Types of Women Shoes to Complement a Business Casual Outfit
Let’s be honest! The outfit and the overall appearance do matter. Either it’s a job interview or some business meeting, the business casual dress code is a great way to dress for success. One of your first orders of business each morning is deciding what to wear to work. It still depends on the type of your job, so the choice of clothing may be a no-brainer or a bit more challenging - this especially goes for women.
Many industries require a dress code that’s more elusive and can be especially puzzling for women to decipher – business casual, meaning formal and comfortable at the same time. In addition, trying to decipher what composes business casual can be overwhelming in modern work environments. It can vary depending on where you live, the company you work for, the profession itself, the season, etc.
And what is business casual, more precisely? Since there are many types of business attire, people often find it confusing whether business casual is just another saying for "informal" or "dressed down". To clarify this, business casual means semi-formal professional dress code typically found in modern office settings, i.e. outfits you would wear when you meet your client for lunch, for instance. For women, it would mainly be slacks, blazer and a dress shoe.
When it comes to shoes, here is a simple guide of types of women shoes to complement your business casual outfit.
Loafers
Loafers, also known as slippers, are an essential type of shoes for you to have in your wardrobe if your everyday work outfit should be kind of formal. If looking for comfortable types of formal shoes - loafers for ladies are your ideal option. They’re totally work-appropriate and instantly lift a casual outfit and offer a more classic style. Loafers can add glamour to your daytime outfit or office wear.
Women’s loafers are typically stretchable to accommodate your feet. They have elasticated panels on both sides and there’s no need of fastenings or laces. There are so many options for loafers for women. They come in so many shades, textures, materials and designs, such as low heeled styles, retro-inspired versions, loafers with pointed-toes, metallic colours, velvet creations, and many others.
Other than formal suits, they go perfectly with jeans, leather jackets, skirts and dresses. For example, a basic tee and jeans combo, supplemented with loafers, make a perfect and refined casual, yet fancy look.
Wedges
A pair of wedges are perfect for the office. They are the ideal alternative for high heels if your feet are tired of wearing sharp sandals all the time. With wedges, you will look stylish and still lounging around in comfort. For a more formal outfit, you can pair them with a pencil skirt and shirt combination. And if your office environment is somewhat more casual, then opt for denim jeans and shirt combo. There is one pro tip from stylists: if you want your legs to appear longer, go for a pair of nude wedges, as they trick the eye into thinking your legs are longer.
You have many different kinds of wedges to choose from, like strap wedge heels, cork wedges, denim wedges, or just simple pearl wedges. From such a wide range of wedges, they can easily lend your outfit an extremely elegant and polished look.
Ballerinas
If you have ever had to wear high heels for many hours, it’s probable that you’ve also stuffed some ballerinas, or also known as ballet flats, in your bag to change into later. Ballerinas are a pretty and practical solution to everyday footwear, either it’s a business casual or just everyday casual outfit. Simple and soft leather ballerinas make great office shoes. With the neat and rounded design, they are the perfect balance between smartness and comfort. They can go with formal sharp and smart outfits, such as outfits for an interview or business meetings, then with elegant outfits for parties and weddings, and of course they are perfect for everyday casual outfits, as well.
They are usually considered to be only springtime shoes, but the truth is that if you style them right, you can wear ballerinas from the break of spring right through to the end of autumn. However, it’s not recommended to wear them once the weather turns really wet and cold.
Brogues
Brogues are formal dress shoes, that despite looking fashionable they are not considered formal enough to wear with a suit. Hence, they are perfect for a semi-formal outfit, i.e. for a business casual look. They are as versatile as any flat shoe, with the advantage of looking more formal in comparison with some other types of flat shoes. They can make a tailored office outfit look polished and traditional. You can pair them with a floaty dress and make a perfect evening outfit, or with a shift dress or line mini skirt and tights for a work outfit.
