Once upon a time, it was almost inconceivable to imagine styling a dress with anything but heels. Whether heading into the office, going out for lunch on the weekend or attending a special event, our poor feet never got a break. But luckily for both our wardrobes and our ankles, times have changed and trends have evolved. These days, we're styling almost any dress in our wardrobe with flats of some sort, whether that be sleek trainers, pointed-toe ballet flats, or pair of sharp loafers.
All of these covetable styles will evoke a different mood in a dress, depending on which you choose; and it certainly helps that flat shoes continue to be a top footwear trend for 2024, with swaths of new, chic and comfortable designs continuing to appear. If you're still trying to figure out how to swap out the heels for flats this season, read on top discover four ways to wear flat shoes with dresses that are easy to copy, along with my shoppable picks for re-creating the look.
1. LINEN DRESS + MINIMALIST SANDALS
Style Notes: A trusty linen dress is a wardrobe must-have, especially for the really warm days. A minimal sandal style allows you to keep the outfit polished without punishing your feet with an uncomfortable stiletto.
Shop the Look:
This effortless number is the ideal linen dress for warm weather.
The ultimate summer shoe.
A black linen dress is a wardrobe non-negotiable.
To complete the minimalist look.
2. BILLOWY DRESS + SLEEK LOAFERS
Style Notes: As we approach warmer days, a billowy dress becomes more and more tempting. But to keep it professional enough for work—and suitable for unpredictable British spring weather—a trusty loafer is in order.
Shop the Look:
This billowy dress can be styled for work or weekends.
Classic loafers are a wardrobe staple.
So comfortable and so easy to wear.
This deep brown is such a gorgeous hue.
3. MINI DRESS + RETRO TRAINERS
Style Notes: Unlike chunky trainers, sleeker retro styles add a cool edge without dressing down a dress too much. The charm of retro trainers is in their sporty edge that can make any simple dress feel more "fashion".
Shop the Look:
This is my dream summer dress—swap the trainers for heels and you've got a brilliant evening look.
Every wardrobe needs a reliable pair of Sambas.
The gold-button detailing is particularly good.
The all-American classic.
4. EVENING DRESS + ANKLE-TIE BALLET FLATS
Style Notes: Gone are the days when we had to bring out the heels when dressing for an occasion. Ankle-tie ballet flats make for an elegant pairing that will see you through your evening events in style.
Shop the Look:
The metallic detail on the straps makes this look extra elevated.
A satin flat is a great evening shoe choice.
A minimalist dream.
Who can resist a little sparkle?
This piece was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
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