Most women live by the mantra, if the shoe fits, buy it. But just because a shoe is cute and it fits, doesn't mean you should buy it and wear it. What most enthusiastic shoppers don't realize is that what type of shoe you wear can dramatically affect how your legs look. Here, Danica Lo, author of How Not to Look Fat offers tips about what shoes look best on different leg types.
Carrie Bradshaw, you're not alone. Nearly every woman I know is madly, deeply, hopelessly devoted to the pursuit of the perfect shoe.
It's certainly no surprise. Shoes fit you, even on your fat days. And a "feature shoe" can be the key element in constructing a stylish outfit. Never mind that footwear can also make or break the proportions of any outfit - and your figure.
The enduringly fashionable high-heel slingback, available in flattering beiges and browns every fall, is incredibly graceful and leg-lengthening - though, truth be told, a smidge officey and boring. On the other hand, wearing a kitten heel, even if it's the trendiest shoe du jour, will make you look like you're so fat that you've squashed your heel down.
Then there is the classic mid-heel D'Orsay pump - possibly the most universally flattering shoe ever designed - worn on the runway and in photo shoots by nearly every model in the '80s and early '90s. These days, D'Orsay pumps are considered more classic, less fashion-fashion shoes and can be found everywhere from your local Payless Shoe Source to the Manolo Blahnik boutique. It's a style that's prevailed because it's flattering.
If your gams happen to be on the slightly less-coltish side, try a chunky or sculpted heel for balance - and to avoid the corndogs-on-sticks look you might get with stilettos.
The basic rule is simple: the chunkier the leg, the chunkier the heel ought to be. It's all about proportions, baby.
It's also all about shunning ankle straps, which "sever" your leg at your ankle. They make your legs look shorter. And we all need shorter legs like we need holes in our heads.
