Dear Belle,

What are your thoughts on tortoiseshell pumps and/or flats? I am not a fan of leopard, and recently I’ve been feeling that I need to put some umph in my shoe game (because black on black on black gets old afterawhile). Do you have any good recommendations?

Love the blog! TM

I adore tortoise-shell shoes.  Love’ em, can’t get enough of ’em.  They’re difficult to find, but so worth it, especially if you want to bring in an animal-print and hate leopard.

Tortoise looks good with shades or brown or black.  I also like it with red pieces.  And you can use it with navy and other shades of blue in place of nude pumps or brown ones.

Ann Taylor Tortoiseshell Flats ($88) and Pumps ($128)

Ann Taylor brought back tortoiseshell shoes in a big way this year.  The pumps are only available in one size online; I suggest calling the stores if you are desperate for a pair.  AT shoes are fairly comfortable.  I bought the flats, and they felt great on.  (Though, I did not keep them because I need to cut back on my shopping in preparation for my next tuition payment.)

Flats. These ASOS pointed-toe flats are a great entry-level tortoise shoe for $26.  These Sole Diva shoes are another great option.  If you want to splurge, Ferragamo makes a tortoise flat with a bow and Manolo makes a great basic.

Pumps. Vaneli makes a great slingback pump.  I would need to see these Pilner kitten heels in person to make a definitive recommendation, but they could work with black trousers.  For a bit of a splurge, try L.K. Bennett.

If anyone knows of another source for tortoise footwear, leave it in the comments.  Like I said, they’re hard to find.  So if you see a pair you like, snap ’em up before they’re gone.