Comfortable Flats

While heels are sexy and make your legs look nice and long, every woman should have a great pair of flats for when she needs to move far and fast.   

Here are some of my favorite (and stylish) brands I recommend for clients.

*  Attilio Giusti Leombruni, otherwise known as AGL - These are the Rolls Royce of flats.  If you want something to walk around in all day (on vacation, to and from work, running errands), then these are it! 

I've had at least one woman on each of my Paris trips in a pair of these and they love them (available at Nordstrom).  They are about $325/pair, but when your feet hurt, you can't focus on anything else.  

*  Corso Como - Yes, named for the famous street in Milan, these are padded so they're super comfortable and each pair has a little rhinestone placed in the middle of the sole of the shoe!  So chic!

*  Sam Edelman - Tons of styles available and at a great price point.

*  Me Too - This is the brand of my flats that I take on vacation.  They're padded and the styles are very basic (I stuck with a pointy toe and bought a size bigger, but a half-size bigger is probably all you need -- I have super flat feet! :).

*  Ivanka Trump - She has classic and some trendy flats available (the basic styles are usually available in wide, narrow and extended sizes). 

*  Anyi Lu - Another fabulous brand that so many of my clients swear by (especially those that have to stand on their feet all day!).  This brand is usually found at Nordstrom and can be expensive, but again, well worth the money.  She doesn't offer a lot of flats, but instead has a wide range of boots, heels, flats et cetera. 


Shoes say a lot about your sense of style, but just because you're not in heels, doesn't make you any less stylish than anyone else - it's the whole look that counts.  :)

**  Many people tell me they feel dumpy in flats.  My advice is to opt for a pointy toe (go up a half size if you feel your toes get squished) and look for something with a slight wedge - about a half-inch is all you need to give you a little elevation so you don't feel so "flat." 

Do you have a favorite brand for flats?  I love check out new brands and would love to hear what has worked for you!  

Break The Mold - Shopping for Plus, Petite, Tall, Dark Nude Shoes or Large Shoe Sizes

The fashion world might seem a bit narrow minded at time, but there are plenty of brands that sell large shoe sizes, plus sizes, and items for petite and tall men and women!

Women

Shoes
This is an area where I can relate because I wear a size 11.  Most shoes stop at size 10, but these brands offer size 11+ and many times, start at a smaller size such as 4.5 or 5.

*  Stuart Weiztman is a go-to brand for many women because his shoes are so comfortable and he always offers a range of styles - classic, on trend, dressy and more.  Most of his shoes start at size 4 and offer full and half-sizes all the way up to size 12.  Woo hoo!  He also offers narrow sizes and his shoes work well for people who have a narrow heel (this is more common than you think!).

*  I never knew waterproof leather and suede boots existed until I discover Aquatalia.  Their shoes are stylish AND functional, but they also offer wide, narrow and extremely narrow sizes.  Their boots also come in extended calf width as well and some styles go up to a size 12.

*  I like Ivanka Trump's shoes because she always has a fun pair of flats and some classic kitten heels for my clients.  Many of her class styles start at size 4 and are available in narrow, medium and wide widths up to a size 12. 

Nude Tights and Shoes
*  Tights are usually very limited in their range of size offerings, but Nordstrom (their own brand), Spanx, and Hue offer plus size.

*  Nubian Skin offers tights in a wide range of skin tones from cafe au lait to cinnamon.  They also have plus size available as well!

*  Bare Necessities and Nude Barre offers tights in a wide range of skin tones. 

*  If you're darker than the color "buff", it can be hard to find nude shoes to match your skin tone.  Christian Louboutin launched a line called "The Nudes", which offers his classic pointy toe pump in several different shades.  While Christian Louboutin can be pricey, you can check other brands such as Nine West, Stuart Weitzman, and Enzo Angiolini. 

Clothes
The average height that mainstream brands work off of is 5'8" or an inseam of 32" (30" is considered short or ankle length). 

