7 Australian creatives style going-out shoes that aren’t heels
IMAGE VIA @ELLATAVERNER/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY CAT FORSYTH
Night-out appropriate shoes, sans the heel.
I’m in my comfy-girl era. At the ripe old age of 21, I’ve had enough of too-high heels, tight, twisty hosiery and late nights out. I spent a lot of last year meeting new people and making amazing memories, out all day and home late at night.
After such a big year and the resulting burnout, I’m not finding too much joy in a big night out dancing and drinking anymore. At the moment, I’ve found myself preferring a quiet night at a wine bar with my closest friends, or even staying at home alone. Maybe some people would find that lame, but I’m happy doing my thing.
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Along with my newfound love of comfortable nights spent reading on the couch with a wine, I’ve begun to really appreciate the ease of a flat shoe. Even though I don’t want to stay out until three in the morning, I still want to feel sexy and cute – even if I’m just going out for a quick glass of sav.
I’ve felt a bit stuck lately when it finding night-out appropriate shoes sans the heel. I often find myself opting for loafers, kitten heels or little flats. Because I’m in need of comfy girl-era inspiration, I asked some of my favourite fashion creatives how they style flat shoes for going out.
Ruby Staley, she/they, writer and content creator
It’s extremely rare you’ll find me in a heel, so when I’m going out I tend to skew towards platforms, flats and low boots for comfort. These loafers have such an interesting square toe and gold buckle detailing to them, I love pairing them with an outfit that needs a bit of elevation.
I’ve worn them to death already because of how comfortable they are but I literally just found them in a clearance sale at Myer. Here, I paired them with matching black and gold tones with a pair of wide-leg pleated pants and a mesh shirt which… would also allow me to feel comfy all day (and night).
Mia Zotos, she/her, Creative Director of Mode Mischief Studios
My go-to shoe for a night out has to be my baby-blue Prada slingback kitten heels. Though they’re technically classified as ‘heels,’ they don’t feel like the typical heel at all. These shoes are incredibly comfortable and easy to run in, yet their small heel and elongated pointed toe adds a touch of sophistication, enhancing any outfit – be it jeans or a cocktail dress!
I took these shoes with me on my European vacation, and their comfort and ease were perfect for dinners after a long day of walking around. I bought these secondhand from Vestiaire Collective, my go-to source for designer and vintage footwear. They’re also extremely timeless, so I couldn’t ask for a more ideal shoe!
Jillian Arcenas, she/her, content creator
I love to add a bit of height to my outfits, but regular heels can sometimes be a pain or impractical. That’s why I’m all about flatform sandals because you don’t have to sacrifice ease and comfort for height! They’re super versatile, so you can keep it casual for brunch or dress them up for nighttime.
Plus, they’re the perfect transitional shoe… I love adding socks or tights when it gets a bit cooler. I have a black pair from Naked Vice and they’re definitely a staple in my closet…
Ella Taverner, she/her, Fashion Journal’s Partnerships and Campaign Manager
About a year ago I snapped up these Burberry Mary Janes from Vestiaire Collective, and they quickly became the most-worn shoe in my wardrobe. They’re so versatile and easy to style and the patent leather makes them a great heel alternative when I want to look a little more dressed up.
Stella Morison, she/her, freelance costume designer and stylist
Admittedly, I don’t often wear a heel. As a member of the big-foot community, I fear squeezing my hooves into a pointed toe reads more clown shoe than it reads Chloë Sevigny. When I want the height of a heel without the discomfort or clownery, I opt for a heeled sneaker of some kind. Siri, play ‘Sneakernight’ by Vanessa Hudgens.
My go-to is a delightfully orthopaedic black sneaker. They have built-in springs that are almost an ode to a heel. I have them in both sneaker and sandal form, and my hooves have never been happier.
Grace Holland, she/they, model and content creator
If I’m not wearing boots out, I’m usually in sneakers or loafers on the daily. Funny enough, these are actually someone’s old-school shoes that I thrifted. But they’re so comfy and look exactly like a loafer with a squarish foot, so I love wearing them with baggy jeans to dress an outfit down or if I need a classic black shoe.
Maggie Zhou, she/her, Fashion Journal’s Branded Content and Features Editor
I’m rarely in heels (though I’m fond of a heeled boot), so my going-out outfits are often paired with flat shoes. Case in point, I love wearing these patent, red Mary Janes. I bought them secondhand from a friend for $20 at least four years ago but have only really started getting good wear out of them this year. They’re super comfortable and I wouldn’t be surprised if they were orthopaedic-approved!
For more of the best flat shoes, head here.
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