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Q. I’m wondering if you can help me find a pair of cute, comfortable and flattering flat sandals. I have thick ankles and somewhat wide feet, and I tend to wear heels because I think they’re more flattering, but I need a pair of cute flats to wear all summer with shorts and dresses. I want a pair that can go with everything, something that’s comfy enough to walk around in all day, and hopefully something that won’t make my legs and feet look huge. Can you help? Thanks!!!

A. You’re on the right track by typically leaning towards heels, as this can help make ankles look slimmer and legs more shapely. But of course, we can’t live in heels every day, so owning a flat or two is essential. When looking for flats that flatter your thick ankle and wide foot, you should look for sandals that expose as much of your foot and ankle as possible as this is much more slimming than a shoe with straps that come close to your ankle. You may also want to “cheat” a little with a sliver of a heel - you’ll still be comfortable while adding just the tiniest bit of a rise. Here are some more tips on what to look for, followed by some sandal suggestions:

Avoid:

• Ankle straps
• Thick straps
• High vamps
• Anything chunky

Look for:

• Slingback or thong sandals and wedges that don’t have ankle straps or ties
• Nude or light colors will visually slim your foot and ankle
• Low-cut vamps that show as much of the top of your foot as possible
• Very small heels or sliver wedges

Here are some styles worth trying (Note: 2 exceptions to the “no ankle straps” rule are the uniquely designed cuffed heel styles from Pierre Dumas and Crso Como (below) which may actually help camouflage a thick ankle by covering up only the sides and back of your ankle):

Q. I have a pair of Coach tie-up ribbon espadrilles from quite a few seasons ago. Can I still wear them?

A. Absolutely! Tie-up espadrilles are a classic that never go out of style, so have fun wearing them with dresses, skirts, cropped pants and more. To prove our point, here are variations on the classic from $25 to over $800!

Q. I’m one of those petite women (5’4) who never wears heels. I have never needed them before: all of my friends are approximately the same height. Until recently, I accidentally tried a pair in a store, and my outfit looked so much more together! I thought I should give it a try. However, I’m very self-conscious in heels. I’m aware that I’m suddenly taller than my friends, and it feels strange to stand a few inches higher than them. I think it hits them as well. Someone commented on my sudden tallness when I wore a pair of sneakers with 1.5-inch platform. How do I start wearing heels without alienating myself?

A. Congratulations on trying your first pair of heels! You are so right - heels really DO help to pull an outfit together, with the added benefit of making your legs look longer and more shapely. While the right flats can also be chic, there’s no denying that some outfits cry out for a heel.   

Since friends come in all shapes, sizes and heights, there is no reason that you should feel uncomfortable if you suddenly appear a few inches taller than your friends. In fact, I’m guessing that once your friends see how great you look in heels and how flattering they can be, they just might hop on the heel bandwagon and join in. Not only are you suddenly taller and thinner, you’re also a trendsetter!

To ease into wearing a heel, you might want to start small. Some women feel more comfortable in a wedge heel, while others prefer a sturdy stacked 2 or 3 inch heel. Whichever you choose, we say, be confident and stand tall!

Here’s a cute video on How to Walk in Heels to help you out:

Q. I’ve been shopping for a pair of heeled black strappy sandals, but not gladiator-style, with a 2- to 3-inch heel max.

A. It does seem that gladiator styles are everywhere, doesn’t it? We searched and found some classic black strappy sandals for you with 2 or 3 inch heels, check them out:

Q. The ankle strap seems to be back this year. Could you please show a few examples of how to wear these sandals so they do not visually shorten your legs.

A. You’re right, the ankle strap is everywhere this season in many variations, from thin and ladylike to thick and rocker-inspired to wraparound gladiator-style. You are also right that they have a tendency to visually shorten legs. Here are some tips for wearing ankle straps:

1. Flat gladiator styles that often wrap more than once around your ankle can be a tough style to pull off for women with short legs or muscular calves. Look for lighter colors that closely match your skin tone like the model in look 1 above. Wear them with dresses, skirts or shorts that hit above the knee to make your legs look as long as possible. Or, wear them with maxi dresses that cover most of the leg anyway.

2. Look for ankle straps that hit below the ankle, like the pair in image #2. As you can see, they actually dip down towards the foot, giving you an extra inch or two below where the typical ankle strap hits.

3. Look for skinny straps in light colors like the pair in image #3. This will prevent the straps from visually chopping your leg at the ankle. Again, opt for a hemline above the knee. You can also try wearing them with cropped or rolled pants that hit just above the ankle or just below the wider part of your calf.

4. This season’s newest trend is the chunky cage heel which often comes in dark colors and features thick ankle straps - a tough look for anyone with less-than-slim calves or short legs to wear. This style looks best worn with minis or short shorts which allow as much leg to show as possible. As with other ankle strap heels, you can also wear them with cropped or rolled pants that hit just above the ankle or just below the wider part of your calf.