Some people are so focused on the acquisition of stilettos, strappy sandals, kitten heels and other shoes that they forget all about the flats! There are some who even reduce themselves to just a single pair of flats in a sea of heels. This is a mistake. Flats are as varied as any other type of women’s shoe, from ballet flats in different styles and colours to more toned-down and modest flats in leather, and even the humble sneaker.

There are just so many reasons to keep your collection well-stocked with flats!

Reason 1: Better Support

The days of women being compelled to wear heels for “the right look” are gone. Men have long favoured comfort over anything else when looking at new shoes, so why shouldn’t women? Heels, wedges and other extreme features can really set off a shoe design and make it pop, especially when it’s paired with the right outfit, but they rarely if ever offer anything remotely beneficial in foot support.

The fact is that excessive wearing of high heels can lead to serious foot health problems. Flats should be a default that you turn to during the times where high fashion isn’t necessarily called for. If you wear heels more than a few times a week, then your feet need all the support and comfort they can get to recover. Flats should be your default go-to after heels, in that case.

Reason 2: Stability and Confidence

Not everyone is Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City, running around Manhattan in heels seemingly without ever losing an iota of her balance. For the many who don’t feel so stable or secure when wearing heels, especially stiletto and platform heels, flats offer the best chance of confidence and grace when walking. Just being able to walk down the street safe in the knowledge that you won’t lose your balance is a huge boost, and what’s more flats are more beautiful than ever (see below).

Reason 3: Flats are NOT Less Attractive

The somewhat odd thing is the way that in the world of shoe fashion, the term “flats” has for many become synonymous with shoes that lack chic appeal or fashion status. This is completely false! You don’t have to venture into high heels to find a pair of shoes that are both stylish and statement-worthy.

Reason 4: Flats are Better for Working

With more women than ever active in the workforce, the appeal of flats is growing. There may have been a time when workplaces could require women to wear heels, but no more. As women’s choices become more open and we less and less expect heels as a default setting, people are naturally turning to flats as the comfortable and supportive options to wear for the long work day.

Reason 5: Easier Packing

If you’re a keen traveller, or you have to travel for business a lot, then flats are your friend compared to heels. Anyone who has tried to pack heels into limited-size luggage for a short weekend trip knows that flats are far better, easier to stow in small luggage, and leave room for other essentials. Even if you pack them in a separate container to keep dirt off your clothes, flats fit into smaller, more compact rectangular packaging where heels do not.

Reason 6: Flats Are Often More Sustainable

Where heels and other glamorous shoes are made with leather and high-end plastics that have quite an impact on the environment, many modern flats are made from more eco-friendly materials, including repurposed plastic water bottles, in some cases. As things currently stand, flats are a better bet for environmentally friendly footwear compared to heels.

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If you’ve been wearing nothing but pajamas since the lockdowns and work-from-home began, you’re not alone. But now that things are opening up and returning to (some semblance of) normal, you don’t necessarily have to start dressing in real clothes. You can keep wearing your pajamas – especially because many PJ sets look just like regular clothes.

In any case, it’s trendy right now to wear pajamas as day clothes, and with many PJs made out of luxe fabrics and with fun colors and patterns, you can get more creative with pajamas than you can with your regular outfits. Here’s how to wear your PJs out of the house and still look polished and put together.

Add Polished Elements to Your PJ Look

A little polish can mean the difference between looking put-together and looking like you just rolled out of bed. Finish off your women’s sleepwear looks with sophisticated, elegant accessories that will elevate the look and pull it together. Offset a matching PJ set with a pair of stiletto high heels – and roll up the cuffs of your PJ pants to show them off. Grab an elegant clutch handbag and complete the look with drop earrings, a statement necklace, and a bold red lip.

Mix and Match PJ Sets

Wearing a matching PJ set out of the house isn’t the only way to go. You can mix and match tops, bottoms, and robes from different PJ sets for a more interesting look. Grab a pair of silky, wide-leg bottoms in a neutral color to pair with a colorful top. Wear a belted robe as a jacket over a sleek and silky slip dress, and layer that over another piece of lingerie in a bright, contrasting color.

Wear a Short Robe or PJ Shirt as a Top

Pulling off a PJ look doesn’t necessarily mean that your whole outfit has to be pajama pieces. A button-down pajama top with a wide collar and piping can look sophisticated yet casual when paired with blue jeans. Leave the top of your pajama set unbuttoned to reveal a crop top underneath. Take a page from the book of one InStyle writer and pair a piped PJ top with a pleated skirt, metallic flats, and a designer handbag. Throw on a long robe over a tank top and jeans. 

Of course, you can also mix-and-match your comfy PJ bottoms with “normal” tops. Coordinate a cozy, solid-color turtleneck with a pair of bright and silky pajama bottoms, or wear your favorite trench coat over a pajama set.

Neutralize Busy Prints

Sleepwear is available in a range of busy patterns and loud prints – no one worries about standing out when they’re getting ready for bed. But you don’t have to stick to solid colors and muted prints when wearing pajamas outdoors.

Grab your brightest, loudest pajama prints and pair them with neutral accessories. A blazer or jacket in a neutral color, like beige or gray, can tone down and offset a particularly colorful print. Coordinate with a matching handbag and shoes.

Bring Bright Colors Down to Earth with the Right Accessories

Sometimes pajama sets can seem too whimsical for street wear. Women’s sleepwear sets in particularly feminine colors, like soft pink, can look too gentle and sweet to be seen outside of the bedroom.

That just means you have to style your bright colors with the right accessories to toughen them up or bring them down to earth, as necessary. Pair a soft pink, floral, sheer nightgown with drop earrings, a pair of chunky heels, and a handbag in a matching shade, or toughen up your feminine look with a black handbag, matching black mules, and perfectly coiffed hair. 

Dressing up a pajama look with statement jewelry, bold makeup, and a more formal-looking handbag is always a good choice, but it’s not the only one. A messy bun or braid and a pair of sneakers or Birkenstocks, or even a pair of indoor-outdoor slippers, can pull your look together, too, especially if you’re going for a more comfortable, casual aura.

Add the Secret Ingredient – Confidence

The number one reason why many women struggle to pull off a pajama look – or any look, really – is that they fail to wear the look with confidence. Feeling confident in your sartorial choices can go a long way towards making you look stylish instead of sloppy. Square your shoulders and walk with your head held high as you show off your pajama sets to the world. 

It’s time to take pajamas out of the bedroom. As you head back out into the post-pandemic world, you can stay comfortable in your favorite PJs, at the office, in the grocery store, on a night out, or wherever you happen to find yourself.