Loafers vs Ballet Flats vs Ankle Boots: Which One Your Outfit Needs

A loafer has a visible sole and a squared-off toe, which adds visual weight at the floor. That's a good thing with wide-leg trousers and a bad thing with a skinny jean, where it can look bottom-heavy.

A low vamp exposes the top of the foot, which visually continues the leg line. This is why flats work so well with a cropped ankle pant and badly with a hem that pools over them.

An ankle boot cuts the leg wherever the shaft ends. On a shorter leg, look for a shaft that sits below the ankle bone, or wear it with a full-length pant that covers the break entirely. The lace-up boot is forgiving because the laces create a vertical line.

When you do want height, a pointed pump does more for proportion than a heeled boot.