The Flat Shoe Is Making a Power Play

Miss KG flats

The flat shoe has been the ugly step sibling of fashionable footwear everywhere for years. They have long been loathed by the fashionable women in society. Skyscraper heels, wedges, sandals and various stiletto beauties have always taken up the forefront of  fashion magazines, advertising and even tv shows. However the flat shoe is fighting back, not content to just sit in the corner. The tides are slowly turning and the arena for fashionable flat footwear is drawing more and more spectators. Flat shoes now are not only limited to the Clarks ballet flats I wore for 2 years, though comfortable they were in no way comparable to their fashionable counterparts now taking up the runways. Top brands such as Charlotte Olympia, Mulberry, Miu Miu, Gucci, Tory Burch  and Marc Jacobs are increasing their efforts in relation to flat and near flat footwear for women. Forget the "Power Heel," for 2013 it has been all about the "Power Flat." 

River Island Bordeaux Flat

Ballet flats are out!!! They have been banished from the workplace, offices and boardrooms. Instead they have been replaced with exquisite textiles and embellishments added to other classic shapes such as smoking slippers, loafers, brogues, to create truly fashionable flat master pieces.  Not to say that the Ballet Flat does not have its place. Where as in the 90's tv show Sex & the City had  droves of women queuing up to purchase Manolo Blahniks Offerings. Tory Burch has built a cult like following around her Reva Ballet flat, google the Reva Ballet flats and you will generate pages of suggested blog posts and you tube videos.

River Island Navy Flat

 Why the rebellion on the heeled shoe? There are several reason: Health  - as I have mentioned before the appropriate heel height for a heeled shoe which will be worn over a long period of time is 3 inches. Wearing heeled shoes over 3 inches high for a prolonged period of time (years) causes strain on your pelvic muscles which could lead to a prolapsed uterus.  The constant need to balance on the thin stiletto heel (the preference of the power set) causes strain and sprain on your ankles, bunions could form and also displacement of the bones on your feet.

Time - wearing high heels slow you down. There was no fancy way to explain that.

Options - as I said before footwear options of the flat variety have increased tremendously. There is something for everyone and for every occasion. Flat shoes are no longer limited to the extremely casual events which occur in a woman's life.

 "Long stuck in stuck in the purgatory of casual wear, flats are suddenly being promoted for polished occasions. Flats sleek enough to dress shoes were paired with the tailored suits and even with evening wear on the spring runways from Marc Jacobs to Giorgio Armani." - WSJ

I am a Black Girl in the Ring and I wear flat shoes. YOU should too. 

River Island Black Loafer

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This was an original piece which first appeared in Black Girl in the Ring Magazine