Nine West 'Jemmy'

If you can't or don't wear heels, and you need a pair of dress shoes, peep toe flat are definitely one of the first styles you should consider.

Of course, not all peep toe flats are dressy, but if you look around you'll see that there are a decent number of open-toed flats that actually look a lot like high heeled pumps -- just without the "high heeled" part.

If you want a pair of peep-toed flats that can be worn with skirts, dresses and dress pants, there are a few features to look for, and naturally, a few elements you'll want to avoid.

Below are some tips that will help you find the perfect peep-toed dress flats.

If you're looking for dressy peep-toe flats, avoid:

• rollable, elasticized, or very soft-sided ballet flats. Yes, they're cute, and they have a load of great uses -- they're often even made from satin, which is generally considered dressy. However, really soft ballet flats typically just don't provide enough structure to work with dressier skirts and dresses.
• anything made from rubber, plastic, jelly. These styles can be cute with casual skirts, but they're way too informal to serve as dress shoes.
• styles with thick or rugged soles, or sporty features, or bulky vamp embellishments. All of these things add heft, and can call too much attention to your shoes. And in the case of thick soles and sporty accents, they're also just not very dressy.

What to Look for in Peep-Toed Dress Flats

• Peep-toe flats with uppers made from leather, suede, faux leather, and fabric can all be suitable as dress flats, as long as the shoes have a bit of structure or sturdiness to them.

• Simple, tasteful embellishments can really bring flats to a new level, and add a dressy vibe. The best accents to look for include mid-size buckles, small to medium floral embellishments, ruffles, medium to large bows, and elegant brooches.
• Look at the top of the shoes from above. Could their uppers pass for pretty heeled pumps? If so, you've probably got in your hands a pair of peep-toed flats that could work well with any dress, dress pants, or skirt in your wardrobe.

The peep-toe flats pictured above really hit the mark as dress shoes because they combine classic pump design with very slight heels. The uppers are rigid enough to give the shoes adequate structure, but the leather looks extremely soft and luxurious.

Available in several great colors, including pink, yellow, light green, black, and brown, these pretty women's shoes are an ideal replacement for high-heeled pumps.

Previous Shoes of the Day:Red Pumps

See Also:

• Cute Flats - If You Like Flats, You'll Love These Brands
• What are Peep Toe Shoes?
• Women's Flats
• What to Wear with Ballet Flats
• Peep Toe Shoes for Women