Hello again Belle,

I am in desperate need of a pair of close-toed black flats to wear with pencil skirts and dresses. I’m hoping to pay less than $100. I am hoping for something comfortable and not narrow at toe box (I have a decent sized bunion).

Thanks, Judy

This is one of those posts that is evergreen.  No matter how many times I cover, there’s always someone on the hunt for black flats.  It’s kind of like that quote from Sex and the City: Women are always searching for a new job, a new apartment or a new boyfriend.  But I digress, back to the black flats.

BP Move-over Flat ($50)

For the office, I prefer a pointed-toe flat.  It offers more structure, a sleeker look and reads more professional to me than a round-toe.  This flat from BP is a great buy, especially at this price.  I also like that it comes in four basic colors, and they also offer metallics and prints, like snakeskin and leopard.

Another great pointed-toe flat is the Nine West Speakup flat.  I owned both of these shoes at one point and found them to be comfortable enough for 2-mile walks and daily tours through the Capitol.  If you want to put your money into something more expensive, I’ve tried on these Tory Burch flats twice, but haven’t pulled the trigger on them yet (hoping for a sale).

Also, don’t buy into the notion that a pointed-toe and comfort are mutually excluding.  The BP flats have a fairly generous toe box.  I, like the reader, have a bunion on my left foot, so I use this Lifehacket tutorial to stretch shoes at home or I take them to a cobbler.

Just prefer round toe?  A round-toe flat can look professional, but you need to skip all the bows, baubles and embellishments some retailers add.  These simple Vince Camuto flats are as basic as it gets.  Nine West also offers their Fiore flat, which is a good option.  For summer, I also like a peep toe flat.

One last tip: If you find a pair of shoes you like, and you can afford to buy multiple pairs, do it! I have two extra pair of J.Crew Miri pumps in my closet now, and I snap up every size 9 pair that comes up for sale on eBay.  When you find something you love, stock up.