Well-Heeled Women Lead the Pack Now That It’s Bell Weather

Everyone’s wearing their new spring outfits, if you haven’t noticed already, and the popular choice of the season is the billowy pantaloon. But these wide, bell- and flare-bottomed trousers are being paired with some odd shoe choices, including tennis togs and massive Doc Martens.

“The general rule with those type of pants is, if you’re tall, you can wear either high, clunky heels or flats,” says Liz Menzies of Swept Away Clothes to Go in Irvine. “If you’re short, you’re better off with heels.”

Besides your altitude, another factor in deciding what shoes to wear is where you’ll be going. A reception at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa may require some traditional, dressy heels, while at a party at the Hard Rock Newport Beach, you could wear the same pants with high tops.

The clunky as well as the low-heeled strapped sandal are both big items this spring, and both are good choices for the pantaloon. Just be choosy when it comes to heel height.

Oxford blues: There seems to be one in every office. He’s the guy who shows up for work on time every day and gets the job done. He’s the one you count on when you need him. He’s good, steady, and wears only button-down Oxford dress shirts.

“Some guys start wearing these and never wear anything else,” says Tom Fuller of Fullers Fine Clothing for Men and Women in Laguna Niguel. “They should know there are other options in terms of dress shirts.”

To break out of the Oxford habit, you may want to try a slight variation with a pinpoint Oxford, a smoother, tighter woven fabric that comes with or without those little collar buttons. They also come in a wider range of colors than the traditional Oxford cloth. And for those willing to completely break the mold, try a smooth broadcloth with (gasp!) a pattern. Now’s the time to do it, considering the bright spring colors available.

In or out?: Perhaps it’s lost its sophistication now that it’s usually worn by waitresses in tiny cafes along the desolate stretches of I-15, but the ankle bracelet remains part of our jewelry culture. The eternal question: Does one wear it outside hose, or inside?

“Neither,” says Carol Steele, a clothing designer in Newport Beach. “An ankle bracelet is fine if you’re wearing shorts or jeans, but in a dress with nylons, take it off.”

Because it’s a piece of casual jewelry and nylons are dressy, you could be sending mixed messages, she explains.