Shoes and bags for your commute shouldn’t be an afterthought
QI recently ran into a client on the tube, and was embarrassed to be caught wearing my scrappy old commuting trainers (my heels were in my bag). Is there a good in-between?
AIt’s not that normal to be photographed on the way to work, but it’s a regular occurrence when you work at No 10. I quickly learnt to use the back entrance (inconvenient as further from the tube) on Tuesday mornings when the Cabinet was meeting and on days when big news was breaking, but it was still fairly easy to be caught out. Years later, I haven’t forgotten a photograph of me wearing hideous shiny black moon boots, carrying what resembled an oversized bin bag, but it did make me reconsider my commuting wardrobe pretty sharpish.
You may not be in danger of getting papped, but running into a colleague or client in shabby shoes isn’t ideal either. So, first on the shopping list: a good pair of sturdy yet elegant boots, preferably not knee length so they can be popped into a bag for post-work events and then changed into on the way home. These are vital in these colder and wetter months (and in this week’s snow) to keep smart shoes smart. Penelope Chilvers has an array of lovely options and I wish I’d found the cosy shearling-lined Oscar boots
in my Downing Street days.
Friends swear by the right pair of trainers – as well as the comfort factor, they do look good with both dresses and trousers. You can’t go wrong with a pair of Nikes, and most brands now have a trainer option if you want something less
sporty to wear with tailoring. Jigsaw’s smart Olivia style ticks all the right boxes: a decent sole, no fiddly laces and a range of colours. Otherwise, loafers
are more flattering (and better for your feet) than ballerinas; both Russell & Bromley and Office do brilliant versions every season. When it comes to bags, a
big shopper is seriously useful with a smaller cross body or smarter bag for meetings and the lunch run. The shopper ideally needs to be made from leather or a fabric that doesn’t mark, as it will get knocked around on the commute. Zara’s powder blue tote makes me think of spring (it also comes in tan). M&S excel at the simple shopper shape in classic colours.
I’m not averse to a smart backpack as it is so much better for your back and can look chic. Smythson’s Burlington style is the ultimate in pared-back luxury, but there are plenty of less pricey versions on the high street, too – COS has a good option for £135. To ask Isabel Spearman your workwear questions, email isabel.spearman@telegraph.co.uk or follow her on Instagram @isabelspearman