The rules for what constitutes "work appropriate" can vary significantly depending on the industry you work in. One of the rules I tend to follow in the corporate world is to stick with closed toe shoes. Opinions vary on this, but I'm more comfortable without having to wonder whether I'm breaking some unwritten corporate rule, and closed toe means I never have to worry about keeping the shade of my toe nail polish neutral and professional.
I also reserve the 5 inch high heels for special occasions (personally, my feet can only handle this type of abuse a few times a year). The guideline for how high your work heels are should really be a matter of how comfortable you are in the shoes. Do they feel good on your feet? Can you walk in them without tripping over yourself? Then go for it.
Here are some stylish but practical options for work-appropriate shoes that could match virtually any outfit.
I'd love to hear some of your favorite sources for work appropriate style!
--
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.