Black shoes are always in style, and they're especially good for petites in sleek styles that make short women look taller. But it's not always about looking taller. Black is such a wardrobe basic because it's a neutral that goes with everything. Right now I have five pairs of black shoes, and I consider four of the five go-to styles. For a dressy dinner, nothing beats my black high heels with pointed toes. When I'm teaching and standing on my feet a lot, I love my classic Ferragamo Vara low heels. Walking the dog calls for my black Skechers, and for lounging around the house, nothing beats my black flip flops.
1. Black Shoes - Dress Pumps
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Wear black dress pumps with a little black dress for a party, or go completely black with an all-black monochrome look that makes petites look taller. Styles range from sexy stilettos to low-heeled pumps that will be comfortable to wear to the office.
2. Black Shoes - Slingback Sandals
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The best black slingback sandals for petites will have narrow straps that either form a V-shaped vamp or go along the side of the foot, rather than across the foot. Choose a narrow heel, rather than a chunky heel, for a light and airy feel.
3. Black Shoes - Kitten Heels
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I especially like the look of black kitten heel slingbacks and slides, but any shoe with a kitten heel will give petites at least a little lift. Look for shapely or narrow kitten heels for the sleekest appearance.
4. Black Shoes - Ballet Flats
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There's a time for high heels, but there's also a time for flats. When you wear flats, you can’t get the instant lift of several inches that you can when you wear high heels, but flats work fine when comfort matters. A day of shopping at the mall becomes much easier when you wear flats. If you want the appearance of an elongated leg line to look taller, try wearing flats with a pointed toe.
5. Black Shoes - Flip Flops
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Flip flops go perfectly to the beach or the pool, and they're great for lounging around the house. They're cool and comfortable, but flip flops don't really belong in the workplace because they're too casual, even for a business/casual work environment unless you're working in sand by the surf.
