This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Note: in view of the holiday weekend we're going to end our week on Thursday — we hope everyone else does also! We gotta say, we don't normally like to wear shoes by Steve Madden — but for some reason we find these irresistible. We love the rich red, the contrast stitching on the cutouts, the buckle, and even the fun blue lining. They strike us as modern but also a bit vintage; sort of a mix between an oxford and a gladiator. Love 'em. We'd wear them with gray trousers and a black blouse at the office, perhaps with another color in the mix — a purple necklace, a yellow brooch. They're $49.50 at Zappos.com. Madden Girl – Umaa (Red Paris) – Footwear If you've recently seen a great work piece you'd like to recommend to the readers, please e-mail editor@corporette.com with “TPS” in the subject line. Unless you ask otherwise, we'll refer to you by your first initial.Sales of note for 10.10.24
- Nordstrom – Extra 25% off clearance (through 10/14); there's a lot from reader favorites like Boss, FARM Rio, Marc Fisher LTD, AGL, and more. Plus: free 2-day shipping, and cardmembers earn 6x points per dollar (3X the points on beauty).
- Ann Taylor – Extra 50% off sale (ends 10/12)
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything plus extra 25% off your $125+ purchase
- Boden – 10% off new styles with code; free shipping over $75
- Eloquii – Extra 50% off a lot of sale items, with code
- J.Crew – 40% off sitewide
- J.Crew Factory – 50% off entire site, plus extra 25% off orders $150+
- Lo & Sons – Fall Sale, up to 35% off
- M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
- Neiman Marcus – Sale on sale, up to 85% off
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – 50% off 2+ markdowns
- Target – Circle week, deals on 1000s of items
- White House Black Market – Buy one, get one – 50% off full price styles
And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!
Some of our latest threadjacks include:
- What to say to friends and family who threaten to not vote?
- What boots do you expect to wear this fall and winter?
- What beauty treatments do you do on a regular basis to look polished?
- Can I skip the annual family event my workplace holds, even if I'm a manager?
- What small steps can I take today to get myself a little more “together” and not feel so frazzled all of the time?
- The oldest daughter is America's social safety net — change my mind…
- What have you lost your taste for as you've aged?
- Tell me about your favorite adventure travels…
Kalorama
Yuck.
anonymous
Again, don’t like a 3″ heal. 2 1/2″ max.
Cat
these look like a cheaper version of something lindsay lohan would wear with leggings. too much going on for work, even if mostly covered by pant leg when standing. nice heel height though.
HK
LOL.
Ashley
Love them! And a great price!
Anonymous
OMG, HK, I had the same reaction, and then I L-edOL again when I saw your comment
HK
great minds think alike. :)
S
I like ’em! Please keep the cheap finds coming!
DJ
I have to say, I would totally pass on these. There’s just too much going on there with the pleated/sewn pattern (can’t tell), the criss-cross, the big buckle, the loud color. Just too much. And I usually really like Madden stuff.
EAS
These are hiddy! What is going on with Corporette this week?
Mel
I used to like Madden styles a lot back in the day, but the quality was just the worst I’ve seen in any brand. I love the color, but the style is even a bit too much for me. It looks too teen to wear with a skirt, and there’s no reason to have that much going on with a pant.
Diana
Love ’em. Great to liven up an otherwise sedate outfit.
Midori
I love them! And I’m not normally a shoe person–but those are adorable! I would wear them with pants for work, though, not a skirt. Long pants with full break will cover them up just enough to tone them down unless you’re looking, but leave some of the nice deep red peeping out to let you know there’s something fun there.
lawyergrrl
Egads — Noooo. . . .
A Different Liz
Definitely not for me…
Erin
“I’LL GET YOU, MY PRETTY!!! And your little dog too!!!”
(cackling fades out)
AEK
Mary Poppins had shoes just like these.
Midori
Lol @ Erin. Yeah, you have a point. Don’t wear these with blue gingham.
cia
I like ’em!