*  If you're tall, some of my go-to brands include MaxMara (many times their pants are unfinished), but they have beautiful, timeless clothes.  Theory is another good brand for long pants as well as Rachel Roy, Hugo Boss, and Halsted Heritage.  Each of these is cut a bit longer and work well if you have a long torso.  I've also had great luck with Ralph Lauren wrap dresses for some of my taller clients. 

*  I know people hesitate to shop online, but I love it and this is where you can find some amazing things!  Especially tall and petite sizes.  Banana Republic, Ann Taylor and Loft all have a good selection of tall and petite items online. 

*  Petites can also check out Tahari, Eliza J, Nic & Zoe, Vince Camuto and BCBG, which is cut a bit smaller for blazers, tops and dresses. 

*  For plus size, surprisingly, a good place is, wait, don't be shocked, but Talbots!  While I don't usually like Talbots style, they are a go-to when I'm shopping for plus size basics like a pencil skirt, button down blouse or fitted dress. 

*  Some other plus size favorites include Michael Kors and Vince Camuto (both of these can be found at major department stores or online).  Elloqui, which is only found online, is another great brand for stylish separates and suiting basics.  They also have trendy dresses, skirts and tops. 

*  And, don't knock 'em until you tried them, but Not Your Daughter's Jeans offers a ton of colored jeans, ankle and knit pants.  The basic colors and styles are usually available in size 16, 18 and 20.  Good news is that all of their cuts are very generous so you will probably go down a size.

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Men

Shoes
A lot of men wear insoles and it can be hard to find shoes that fit.  Fortunately, Memphisto has come a long way with its styles and their insoles are removable.  Ecco also has removable insoles and Allen Edmonds offers a wide range of sizes in width from very narrow to very wide.  Their cork sole makes this a reliable and comfortable shoe (that's also made in the USA! :).

Clothes
If you don't have broad shoulders, then European brands are going to fit best.  Ted Baker is stylish, yet cut a bit smaller.  Hugo Boss is also a slimmer cut, but it's not too narrow so don't be afraid to try this brand if you want a nice, tailored look.  Theory is also a good, slim-fitting brand. 

For tall or larger men, some good go-to's include Peter Millar, the Nordstrom brand and AG jeans.  In fact, every client has always gone down one size with AG jeans.  These are also terrific because they come in a wide range of colors like a bright blue, gray, olive and khaki-colored brushed cotton jeans. 

What are you favorite go-to brands for less than average sizes?  There are so many sites and styles out there - I would love to include them on this list!

Men: Wardrobe Assets & Liabilities

You hate wasting money, right?  When it comes to buying clothes, we've all done it, but when you stick with the wardrobe basics, or assets, your life gets easier because these items always work (and easily mix 'n match with one another). 

From dark jeans to a half-zip sweater, here are the items that make getting dressed a breeze. 

And remember, the liabilities aren't wrong, they're just well, a lot harder to work with.  (You can read the list for women here.)

Nordstrom.com

Half-zip sweater - I buy this for every client and while that might sound boring, the truth is, it's perfect for work, brunch, meeting the parents - basically whenever you want to look put together, but don't want to wear a sport coat. 

A colored one is great, but try for something other than blue since most men have a ton of blue shirts -- opt for a color that plays off blue like orange, red, yellow or just pick a neutral (black, gray, off-white). 

Turtleneck - I think Tom Brady is one of the only men who can pull this off; it's feminine, yet kind of GQ-like.  So yeah, it's hard to pull off, so don't even save it for the slopes.  Just donate and move on.

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Navy sport coat - No surprise, but this is another wardrobe staple because it can be worn with jeans, dress pants and chinos.  Plus, what man doesn't look good in navy?  However, just say no to the brass/gold buttons, because, well, we are not at a country club circa 1992. 

Bold patterned sport coat - If you going to buy bold anything, it should be a tie, pocket square, watch or a pair of shoes.  A sport coat is a large purchase and doesn't create the most versatility if you can only wear it with a solid colored shirt. 

