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Feature article: Choosing your clothes
The Right Shoes
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The Right Shoes
Picking the right shoes is a daunting task for any woman. Most often, we don't get it right (have you gawked at the woman in the fancy red evening gown, wearing off-white pumps?), and when we do, it's often by accident. Some people take the low road: sneakers or loafers and socks with everything. Others match their shoes exactly to their outfits (hence the long-gone craze for dyeable dress shoes). If you don't mind, and can hold your head high either way, go ahead. But if you want to follow the rules like a fashion maven, here they are:
- Color: Don't match your clothes to your shoes perfectly. A tan dress will look far better with dark red heels than with ones matched perfectly to the clothing. Much worse is finding a little flower or something tiny in a pattern to match. Stick with a simple color - and dark red goes with most neutrals. If you're not sure, stay with basic black or brown. Accessorize with the color of the shoes if you're not comfortable with that color in only one place.
- Thickness: How delicate or chunky a shoe is determines how it goes with what you have. A heavy-soled flat (complete with treads) won't look right with a flowy satin skirt, and a cargo skirt won't look good with a strappy stiletto. The weight of the fabric and the weight of the shoe should go together. The chunkiness factor matters in the style of a high heel, too.
- Style: The style of the shoe is what you notice first. A flower-power shoe won't complement suit pants (unless you're dining at the beach?), and last season's trendy slouchy boots may look dated. Stick to classic styles you'll wear again and again (and still like!)
Shoe types:
- Loafers: penny loafers, driving mocs, and slides that cover the front of your foot should be worn with pants and skirts that hit at the ankle. The height difference creates some space and slims your ankles too. Choose soft, natural or synthetic materials, not canvas, with at least a small angle if not a heel (to avoid the bedroom slipper look). Thise holds true for men also.
- Low heels: these look great with slim pants and with super short skirts. They help dress up pants for an evening and make a mini or microskirt more sophisticated (and less trashy).
- Full shoes: shoes, like the black chunky ones many guys wear, go well with heavy fabrics like wool and corduroy, and even denim for men. Women should choose one with a bit of a taper at the front to avoid clunkiness.
- Hiking shoes, sneakers: save these for working out and the outdoors. Slim, decorative sneakers can be worn without socks (or with no-show socks) and short pants (see loafers above).
- Boots: these come in so many heights it's hard. Any height boot will go with pants (keep in mind weight and style). Ankle boots can be worn with skirts that either skim the tops or which are below the knee. Skirts at the knee (or even just below) or higher look great with knee-high boots. Allow a little skin to be revealed between the clothing and the boot. Shorts are generally not intended for boots! When choosing boots, make sure the fit around your calf and ankle is not too loose or too tight. It's better to have at l-2 inches of heel, if not more. With heels, chunkiness matters. A wedge will not balance a delicate skirt as well as a thinner heel. For men, boots look great again with heavier pants.
- High heels: I love the combination of heels and pants, or jeans. It will take a workday outfit to evening with an added accessory (earrings, a bag). But these heels of course also go with skirts knee length and below. For higher skirts, drop the heel height to small and delicate.
- Sandals: Depending on the style of sandal, you can wear it with almost anything. Save sandals for your lighter wear. Vary the heel as need for the skirt or pant height. Know that a dressy sandal goes with a dressy pant or a casual pant, but a casual sandal goes only with casual clothing.
Whatever you choose for your outfit, go with your instinct. Don't be afraid to try something new but keep weight, color, and style in mind with everything.
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