Neat little trick I’ve recently put to use: Have you ever tried traveling with a dedicated “travel pouch” in your carry-on? Essentially, it’s your essentials, all in one place. You keep a pouch packed with the in-flight necessities that you always need, but never want to rummage for, and they’re never further than a pouch away. Keep it in the seat back pocket on the plane, or close to the opening of your under-seat carry-on, and completely eliminate the frustration of spilling out the contents of your bag into the aisle, only to suffer beneath the wheels of a beverage cart. Game changing. I love the leather travel pouches by Cuyana which can be monogrammed, but am also intrigued by this clear case which would allow you to see everything you need at a glance.
The Travel Pouch
Let’s talk about FLATS, shall we? You know I’m a heel lover, but like any warm-blooded working girl, I know that everyone needs a strong supply of flats perfect for work and travel that do not lift you any higher off the ground than absolutely necessary. Heels (praise them) have their moments, but sometimes (often) you need something a little more grounded. If you’re a working woman, a solid line-up of chic, classic leather flats that can be worn with dresses, suits and jeans alike is essential.
After scouring the internet and doing tons of in-person testing, I believe I’ve finally succeeded in creating a master list of the very best flats on the planet, at all price points. To be clear, we’re talking ballet flats, pointy-toe flats, loafers and the like—no sneakers, sandals, flat boots or booties. I was thrilled to see that thousands of you confirmed many of the items on this list in my flats questionnaire last week on instastories. When it comes to picking the best shoes around, we clearly make a great team.
Without further ado, I give you the ultimate guide to the best classic flats, listed in no particular order… because when it comes to my favorite shoes, I believe playing favorites is just mean.