How to Style Your Clothing with Your Shoes
One of the easiest ways to look put together is to ensure that your outfit flows seamlessly from head to toe. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you should always don monochromatic ensembles, which can be challenging, especially if you don’t have the space and budget for it. Instead, it means that your clothing and accessories must complement each other.
Your shoes play an integral role in your wardrobe. That’s why you should make sure that your footwear matches the rest of your outfit. While it can serve as the accent to an otherwise toned-down ensemble, you still need to put a lot of thought into ensuring that it doesn’t clash with any of the other pieces.
Here are some tips on how you can style your clothing with your shoes:
Dress Appropriately
One of the first factors that you should consider is the type of event you’ll be attending. Knowing the occasion can help you pick out an appropriate outfit, including the right pair of shoes.
For instance, a black-tie affair would entail a formal dress code. Typically, men are required to don tuxedos. Meanwhile, women are recommended to wear long gowns or, at the very least, chic separates, such as a full satin skirt or an elevated suit and a silk blouse.
Leather shoes would be an ideal pick for formal occasions. High-heeled sandals are also appropriate. The key is to dress up and avoid looking too casual. As they say, it’s better to be overdressed than underdressed.
Nonetheless, you can wear leather shoes for the office as well. For companies that don’t have a strict dress code, you can also opt for loafers and topsiders. If you’re unsure of what these types of footwear look like, check out this page for a comprehensive guide.
Consider the Season
Of course, you also have to think about the season and protect your feet accordingly. If you live in a place where it snows, you should invest in sturdy snow boots to keep your toes snug and warm whenever you venture outside. There are various designs and materials to choose from, so you won’t have any problem finding one for daily use and another for more formal occasions.
Determine Your Foot Shape
More than the design, you should consider the length, width, and arch length of your feet to find the best footwear for your body. Aim to strike a balance between comfort and style. After all, your shoes won’t do you any good if it’s painful to walk in.
People with wide feet will want to avoid high-heels, especially ones with pointed toes. The best shoes would be one with a wide or round-shaped toe area with a maximum of two-and-a-half-inch heels.
On the other hand, those with narrow feet would do well with strapped, adjustable footwear. Steer clear from ballet flats as these usually gape at the sides.
If you’re flat-footed or have fallen arches, you need to be more discerning, especially when choosing workout shoes. Make sure that you get ample interior support for your feet.
Invest in Versatile Pieces
As mentioned above, unless it’s your thing, you might not have an entire closet filled with a bevy of shoes for all occasions. The next best thing is to invest in high-quality and versatile pieces. This way, you can use them as you go about your daily tasks and transition into nighttime revelries.
Neutral colors, like black, white, and brown, are the easiest shades to mix and match with any outfit. If you want your footwear to serve as accents, red, yellow, blue, and green shoes can give your ensemble a refreshing pop of color.
Aside from the color, you should also be mindful of structure. These are a few types of shoes that both men and women should have:
- Flats – Leather and suede flats are comfortable enough to wear to work while being elegant enough to transition from day to night.
- Sneakers – Sneakers are best for doing errands and running from one place to another. Find a comfortable pair without compromising chicness.
- Boots – Boots are another type of footwear that you can dress up or down, depending on the occasion. You can pair them with denim for parties at a friend’s house or wear them with slacks for a more formal event.
Conclusion
If you want to look stylish no matter the occasion, you should ensure that your shoes complement your outfit. Determine the events that you’ll be attending as well as the seasons when they’ll be occurring and dress appropriately. Don’t forget to find the best type of shoe for your foot shape, too, for your utmost comfort. Lastly, invest in high-quality and versatile pieces that you can mix and match with anything in your closet.
