Shoes: Friend or Foe?
Guest post by blogger Anna Friedrich from Classically Clothed
If you dislike shoes it’s only because you haven’t been exposed to them enough. If your favorite footwear is flip flops, then it’s time to slip on pair of lighthearted, red leather mary-janes with a 2.5 in. heel and take an unceremonious walk on a fresh fall day down an avenue with leaves winding crazily down and the wind blowing your hair. If your flat brown oxfords are boring you to death, exchange them for patent flats in a bright vivid color that instantly adds pizzaz to your outfit. A girl can survive with the following bare minimum of shoes:
- Black Pumps in leather or patent leather, with a 2.5 - 3 in. heel. These pumps will add polish to your casual garb, and match with your skirts and dresses when attending wedding showers, parties, events, and church.
- Casual loafers, or flat mary-janes. Slip them on for running errands. No girl should be caught wearing tennis shoes or crocs while shopping. Another casual option is a pair of comfy Converse sneakers.
- Hide those flip flops in the back of your closet to save for a beach excursion and choose a pair of flat sandals with whatever sort of details appeal to you most! Get a pair of dressy flat sandals, and casual flat sandals. Here are some other options, as well.
- A pair of high-heeled leather sandals. Appropriate for wearing with cotton skirts and dresses during the summertime, and underneath white jeans on hot summer nights when out and about. Pick a sandal with a stable, walkable heel height, 2.5 - 3 in. Again, here are some other options. If you really want stylish stability, opt for a wedge sandal
- For cold, wet, winter months, pick a bootie, or mid calf boot with a shorter, sturdy heel that slips or zips on easily for wearing under jeans and pants.
- Tall boots are striking and comfortable to wear under skirts. Keep your jeans from getting wet by tucking them into your tall boots in fall and winter. Heeled or flat avoid going wrong with tall boots by buying refined looking leather in dark brown, or black, and if you choose a pair with heels, pick stable, chunky heels that are 1.5 - 2.5 in. tall.
- Flats are available in a dizzying array of colors and patterns. Spring and fall is the time to break out your Audrey Hepburn like flats for wearing with knee-length skirts and trousers.
To care for your shoes, store in the original boxes that you buy them in, but don’t store them all in one container unless they are laid flat and not jumbled together which will crease the leather or fabric. Brush off dust, and dirt with a soft cloth after wearing, and avoid wearing your shoes more than two times in a row, unless you want stinky feet. Usually, after a year of hard wearing your shoes will be ready to retire, unless you pamper them and walk only walk on soft carpets. Styles and colors are unlimited when it comes to shoes! You can never have too many, unless of course, one day you look in your closet and find boxes of shoes stacked up that you have never even worn.
October 3rd, 2008 at 5:33 am
I agree with you here completely!
And tall leather boots are one of my prized possessions in the winter - my usual problem of freezing feet hardly exists anymore!
MaryJanes are the perfect casual “slip-on” option - I detest sneakers and most ugly casual shoes.
And yes, you can’t have too many shoes, as long as you wear them all…
October 3rd, 2008 at 9:00 am
My, what a comprehensive list! Of course, I have far more shoes than what are listed here.
No red ones yet, though; I’m still looking for the perfect affordable pair!
October 3rd, 2008 at 9:05 am
Yes, it took me some time to find the perfect pair of red pumps. But hold out for them, when you see them- you’ll know.
October 3rd, 2008 at 11:03 am
I don’t like any of the shoes there! But the shoes in my closet very closely fit the descriptions…they just don’t look like that! (Thank goodness) Okay, this is contradictory, but there were a couple pairs I liked. Some of them I wouldn’t be caught dead in, however… and I am a very classic traditional dresser, so I don’t often go for fads. Anyway, I’ll stop ramblig now.
-Miss Anne
October 3rd, 2008 at 11:43 am
Anne, a lot of these shoes were just meant as a possible illustration of the descriptions! I’m glad that you have a lot of the shoes that are *described* even if they don’t look like the shoes that are linked to. Personal style is a wonderful thing. If we were all held to the same style choices we would be bored out of our minds!
So, a general description of an item can entail many different details. I own a pair of black pumps, too, but they don’t look anything like the shoes in the picture!
October 3rd, 2008 at 12:17 pm
I’ve got two pairs of shoes(one high heel & one flat) maybe one or two more for winter…thats all I need & want…really…and they fit two every outfit I’ve got….
October 3rd, 2008 at 1:48 pm
What’s your opinions about wearing shoes that don’t match your outfit?
I.e. Red bag, red hat…mustard shoes?
Yay or nay?
October 3rd, 2008 at 3:01 pm
A red hat and red bag with mustard shoes sounds like you could pull it off; if the rest of the ensemble is neutral. A general rule of thumb is not to wear more than 3 bright colors in an outfit. I would limit matching the same color to two accessories, i.e. bag and shoes, or shoes and hat, etc. or you are at risk of looking too matchy, matchy. If you use too much of the same color in an outfit it can lose its “punch.”
The primary colors can harmonize pretty well together, yellow, red, and blue, but of course there will be some things that do end up clashing with your shoes. Get a second opinion if you aren’t sure, but don’t be afraid to try mixing colors!
