Forget about diamonds. Flats are truly a girl’s best friend.

Not only are flats comfortable, but they are also easy to slip on when you’re in a hurry. They can make any girl feel feminine without having to wear high heels.

Flats are a personal must-have; I can’t leave the house without them. The variety of styles makes them ideal for anything, and they are usually more affordable than boots, wedges and, in some cases, sandals.

Nowadays, flats come in every type of pattern, texture and color. Over the last few years, flats have had a major makeover. Here’s the rundown from the runway on everything flat-related:

Instead of the bottom-line, think of this as the flat-line.

Flats are often inspired by the ballerina-type style, meaning they have rounded toes and maybe bows, studs or other accessories on top.

Other styles of flats include the peep toe, pointed toe, cutout, box top, Mary Jane, oxford and loafer style.

Black and brown leather flats are essential to complete any outfit. Besides the simple black leather flat that most are familiar with, there are other options when selecting the right type of shoe fashionistas desire.

There are so many textures and finishes that can make flats stand out from their counterparts. Patent leather finishes, matte finishes, suede and even velvet make excellent choices for dresses, skirts and jeans.

Depending on your outfit, you may choose to keep your ensemble low-key with a neutral or muted-colored flat.

Neutrals are great when you want to emphasize other fashion choices such as a festive printed top, “little black dress” or jewelry. Beige and other neutral tones bring attention to the patterns or design in your outfit. By wearing a muted-color flat, others will notice the silhouette of your dress or the chunky statement necklace around your neck.

However, if you want to divert the viewer’s eyes toward your perfectly picked shoes, then neon or fluorescent-colored flats are a better choice. This technique is often applied when you have a solid-colored dress or top with a pair of skinny jeans. Paired with jeans cuffed at the hem, flats provide a sleek, well put-together look with minimal effort.

To add pizzazz to your outfit, a glittery flat will do just the trick. Glitter is great for many reasons; it is also a good style choice for tops with accessories such as studs or pearls. When paired with a good outfit, glitter can give off an aura of sophistication and still add a quirky touch to any outfit.

Punk is also a trend found on the catwalk. However, wearing flats sparingly with studs or other hardware is advised. Make sure your outfit doesn’t appear cluttered and overdone.

It can be easy to go overboard when starting a collection of flats. One pair can easily turn into 20 if you are not smart with your style choices. The important things to keep in mind are comfort and versatility.

A beautiful pair of flats won’t do any good if they aren’t comfortable to walk in. As many girls know from personal experience, uncomfortable shoes create the dreaded blisters on toes and heels are not fun to walk around with. When buying a pair that might not be comfortable right out of the shoebox, try putting your new flats on while wearing a thick pair of socks. Then warm them with a blow dryer. This should help mold them to the perfect fit.

Also note how much use the pair will allow. Always try to picture your closet when buying a new pair of flats. Will these shoes match other items in your wardrobe? A cute pair of snakeskin printed flats might seem like a good investment, but if they don’t match your clothes then they will probably sit in your closet collecting dust.

Be creative, have fun and own your style. When you feel confident in what you wear, any hallway instantly becomes a runway.