One of my heel-loving friends had a unique approach to commuting in flat shoes.
At the end of the working day, she would sling her purse over her shoulder, say goodbye to her colleagues and march out of the building in her 4 inch pumps. She’d then stride confidently down the street with the other commuters.
She claimed never to wear flats or feel the need to ever commute in running shoes or other non-corporate attire.
However years later we found out the real story.
Image credit: “Christian louboutin outlet 2012 Collecti” (CC BY 2.0) by foeock
It turns out that my friend would actually walk down the street only a few blocks until well clear of the office. She would then duck into a popular local park, sneak behind some trees and emerge with her feet in flats.
Her heels now safely in her handbag, my friend would finally take the bus or sometimes even walk the rest of the way home. And in the mornings she would repeat the whole process in reverse.
Do you know the funniest thing about the whole procedure? The park that she secretly changed her shoes in was called “Hyde Park”. It’s pronounced “Hide” and my friend said that the name summed up the purpose of the park perfectly!
This is an amusing story – and I’m glad that my friend was able to come clean and laugh about herself in the end. But I’m also pleased to say that she no longer feels the need for secret shoe changes in public places.
This story does raise some interesting questions. Is it OK to commute in flats? Can you catch the bus and walk into the office in running shoes before putting on your work pumps for the day?
And, if so, what sort of flat shoes should you commute in?
The answer is that of course it is OK to commute in flats! Work pumps are lovely things, but they don’t need to be bashed to pieces on dirty, hard city sidewalks. And your feet don’t need the extra aggravation.
Which brings me to the second question: what sort of flats should you choose for commuting? Well, your choice is up to you but you should choose something that is kind to your feet.
If the reason that you’re commuting in flats is to protect your feet, then it seems sensible to choose flats that do this. Generally, avoid flip-flops or thin ballet flats (these don’t have arch support or any cushioning in the soles).
Loafters, sturdy flats, sneakers and – gulp – even running shoes are all great choices. And there’s one other benefit of commuting in flats too: your work pumps will last a lot longer! So leave your beautiful heels under the desk, enjoy your commute in flats and you’ll win all round.