncomfortable so I generally wear some kind of loafer or ankle boot (in colder weather).

My secret weapon shoes are Allbirds wool loungers. They're insanely comfortable and pass muster as business casual as long as the rest of the outfit is fairly neat and tidy.
posted by telegraph at 4:31 AM on July 31, 2018 [3 favorites]

I think Danskos are a pretty popular choice among my teacher friends, and I've definitely seen some of them style something like the Fawna with fun socks.
posted by damayanti at 5:07 AM on July 31, 2018 [10 favorites]

Here's how I find work shoes. I go to Zappos and to the shoe section. I filter on comfort first and then heel height and "professional." This gets me a bunch of flat and low-heeled shoes that are work appropriate. I then filter for color, price and other factors, read the reviews, and buy 3-5 pairs with a credit card. I try on all the shoes when they arrive, think it over and usually keep 1-2 pair and return the rest. Sometimes I return all the shoes and start over.

What's appropriate for your particular workplace is hard to say - I always look at what other people are wearing, especially higher-ups. In my business casual corporate workplace, sneakers and flip-flops are considered too casual. So when I'm looking at shoes I avoid things like white rubber soles and canvas or plastic uppers. Clarks, Naturalizer, Dansko, Earth, Born and Comfortiva all produce comfortable shoes, most of which are work-appropriate for a business casual environment.

Something like this Naturalizer would be a very safe bet for you. Probably square in the middle of the spectrum between "too casual" and "too formal." Same with this Comfortiva shoe.

This Earth shoe would be safe in terms of work appropriateness but is a little more fun.
posted by bunderful at 5:13 AM on July 31, 2018 [3 favorites]

When I'm feeling dapper I wear men's style dress shoes (e.g. oxfords). For more femme-leaning outfits (skirts, etc) I like ankle boots with low-cut / no-show socks. Feel free to mix it up, of course.

I recently bought a pair of these Aerosoles--very cute and comfy. Chelsea boots are also a nice, classic choice.

Seconding the suggestion to aggressively filter options, buy multiple pairs at once, and return what you don't like.
posted by junques at 5:19 AM on July 31, 2018 [3 favorites]

I totally understand. I also am a teacher (secondary). To be honest with you, the longer I work in a school, the more I think that it's OK to be comfortable, to express a sense of your style, as long as you are neat and put together. (Hence I have found dark jeans- black ones!) and the shoes that make my feet happy are converse all-stars. I just bought more.

I perhaps am that sloppy looking teacher though, so take this with a grain of salt!

(love the links above, yes, concur that is what you can wear. I avoid heels like the plague, slip on is nice.)
posted by freethefeet at 5:32 AM on July 31, 2018 [2 favorites]

I struggled with this, too. I feel like I finally figured it out so here's what I do. In cooler weather I wear dresses and leggings/tights too, and have a variety of boots to wear with them (some tall boots when it's really cold, and short chelsea boots when it's not below freezing). With pants, short boots or oxfords -- for the oxfords, since socks will show, get some socks from sock dreams in a variety of colors/patterns that coordinate well with your wardrobe. In warmer weather I wear Dansko sandals and dresses.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 6:17 AM on July 31, 2018

Rothy's flats are incredibly comfortable, if you want to give them a shot. They're expensive but I've found them worth it, especially since I can wear them without socks and then throw the shoes in the washer when they get grimy.
posted by lydhre at 6:23 AM on July 31, 2018 [3 favorites]

I'm a high school teacher who hasn't weighed in on shoe discussions since I think my feet just suck but I've tried Rothy's, Dansko, Ecco, Rockports and at least six different shoes recs here.

With the exception of Fluevog Angels, the only shoe that has reached perfection are Birkenstocks, which I now live in. The thing about Birkies is that one needs to embrace that they are funny looking shoes but if you find them comfy, you won't want to wear anything else. They're the only shoe I have where I literally forget I'm wearing shoes and I don't feel uncomfortable by the end of the day. But again, you should embrace how funny looking they are.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 6:53 AM on July 31, 2018 [1 favorite]

If it fits with your style, I like to wear oxfords with no-show socks most days. Cole Haan is super comfy and lasts forever, and sometimes has good sales, and so far I like uniqlo's socks best.
posted by LeeLanded at 7:15 AM on July 31, 2018

I have the *worst* feet and love Bobs Pureflex 3 - Wonderer. (Other Bobs shoes haven’t worked as well, these have a stretchy, ribbed fabric and Skechers soles). I went a half size up and wear them with my rigid orthotics (you could put Superfeet insoles in there) and they’re a dream.
posted by cotton dress sock at 7:21 AM on July 31, 2018

As long as the weather's warm enough, I practically live in these Tevas. They're comfortable, lightweight and supportive enough that you can wear them all day at work. They're cheap enough that you can buy them in multiple color schemes to match various outfits. They look good with dresses as well as pants. I also like this strap style; they look a little more dressy with skirts, capris or other above the ankle pants.
posted by the thought-fox at 7:23 AM on July 31, 2018 [2 favorites]

