No, you don’t need to wear heels to feel dressed up. I’m proof! I literally never wear heels because…ouch. I wish I was more glamorous, but I just can’t stand the pain of wearing heels all day and/or night. It’s impractical and I don’t think anyone looks good awkwardly hobbling around. This is exactly why I also don’t wear clothes that feel too tight or short, because I know I’ll look terrible when I’m inevitably pulling my dress down all night or being forced to breathe in constantly.

Each to their own, and I certainly pass no judgement if you love wearing high heels (and if you do, read our guide on how to make heels more comfortable) – but if you find yourself here, chances are you’d rather be as comfy as possible too. And I swear it’s possible to look dressed up at the same time, especially with the return of ballet flats, which I’m welcoming with open arms!

Ballet flats, lace-ups, loafers and cowboy boots are your best friend when you want to dress up sans the heels. They’re still chic, they’re still cute, but they’re never as agonising as a pair of stilettos. They work with pretty much everything you’d wear heels with too, including dresses, skirts and co-ords. To make things as easy as possible though, I’m providing some outfit inspo. Below, you’ll find four easy outfit ideas to screenshot and copy when you’re next heading to a wedding.

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Midi dress + ballet flats

I’m a huge fan of the midi dress. As mentioned, I’m not personally a huge fan of teeny tiny dresses for the same reason I don’t love heels. I want to be at ease, not worrying about flashing my butt when a gust of wind comes – especially when I’m at a special event. Whatever your age, I think midi’s look really dressy and elegant.

Ballet flats are easy to wear with everything from jeans to midi dresses. They’re unbelievably comfy (not that supportive, but that’s another story) but look intentional too. I adore the below pair from M&S, which I’ve shown you how to style with a sweet dress from Sister Jane.

1. DREAM Grapefruit Bow Midi Dress, £165, Sister Jane – buy now
2. Basket Bag, £49.99, Zara – buy now
3. Buckle Flat Square Toe Ballet Pumps, £35, M&S Collection – buy now

Skirt + cowboy boots

Even at a wedding, I refuse to wear heels!! I went to a friend’s big day in a pair of gold cowboy boots from Zara last year. They’re not available anymore sadly, but there are SO many cute pairs on offer now. The below outfit isn’t designed to be worn to a wedding, but I’d wear this to an event or dinner. It will keep you comfy but you’ll definitely look like you made an effort.

1. Romeo Blouse, £70, Damson Madder – buy now
2. Rina Ruffle Skirt, £80, Damson Madder – buy now
3. Bailey Premium Leather Western Boot in Black, now £75, Topshop – buy now
4. Saddle Bag with Sculptural Seal, £395, Chylak – buy now

Co-ord + loafers

As always, Sezane has pulled it out the bag with this 70s-inspired co-ord. I wore this recently and felt really smart despite the outfit taking no time at all to pull together. That’s the great thing about co-ords; they look intentional but you really don’t need to think much about how to style them. I wore mine with a pair of loafers to pull the 70s look together. Considering adding a pair of aviators for truly retro look!

A trouser suit is another great option, especially if you’re not a skirt person. Wear yours with loafers or lace-ups for a smart but comfy way to dress up.

READ MORE: Best Fashion Collaborations 2024 – The Collabs & Launches To Know About This Year

1. Max Shirt, £110, Sezane – buy now
2. Tiziano Trousers, £130, Sezane – buy now
3. Barnabé Chocolate Varnish Moccasins, £200, Balzac Paris – buy now
4. Quilted Vanity Pouch in Burgundy, £55, Charles & Keith – buy now

Skirt + lace-ups

Don’t fancy wearing a dress? A skirt is another failsafe option. I absolutely live in my lace-ups. I love how they look smart but honestly, they’re the comfiest pair of shoes I own and probably my most worn. They’re a great alternative to chunky boots (those also work well) and I wear mine with skirts and dresses all the time.

But it’s easy to dress them up. It all depends on what else you wear with them. A monochrome outfit is easy to style and can be pulled together with a pop of colour, like bold red or hot pink. The below Ganni bag comes in leopard print too, if that tickles your fancy!

1. Square Neck Body, £68, Good American at Reiss – buy now
2. Tie-Waist Midi Skirt, £97, & Other Stories – buy now
3. Lace-up leather shoes, £149.99, Mango – buy now
4. Bou Mini Leather-Blend Top-Handle Bag, £285, Ganni at Selfridges – buy now

More inspo

Need more inspo? No problem. Here are some killer street style outfits from this year’s London Fashion Week that nail dressing smart sans heels.

Denim can look dressy too, see! I’m obsessed with Zeena Shah’s style and those shoes don’t look too uncomfortable either. OK, so they have a slight heel but they’re definitely not high.

The suit also works so well as a dressy outfit that can be worn with flats. Chunky loafers are your best friend.

READ MORE: Best Sezane Pieces 2024 – 18 Must-Haves This Month

See what I mean about co-ords? I love how this outfit is so perfectly co-ordinated, with a tiny pop of colour with the mint green socks.

Pick a dressy dress and instead of picking the obvious pair of shoes, try something a little bit different. This asymmetric dress looks super cool styled with cowboy boots, especially as it’s unexpected.

Chunky boots definitely lean on the more casual side, but if the rest of your outfit is dressy, it doesn’t matter. These shoes almost blend into the outfit as there’s so much else going on. It just works!

READ MORE: 6 White Knee High Boots Outfits – How to Style the Footwear Staple