Put your best foot forward

March 10, 10:26 PMColumbus Muslim Women's Style ExaminerEllen Keim

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Fortunately, there are no prohibitions that I know of in Islam about what women can wear on their feet. This leaves the field wide open for fashion-conscious Muslimahs. There are a few things to keep in mind, however, when choosing your footwear.

Sandals have a special significance in Islam because they were worn by Mohammad. They are also easy to slip on and off, making them especially useful for prayer, at home and at the mosque, and for visiting in homes where your hosts prefer that you remove your shoes.

For the same reason, any kind of shoe that comes off easily is practical for Muslimahs. And that includes many types of high heels. Anything with shoelaces, buckles, buttons or zippers is less desirable for prayer or visiting, but is perfectly acceptable for work, walking and wearing inside the home.

Some women overlook what they wear on their feet because they figure what they're wearing isn't easily seen when worn with abayas and other long dresses and skirts. But even if your clothing is long, your shoes will still be seen when you walk or sit. Of course, you could wear any old shoe, but why not take advantage of the opportunity to be fashionable?

The most adaptable shoe, in my opinion, is the flat. These come in so many colors and styles you could go from the conservative to crazy with one slip of the shoe. And they are usually more inexpensive than heels (depending on the maker and quality).

One style of flats that is very popular is the ballerina, or ballet, flat, which is generally stretchy to fit the form of your foot and make you feel like you're wearing nothing. Flats can be much more structured, too. Some even have grip soles like tennis shoes and are sold as sport shoes. They can also be very fancy, with ruffles, ribbons--the sky's the limit!

Shoes can make all kinds of fashion statements, from old-fashioned to modern, casual to elegant, but another thing they can do that many women overlook is bring a pop of color to your outfit. Whether you bring together all of the colors that you're wearing by wearing a patterned or multicolored shoe, or add a jolt of excitement by contrasting your shoe color with the rest of your clothing, you'll be pleased by the effect a so-called "simple" shoe can have on your fashion style.

Shoes don't have to be overly expensive either, although it is important to get a good fit and lasting quality. Otherwise you won't wear them and what kind of savings is that? All of the shoes in the slideshow below cost less than $80 and the designer is the well-known Anne Klein. I bought a pair of the black patent leather flats the other day for less than $50 at Macy's but they can also be ordered directly from the AK website here.

A word about buying shoes on-line: because fit is so tricky, it's a good idea to buy only from companies that take returns and ideally that pay the return shipping charges. Last year I had to return two pairs of the same shoe because the size wasn't quite right and the company I dealt with, Shoes.com, paid the shipping for every return and re-shipping. I call that service!