Help me enjoy this gorgeous summer!

May 22, 2010 11:28 AM

I would like to walk to work, but my nice work pants are all tailored to the length of my nice work shoes, which have enough of a heel that I can't wear the pants with flats. If I walk to work in my heels, I'll wear out the shoes really quickly. Plus, they're not as comfortable as sneakers or flats. I would really appreciate any ideas you guys have, because taking the subway two stops is such a waste! Thanks in advance.
posted by prefpara to Grab Bag (24 answers total)

How about bringing your work pants and nice shoes with you in a small backpack and changing when you get to work?
posted by The Light Fantastic at 11:33 AM on May 22, 2010

Response by poster: I'm trying to avoid a solution that forces me to change at work because I want to show up already looking deliciously professional and put together. I just started and I am very nervous about making the best possible impression on everyone so that I get a permanent offer.
posted by prefpara at 11:35 AM on May 22, 2010

Use a rubber band or velcro strap to keep you pants from dragging?
posted by T.D. Strange at 11:38 AM on May 22, 2010

why can't you just roll the cuffs up while you walk? you're wearing sneakers anyway, just curl the cuffs up until you change your shoes.
posted by brainmouse at 11:38 AM on May 22, 2010 [2 favorites]

You could maybe just roll up the cuffs of your pants a bit?. Cyclists have a similar problem with pant cuffs getting caught in the gears and ripped - any bike store will have little velcro straps you can use to keep the cuffs where you want them.
posted by PercussivePaul at 11:40 AM on May 22, 2010 [2 favorites]

Can you wear some chunkier casual shoes? I'm thinking like a wedge flip-flop or something. My wife has a pair from Old Navy that have like 2" of height at the heel, and I know I've seen more extreme ones than that out there.
posted by Rock Steady at 11:40 AM on May 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

Do you mind looking really dorky? If not, you might be able to use those velcro thingies that are designed to keep bicyclists' pants from getting caught in their bike chains.

You could also buy a pair of heels that are comfy to walk in.
posted by craichead at 11:42 AM on May 22, 2010

I have the same problem! I ended up getting a few pairs of Dansko clogs because the heel is chunky AND they are really comfortable to walk in. Granted, they weren't as sexy as my heels, but it saved my pants and my feet!
posted by hnk at 11:49 AM on May 22, 2010 [2 favorites]

Change at a nearby Starbucks/coffee shop?
posted by jstarlee at 11:49 AM on May 22, 2010 [2 favorites]

I really like the Dansko clogs idea and I also like the idea of quickly changing at a Starbucks or coffee shop. Some friends of mine used to do it all the time.
posted by VickyR at 12:08 PM on May 22, 2010

These little clips look like they'd work well. Someone also posted using s-biners but you might find it too fussy. Here are some magnetic clippy things for hems too.
posted by barnone at 12:13 PM on May 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

Doesn't your work have a bathroom where you can duck in, change quickly, and then go into the office looking polished? I bike and I do that all the time. I don't see how it's such a big deal if someone sees you in casual pants for a moment, anyway. Lots of people do this, and I can't imagine it reflecting poorly on you unless you work in fashion or something similar.
posted by slow graffiti at 12:14 PM on May 22, 2010

Fly London makes suuuper-comfy platform wedges that are about 3 inches tall but as comfy as sneakers. They are really great quality, incredible comfortable, easy to walk in, and clunky-cute enough to wear with office clothes. They all seem to have names that start with Y, including Yoda, Yuna, Yaz, Yori, and my favourite, Yedi.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 12:15 PM on May 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

The clips and things are nice, but most women I see doing that just use a safety pin.
posted by anaelith at 12:17 PM on May 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

At least some folks here recommend the Zakkerz that I linked to above.
posted by barnone at 12:17 PM on May 22, 2010

I came in to suggest the magnetic clips that barnone linked you to as "magnetic clippy things for hems." They are designed for exactly your situation.
posted by chatongriffes at 12:21 PM on May 22, 2010

Yeah, seconding anaelith's safety pin. You don't have to cuff the whole leg-- just the part in the back, by the heel, where the fabric would normally drag. Fold the excess up inside the pants leg, pin, and you're good to go.
posted by Bardolph at 12:24 PM on May 22, 2010

At least one female executive I know loves Ecco and Dansko shoes for comfortable walking + looking professional. I like SAS slip-ons for the same purpose.
posted by brainwane at 12:36 PM on May 22, 2010

You could cuff your pants by folding them under (to the inside instead of the outside) and then just use a couple of safety pins to hold it in place. If you put the pins on the inside too then nobody would be able to tell that your pants weren't hemmed that way. Just pin at the seam and be careful not to go all the way through the top fabric.

If your pants are made out of a knit fabric the pins won't damage them, and you don't have to worry about wrinkles. When you change your shoes just take out the pins and let down the cuff. You could even stick the pins to your travelling shoes so they won't get lost in the bottom of your bag (or whatever place you plan to keep the flats while you're working.)
posted by TooFewShoes at 12:40 PM on May 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: I love the idea of pinning to the inside seam. I will give it a try! Thanks, everyone. For some reason this seemed like the world's most impossible problem, but now I have tons of options. Hugs, hugs for all!
posted by prefpara at 1:54 PM on May 22, 2010

Another idea: Double-sided tape like this. You can get it in a fabric/craft store. Also good for when you want to wear longer pants with flats all day, or wear jeans rolled up that won't stay up on their own.
posted by DestinationUnknown at 2:02 PM on May 22, 2010

I just tuck my pant legs in to my socks when I walk to work and my pants are a bit long for my walking shoes or the paths/streets are messy after a rain. One of these days I'll get around to springing for a pair of gaiters like these from MEC so my socks don't take so much abuse.
posted by thatdawnperson at 2:29 PM on May 22, 2010

My girlfriend has somehow managed to invisibly sew pop studs inside the lower legs of her work trousers (sorry - can't say "smart pants" and keep a straight face) so they can be held up out of the way of her bike chain when she rides in every morning. Damned if I know how, but it doesn't even look odd.
posted by cromagnon at 5:03 PM on May 22, 2010

seconding/thirding/fourthing the two safety pins on the hem... on either side of the ankle. takes less than a min as you're putting on flats/sneakers/flipflops. Don't worry about pooling the trouser on the front of the leg. Keep a stash of safety pins at work and at home by your shoes and problem solved! (or as I do, keep two safety pins pinned to the inside of the pant at the ideal height for pinning up the back of the pants and it keeps things even/saves you even more time)

or alternately, have lighter weight summer pants tailored to flats :)
posted by larthegreat at 6:52 PM on May 23, 2010