VivoBarefoot makes a large selection of what I consider the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn. They offer many styles, including sneakers, dress shoes, boots, etc. They're meant to be worn without socks, but that doesn't mean you can't if you prefer it.
posted by dobbs at 8:04 AM on July 31, 2018 [1 favorite]

I have arthritis in my feet and have to wear shoes that are flexible and comfortable. I and several women I know have these Keen sandals and dance in them. These Keen shoes are on my wishlist. I have boots from born (zappos) that are comfortable and beautiful. These Naturalizers are stylish; have had Naturalizers and they are easy to wear. Have had Josef Seibels and great to wear. Clarks.
posted by theora55 at 8:58 AM on July 31, 2018 [1 favorite]

Loafers, oxfords, and extremely clean minimally branded sneakers. Like, keep the sneakers in your classroom and do a Mr Rogers every morning. For sneakers, Keds makes some nice supportive shoes and otherwise go unbranded/minimally branded. Tretorn might be a good bet for you.
posted by bilabial at 9:25 AM on July 31, 2018

My school's teachers all wear sneakers and keep ballet flats or oxford shoes with a pair in the socks in a drawer for parent or colleague meetings, if that helps at all.
posted by hapaxes.legomenon at 9:55 AM on July 31, 2018

I am a huge fan of these Birkenstock sneakers. I wear them with leggings and skirts. They feel amazing and as long as they're clean I think they look professional enough. I'm a physician for what it's worth. I found these weird half-socks on Amazon and now they're my daily thing. They don't slip down and are just enough to keep my feet comfortable.

In the winter I wear Birkenstock Farmington boots with comfy socks. They don't make them anymore so that's an eBay link.
posted by 6thsense at 9:57 AM on July 31, 2018 [1 favorite]

I've been really happy with my Clarks 'Ashland Effie' shoes. (I'm wearing them right now.) They work with or without socks and are comfortable even when I need to walk a couple miles. I also had a pair of Clarks flats ('Ashland Twist') that I loved & wore for years, but I can't find that particular style anymore.
posted by belladonna at 10:03 AM on July 31, 2018 [1 favorite]

I'm a secondary teacher, and the second it's warm enough in the spring: Birkenstocks, Birkenstocks, Birkenstocks.

I do a lot of boots/ballet flats in the winter, but they're nowhere near as comfortable. Part of this is going to depend on your feet; I have very high arches, which is why I love the Birkenstock footbed (it actually touches my feet!).
posted by lysimache at 10:41 AM on July 31, 2018

Ecco Bluma ballerina flats. They feel like sneakers. I bought two pairs because I liked them so much and then I alternate because I don’t wear socks with them.
posted by kat518 at 11:20 AM on July 31, 2018 [1 favorite]

I'm a teacher and in the last year I finally just succumbed to wearing semi-fashionable looking sneakers (vs running shoe type sneakers). I have a pair of sleek black Nikes that go with most things. My administration wears similar kinds of shoes so I think it's fine. I'm an elementary teacher for what it's worth, and if my job requires me to be on the floor, outside on dusty playgrounds, and walking up and down stairs a million times a day, I'm going to dress like it.

In the past I have worn slip on leather sneakers, Sperry boat shoes, and every so often ballet flats. I wear flat semi-dressy sandals when it's warm and on casual Fridays I wear Chacos.
posted by raspberrE at 1:56 PM on July 31, 2018

This will be a YMMV thing, but Crocs makes several styles of women's shoe, that look like any other perfectly fine workplace shoe (the linked example is ballet-flattish) but they're made of crocs material, so are very lightweight, have some cushion, can wear in the rain, etc.
posted by LobsterMitten at 3:40 PM on July 31, 2018

These just showed up in my facebook ads, so hippy and beautiful, and I may spring for them. Had convertible/ strap clogs before and loved them.
posted by theora55 at 9:06 AM on August 1, 2018

I am a college professor and a huge fan of Keen. I keep an eye on AskMe favorite Sierra Trading Post and buy new oxfords, boots, sandals, and mary janes as things wear out--a pair of Keens usually lasts me 3 or 4 years.

theora55 they have those shoes you liked at half price right now!
posted by hydropsyche at 10:05 AM on August 1, 2018

I'm a teacher and I have spent a scary amount of money getting Birkenstocks for every season. I have pretty flat feet and occasional Achilles tendon issues and these are a dream for me for both extended walking and being on my feet all day. I think a lot friends on your foot type though
posted by Salamandrous at 3:16 PM on August 7, 2018

Try to find some nice leather walking shoes that can complement your outfits but keep you comfortable when you stand and walk
posted by infortunity at 9:39 PM on August 28, 2018