Ms B
In the immortal words of Carson Kressly, “My mother said that only whores and children wear red shoes.” ‘Nuff said!
Mewis
I love most of the items on here, but honestly the shoes are usually hideous and this pair is no exception.
Jay
Hid. Eous. I love the color and price, and I certainly don’t mind the height, but those look like witch shoes made from dark red bandages. The buckle is the final straw.
Liz
Anyone have a suggestion for a good pair of red heels that could be both work appropriate and great for the weekend? These are just not my style…
Pam
Not sure if this is your style either but I just bought these (and wear them with boring dark suits or pants and I understand others wear them with jeans as well). I think they are cute and comfortable and have received compliments from others at the office.
http://www.zappos.com/clarks-diamond-clarity-dark-red-patent
AH
So I guess I’m either a whore or a child. I love red shoes. These are a bit busy but not horrible. Plus – really – and this has bugged me for a while – I’m in a very conservative law firm and MANY women wear heels higher than this. What is the big deal with high heels?
Cat
The height isn’t a problem from an appropriateness perspective (I think anything up to about 4″ is fine for the office ), but from a comfort perspective… I know I wear lower heels or flats when I’m expecting to be back and forth around the office on a given day. The miles add up when your building is the length of a city block!
b
I agree with Cat. I wear flats nearly every day because I prefer them, but I think that as long as you can walk comfortably in your high heels (read: it should look effortless) and as long as no one would mistake you for a lady of the evening (to the woman in my office who wears clear heels, this one’s for you), then I think any heel height you want is just fine.
Mel
I don’t think there is a problem with higher heels being appropriate. Obviously there are some styles with platforms or ultra-high heels that won’t look professional, but just because a shoe has a higher heel doesn’t mean it’s necessarily unprofessional. For me, often times heel height has to do with the pants and how long they are, so a pant that’s longer to start will probably get a higher heel so I won’t have to hem it.
KLo
I’m a childish whore, too. These are great! Esp. for a less-expensive shoe with pants.
Delta Sierra
Childish hos: me, too, KLo. What, Carson Parsley’s mom is going to tell me what to wear?! I don’t think so.
jcb
I like ’em. I think they’d be great with gray pants at work or with jeans on the weekend. and the deep red and closed-toe will let them work through fall and winter. Sadly, am on a spending hiatus …
S
Liz – try these from Ann Taylor.: http://tinyurl.com/lq23u9
Pricier, but if you search the internet you can find 30% off coupons, and they are a classic you will wear forever. If the link doesn’t work, they are the Perfect Leather Pump.
Liz
Thanks! I definitely prefer that more classic style.
J
I’ve been distracted all day trying to decide whether I like these or hate them, and I’m still not sure. (Kind of weird since there are an awful lot of strong opinions on this one.)
I’m normally all for red shoes, so add me to the child/whore category, too.
y
No for me. Too high. I walk too fast and I’d trip for sure.
Jane
Short people (of whom I am one) won’t look good in these. They’re too clunky, too much going on. But Oh, do I love red shoes!!
Anna
These shoes are practically identical to this pair I just bought from Nordstroms — Miz Mooz, Soho. I love the cognac color — they look great with dark blue jeans, like I saw them in the Nordstrom’s catalog. And the quality is probably better than Steve Madden! http://tinyurl.com/nocpng
housecounsel
I really don’t like these at all . . . but have no issue with either red shoes or towering heels (OK, maybe not together for the office).
SM
Yuck! Really? In what world does this read as professional or classy or respectable? It looks like part of a costume for a broadway show or halloween.
Woman of Color
Just got these: http://couture.zappos.com/n/p/dp/40483580/c/168688.html from zappos couture. So I guess I am a child/whore as well.
Nicki
The quality is not too great on the Madden girl shoes. They also tend to be heavy so you’re tired of walking in them at the end of the day.