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Sure, we all know what basics professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.
Almost since this blog was born, we’ve done roundups of nude-for-you heels — beige heels, brown heels, pink heels and more. But I don’t think we’ve ever done a roundup of nude flats — so I thought we’d do one today.
Ladies, do you wear nude-for-you flats as often as you wear nude-for-you heels? Which outfits are your favorite to pair with nude-for-you flats? Any favorite brands of flats, either for comfort or the perfect match to your skin?
{related: cute flats for the office}
Our General Favorite Flats for Work
First up, some of our “Workwear Hall of Fame” styles — these are the best sellers and classics that have been around for years:
Our Latest Favorite Nude Flats For All Skin Tones
Above, some comfortable flats with a variety of skin-tone options as of 2023: one / two / three / four / five / six (also this, this and this)
Why You Might Want to Wear Nude Flats to Work
The theory is thus: the closer to your exact skin tone you can get with any shoe, the more elongating and flattering a look it can be with sheer hose or bare legs.
(Here’s our last guide on when and how to wear pantyhose if you need a refresher!)
In addition to being a leg-lengthening look, they’re a great neutral and can pair with pretty much any outfit because, in theory, you are matching your skin, not anything you’re wearing.
One important note, though: you can buy a “nude” flat that isn’t YOUR nude — it’s totally fine. Wear what you want!
In fact, as we noted in our post on the best nude heels for every skin tone, there are a few rules that you may want to be wary of:
- Know your office — we’ve focused our roundup on closed-toe shoes, as that’s what appropriate at most offices, but some may allow sandals. Trust your own comfort level with shoes that show more skin, such as d’Orsay flats that show your instep, or shoes that bare toe cleavage. (Maybe that’s a topic for another post — I’m curious if anyone is still scandalized by toe cleavage.)
- Similarly, know your office with regard to whether bare legs are appropriate — depending on how conservative your office is, I might assume that pantyhose is still appropriate for “big meetings” or, say, court appearances, and you may want to keep a pair in your desk just in case. (In our last roundup of pantyhose for work, Oroblu, Wolford, and DKNY were among our favorites.)
What to Look For in Nude Flats If You Don’t Want to Look Barefoot
A number of readers have noted a big pitfall with nude flats, which is that — as you’re walking down the hallway — you may look as if you’re barefoot. If this impression would bother you, keep an eye out for nude flats that have darker details.
For example, animal prints often have different colors of beige and brown that can match a variety of different skin tones and give a leg-lengthening look — but because there are always contrasting colors with your skintone, it won’t look as if you’re barefoot.
Another way to do this is to look for nude flats with a darker captoe, such as the Rothy’s pictured below.
How to Wear Nude Flats with Work Outfits
I think these are a particularly great look to pair with office skirts and work dresses — your legs will look a mile long, and the neutral color won’t detract from the rest of your outfit. (They’re also great shoes to keep at your office because they go with everything!)
A Closer Look at Some Great Nude Flats for Work
Rothy’s
Rothy’s have been a reader favorite for a loooong time, and they often have a bunch of “nude-for-me” colors in various shades of ivory, beige, tan, and more. (They often have an animal print, too, which can be a fun way to wear nude(ish) heels.)
As of September 2023, they offer “camel captoe” (pictured), a darker “portobello,” a lighter “ecru,” and a very light beige “moonlight tweed;” the shoes are available in sizes 5-13.
The brand also offers square toe flats, round toe flats, three kinds of loafers, and boots.
MM.LaFleur
These M.M.LaFleur flats have been another reader favorite for a while, although at a higher price point ($245). The shoe has come in a variety of colors over the years, but always in several neutral shades.
Rebecca Allen
There are a number of brands that specialize in making nude-for-you heels — I was poking through Nordstrom’s Black-Owned Business section recently and was delighted to find just such a brand: Rebecca Allen.
This pointy-toed, patent flat looks great for everyday wear. For some reason, I think it would be a particularly great flat to wear with a dress, since it’s got such a sleek look.
The brand offers four colors of “nude” in sizes 6–11 for $150. If this flat isn’t your jam, the brand also makes sandals and heels in the same color spectrum.
Anonymous
I recently bought the Halogen “Owen” flats featured above (the lace-ups). They’re super comfy and cute, but I’m a little surprised to see them featured here along with what are all otherwise work appropriate flats. I don’t think of anything that laces up my leg as the least bit work appropriate–these are firmly in the evening/weekend category.
Shopaholic
I think tie-up flats are more work appropriate than heels. That said, I have tie-up heels that I wear to work occasionally because you can adjust the ties so it looks more like ankle straps.
NOLA
I have the Bella Vita ghillie flats but in the champagne color. They are super comfortable. Because they’re kind of metallic, I feel a little weird wearing them to work, but they don’t lace up my leg. They have a back zip.
Cat
I avoid true nude-for-me flats, because every time I see someone wearing them from down the hall, they look barefoot. For my pale skin, I prefer a medium brown.
Also, I don’t think flats with laces, like the third pair down, are office appropriate. Too trendy/strappy/complicated.
SuziStockbroker
I also worry that nude for me flats are not office appropriate as it can look like you are barefoot from a distance.