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Straight leg shorts - With a pair of shorts, try to stay right above the knee.  Too long and they'll shorten you (and look sloppy), too short and they might look uncomfortable. 

Cargo shorts - Trust me, four pockets are all you need, not 12.

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White shirt - This is the cornerstone of any man's wardrobe because it goes with everything.  Whether you opt for one with a texture or a plain white shirt, you can't go wrong with having this in your closet. 

Blue shirt with white collar - This look is very "good old boys", but not in a high powered kind of way.  Instead it just looks dated and nobody but slimy characters like Gordon Gekko (just Google 'Gordon Gekko' and a picture of him in this shirt will pop right up!), and Ryan Gosling's character in The Big Short, wear these anymore. 

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Nordstrom.com

Leather or canvas gym shoes - These are the happy medium between dress shoes and your work out shoes.  They are the perfect shoe for the weekend and casual events.  Something similar to these Ecco shoes shown above can be worn with jeans, chinos or shorts. 

Brown boat shoes - I have nothing against the preppy look, but evvvvvverybody has these shoes. They're overdone.  And tired.  The above choice is much more modern and flattering.

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Nordstrom.com

Slate blue, gray or olive chinos - The Europeans always look so great in their clothes.  Not only are their clothes more tailored, but they don't opt for the same boring neutrals like khaki or black.  When it comes to neutrals, think slate blue, gray and olive.  These are just as versatile and don't make you look like every other corporate drone or guy at Costo on Saturday afternoons.   

Stone-colored khakis - Mrs. Conehead - "Describe khakis."
Mr. Conehead - "A dull earthly garment designed to cover male extremities."

I love this line from the State Farm commercial because Mr. Conehead had the perfect explanation!  Khakis are fine, but not the light-colored ones, which look very suburban (instead, opt for the slate blue, gray or olive). 

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Nordstrom.com

Leather or canvas belt - A braided belt is fine, but make sure it's not leather.  Remember, you can break the rules with a casual belt since it doesn't have to match your casual shoes.  Therefore, you can opt for a fun color like red or try a gray leather belt - looks great with jeans!

Braided belt - Braided canvas belts are okay, but the leather ones need to go.  They're dated and usually only look good with pleated khaki, which are also a no. 

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Nordstrom.com

Printed t-shirt - It doesn't have to be a big pattern - maybe it's motorcycle, stripes or a contrasting trim on a pocket - whatever it is, a stylized t-shirt gives some thought to your casual wardrobe. 

Free 5k t-shirt - Yes, some people laughed when they saw this on the list, but in all honesty, I see it all the time.  Of course this is fine for yard work, but when out in public, I think we should leave the frebbies at home.

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Nordstrom.com

Dark, straight leg jeans - Skinny styles come and go, but a nice dark, straight leg jean that falls straight down from the hip, will always be in style.  We're not looking for skinny, we're looking for tailored.  

Oversized jeans & frayed hems - There are mom jeans and there are dad jeans.  Oversized jeans (the ones that swallow your legs), look sloppy and add pounds.  If they make you look like you have stovepipe legs, then they need to go.  And remember, jeans CAN and should be hemmed if they're scraping the ground. 

*  Notice the nice dark leather shoes in this picture -- much better than those boat shoes for a good casual jeans look. :)

Is there anything that should be added to the list?  Let me know in the comments below! 

It's NO COINCIDENCE that all of the items pictured above work with each other --- the dark gray chinos would look great with those Ecco gym shoes.  I also love the white and navy tee with the casual belt, dark straight leg jeans and Ecco gym shoes. 

Of course, the dark red half-zip sweater looks amazing with the dark gray chinos and the same tan Ecco gym shoes... dressing becomes easy when you have timeless pieces! 

If you want more help with putting together a timeless and versatile wardrobe, then check out the How to Build A Wardrobe course.  You don't need much to build a wardrobe that you love.