October 4th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Cute! Mudd brand has the best variety of casual shoes. Each pair is under sixty dollars. I usually detest sneakers but I’ve recently had to walk more so I bought a pair of ECOSneaks, they are so cute! Perfect sneaker for the sneaker hater. I wont wear converse anymore because of the subculture they denote that I don’t want to resble. Boots I can live without since I live in Arizona, but dressy flip-flops(patent leather) and flats are essentials, so are wedge sandals. Color wise I’m pretty basic, black, brown, and white.
October 5th, 2008 at 9:34 am
More and more people combine not at all fitting shoes to their outfit…
What tone of red? bright or pastel?
Nay,
maybe white shoes & white trousers, skirt…& red bag & red hat
or brown shoes, brown skirt or trousers….& red bag & red hat
or beige shoes, beige skirt or trousers….& red bag & red hat
Yay,
I think some teenager would combine this outfit or anything in red with mustard & purple or blue….;-)
October 6th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Maybe you could help me, I’ve been looking all over for a pair of black boots that I can wear to church. I help teach Sunday school which involves lots of jumping and dancing and moving so I want some without really high, skinny heels. But I’m having a very hard time finding flats (or short heels) that look dressy enough in my size (10). Any ideas would be very much appreciated!
October 6th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
We’re talking bright red.
Mustard is very popular color for this fall. I’ve seen it in everything from Beret’s- to full length coats.
I really enjoy that color.
October 6th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
so a pair of classic black boots?
Here’s my suggestions:
1. Goodwill usually has a plethora of boots- As do Ross and T.J. Max, especially in larger sizes.
2. Aldoshoes.com has a beautiful selection of boots as does Areosoles (google them) both are very comfortable, high quality and mid-priced. Don’t forget to google “Aldo coupons” or “Areosole” coupon.
October 6th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
I love shoes, I have found that the more basic the shoe, the better. Although I have many “fun” shoes, the shoes I wear to death are the basic ones.
As for pumps, I like these :
http://www.shoemall.com/product/Jessica-Simpson-Womens-Henri-Pump-Black-123886&cpncode=19-12248660-2&srccode=cii_13736960&GCID=C16122×005&style=123886&KeyCode=SMJQ994
Converse are a must, they go with everything.
I also found that these, http://www.pinkice.com/product/Read_Product.asp?BrandCode=&CodeSexNo=&mCategory=&GroupNo=32&ProductNo=5549 are comfortable, affordable, and go with everything, silver and black are the best neutrals available.
It is just as easy to slip on a pair of flats as it is to slip on a pair of flip flops.
Salvation army and goodwill are fantastic places to find shoes, two winters ago I found a pair of brown knee high FRYE boots in my size, I thought I as going to pass out from excitement!
Thanks Christa for once again inspiring us.
October 6th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
DSW.com also has some possibilities.
October 7th, 2008 at 8:06 am
http://www.newport-news.com/shop/prod_detail_catalogquickorder.aspx?tab=quick&eff1=bg&styclr1=30983&eff2=&styclr2=&eff3=&styclr3=&eff4=&styclr4=&eff5=&styclr5=&item1=bg30983&item2=&item3=&item4=&item5=
October 7th, 2008 at 10:13 am
I think (if it worked for your skin tone) that a mustard hat with red bag and red shoes would be better. But only if the rest of the outfit is neutral.
-Miss S.
October 7th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Skin tone is definitely an issue- mustard on my shoes or bag, fine, but next to my face leaves me looking sallow.
I’m going to stay conservative and follow the rule of three- and keep my red shoes with my red bag/hat and my mustard shoes with some neutral accessories (i.e. brown bag)
I love those little leopard skin flats. I have 2 pairs of flats, one of which is a leopard print. They certainly go with everything and are just so much fun! (a friend gave me mine that she picked up at Goodwill
They’re perfect for the groceries, errands, and everything else!
October 8th, 2008 at 8:05 am
I love those Aldo boots but they are really expensive…I’ll have to try Goodwill!
October 8th, 2008 at 9:41 am
great post!!!
I found a pair of gold peep-toe flats at Marshall’s for $20 and they go with EVERYTHING, plus I get lots of complements
October 15th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
So, I got some ruby flats at 6pm.com in the mail yesterday and wore them with black pants, a jewel-toned teal top…was I way off in combining these colors together? I thought it looked cute.
I also think the red shoes can go with deep purple too…maybe I’m just really bold.
thoughts?
October 15th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
I’d like to say that I dislike shoes because I haven’t been exposed to them enough, but sadly I have a much more mundane reason: large feet. Anyone ever tried to find cute shoes in a size 11 wide? Not exactly fun.
If there are cute, reasonably priced, size 11 shoes out there, I’d love to know where they’re hiding!
December 31st, 2008 at 7:59 am
I know this is old but I’m looking at this post with new interest because I’m in desperate need of shoes. I currently have a pair of brown Mary Jane’s and brown short boots. I wear the boots with jeans and slacks and the Mary Jane’s with my skirts. Do you any suggestions on what kind of shoes would benefit my wardrobe? I wear mainly skirts when out, usually jean sometimes brown or black. I do wear jeans quite frequently to social events. I’m not really a high fashion person, I just try to stay in style and dress classically and elegant. When at home I run around in bare feet or socks. I live in the country on a farm so I don’t run with an real up to do social circle.
Also my feet are wide so any expansive places where those shoes can be bought would be great!
Thanks!