Anonymous
Ha! I have a pair of low-heeled (2″) nude pumps, and the guys on my team absolutely have asked me if I’m barefoot.
anon
Is it really worth getting shoes repaired rather than replacing them? Pretty much all of my shoes are in the $200-300 range full price (although I paid more like 30-60% of that), and I’m wondering if shoe maintenance is really worth it or if I should just get new shoes and ditch the old.
lucy stone
I usually take mine to the cobbler and he’ll give me an estimate on what it costs to fix. For shoes that can be easily resoled or retapped, I’d rather spend $25 to fix it than get a new pair. For shoes that need more work, I tend to just get new ones unless it’s a favorite pair. I tend to wear $100-150 shoes.
CPA Lady
I think it depends on the repairs and how much you love the shoes. I’ve had my favorite green flats resoled twice even though they were about $50 on sale from Ann Taylor. I’ve also had my favorite Cole Haans resoled twice. I get the heel cap thing replaced on a variety of shoes too. The repairs are not expensive. I just go to the Hakky store in the mall though. I think a heel cap is under $10 and resole is around $15? I would absolutely get $200-300 shoes repaired. I hate throwing perfectly good things away.
Anon
It’s absolutely worth it. I tend to wear $150-250 shoes (for work, mainly Cole Haan and M.Gemi) and am a fanatic about maintenance. I probably spend $15-40 per season per pair and can typically get at least 3 or 4 years of life out of each pair of heels and flats that I buy, sometimes more (I have a pair of oxfords going strong at age 7), rather than replacing. For boots, I expect a minimum of 5+ years at Cole Haan/J.Crew/Madewell level of quality. Totally worth it and keeps my shoe budget WAY lower than it otherwise would be for the quality. I cannot imagine replacing 4-5 pairs of shoes per year at those prices–not realistic for my budget. A good cobbler can take care of purses and luggage too.
Marhsmallow
I have the French Sole “Passport” in both plain black and beige with a black toe cap, and I wear the beige/black all the time. They’re perfect for looking polished with skirts when I don’t want to wear heels, and the black toe cap helps them look intentional and avoids the barefoot look. I’ve had the beige ones for almost 10 years now, resoled them twice, and they still look great.
Godzilla
I really appreciate the nude-for-everyone options but we all know that none of these are nude for MOI
Jules
Try these:
http://smile.amazon.com/Womens-Suede-Pointed-Ballet-Flats/dp/B017LX6X18/ref=sr_1_4?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1465238518&sr=1-4&nodeID=679337011&keywords=green+flats
Anonymous
The white/black snake option on the Halogen flats actually seems fairly close!
Kat G
Just for you: http://www.zappos.com/lfl-by-lust-for-life-hyper-yellow-multi
Jules
Perfect!
Kat G
ah, or these too: http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/born-carri-ballerina-flat-women/4365154?origin=category-personalizedsort&fashioncolor=AQUA%20SNAKE%20CORK%20LEATHER
Godzilla
Excellent! I love both – perfect for when I’m tanned or not ;)
Wildkitten
I didn’t fill out the survey on Ellen, but you’re my favorite character on this site, G.
Pita
For work, I really hate the look of all flats that have elastic detail. Regardless of quality / price point, they just do not look polished.
tesyaa
True that elastic is more suited for business casual or casual, but for those of us with narrow heels and a medium or wide toe box, it is sometimes the only way to keep flats from flopping off.
Ellen
I can NEVER wear flat’s execpt when I am guaranteed to stay INSIDE the office all day with NO cleint meetings, and NO meeting’s with inside council. The manageing partner think’s FLATS of all types are NOT profesional so I onley wear them on Friday’s when I come in knoweing that I will NOT have to see anyone from the outside.
The manageing partner let’s me wear flat’s on the subway, but MUST put them into my bag and put on pump’s before I come out of the subway. FOOEY!
annon
After being out of work since last winter due to a long term temp to perm gig that did not pan out, I finally recieved a job offer for an in-house position last Friday!! I will be starting it mid-July and am over the moon!!!
Snick
Woo hoo!
Gail the Goldfish
I’ve got the Julianne flats from Born in a nude-for-me color. The little tab on the back of the heel that sticks up slightly more than the rest of the shoe rubbed my heel pretty badly, but once I put in a heel pad, they are in fact quite comfortable. I wear them to work, but they do look ever so slightly too casual somehow.
Ms B
My AGLs in blush with a patent blush toe cap qualify as “nude for me”. They have a chain detail over the toe to avoid that “barefoot” look. When I bought them, the hubs asked what they went with and my response was “what do they NOT go with”???
Those perforated French Sole flats above are supercute, but I have a pair of light tan Ivanka Trump flats with perforations and they really bother my feet after about an hour. Anyone with actual experience on those French Soles?
Anon
I don’t have those French Soles, but I did have a pair of their regular ballet flats and they were awful. They were as thick as a piece of cardboard, which would be ok if you never walk outside, and the insole kept peeling up and scrunching under my toes while I was walking. I do not understand the love for them. I threw them away after two months.
Anon
Also a fan of M.Gemi pointed-toe flats, though if I remember correctly, they don’t have a huge range of nude colors (I’m super pale, so if that describes you, you might be in luck).
Carrots
I have three pairs of the Fitzwell Carmene (wine, cognac, and black (2 pairs of these actual) and I LOVE THEM! They are great for walking around all day. They’re just a basic round toe flat with no bows or other accents to them. They go casual or business and, just, yes. Highly recommend.
stander
I love the Cole Haan flats–both Tali and Monica.
Related Question–how long do your shoes usually last? I tend to wear the same 5 pairs of flats and wedges to work (I have a standing desk) and cycle through them on a 6-9 month average–the sole wears out, they look kind of peaky, they start to smell, or something else. It seems short to me, but I guess I walk a lot and stand a lot. Anyone care to share?