Ankle Strap Heels: Top Picks from Casual to Elegant

Thursday, August 15, 2013

--By Kim Moshtaghi

Besides accentuating your legs, ankle strap shoes will embellish your whole look. Whether your cocktail dress just isn’t enough, or you are incapable of accessorizing your top half, the ankle strap sandal adds enough pizzazz for you to leave your house with nothing else but a topcoat and some studs in your ears.

However, for those professionals who find it difficult to wear shoes that are inappropriate for work, the following features will gently immerse you into this sought after fashion style.

To start off I would like to feature a wedge bootie. This wedge is fun but definitely inappropriate to pair with a cocktail dress. I see this shoe geared for gals who are always on the go and prefer the skinny jean look. This bootie is about comfort, style, and convenience. If this describes you, then snag a pair, especially at this price.

Zigi Soho Strut Wedge Bootie


→ Buy the Zigi Soho Strut Wedge Bootie, $59.95 (was $90.00), at dsw.com.


Pumps leave me smitten every time. There is something about the style that entices me like no other shoe style. Look what happens when you combine a sexy black suede pump with a simple leather ankle strap -- who would have thought that combination would add such a vibrant look to a solid color shoe?

I like the versatility of this shoe. You can wear it under pants, with a dress, or with a skirt. It has more options then you can imagine, but the material does make it more difficult to pair with the casual part of your wardrobe.

Charles Jourdan Torte Pump


→ Buy the Charles Jourdan Torte Pump, $109.95 (was $175.00), at dsw.com.


Now let us begin to move slowly towards an elegant evening shoe. I adore this black and beige python print ankle strap sandal. The low heel is nice for a professional environment, but it is not as enticing as the higher heel shoe for non-professional events and parties.

Jeffrey Campbell Foxtrot Sandal


→ Buy the Jeffrey Campbell Foxtrot Sandal, $119.95, at nordstrom.com; shipping and returns are free.


Are you ready for a full on super sexy shoe? I can’t stop staring at Donald J. Pliner’s Sammy Sandal. Wow! This rocking sandal is full of life and will wrap around your ankles as tightly as a snake wraps around its prey. The gold and black combo electrifies this shoe. The design proves that when you combine stilettos and a great design you get a magnificent result.

DMSX Donald J Pliner Sammy Sandal


→ Buy the DMSX Donald J Pliner Sammy Sandal, $128.95, at nordstrom.com; shipping and returns are free.

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Kim Moshtaghi
Kim Moshtaghi is a contributing writer for Adventures in the Stiletto Jungle. Born in Germany, Kim is currently based in sunny Del Mar, California, where she also serves as Stiletto Jungle's Director of Sales and Promotions. Kim has a communications degree, a third degree black belt, and a totally covetable Gucci handbag collection.