September 2008

Nora Sihabouth has a closet full of pencil skirts, and because she's on her feet all day at her job at kitchen-and-bath company Waterworks, she pairs them with sensible flats. "They're comfortable," she said, and while we agreed, we had to switch it up:

- We changed her brown bow-fronted shoes to low-heeled boots in black.

"We almost never say never at Lucky, but pencil skirts and flat shoes are just really tough to pull off," says fashion news director Jen Ford. "The to-the-knee length and snug fit of the skirt make it almost dowdy with flats—they would be fine with a shorter or swingier silhouette. But, of course, comfort was key, so we swapped them for these low, black ankle boots. Plus, sticking to one color from the waist down gives her petite frame the illusion of height."

Nora's reaction: "We work with many of New York's top architects and designers, so it's very important that I look put together. I liked the subtle change of the heel. I think it definitely elevated the outfit into something more glamorous—but one I can still wear to work."

The item we chose: