What Color Shoes to Wear With a Gold Dress?
Hi Deborah,
I bought a lovely gold sheath dress for a Christmas party and wanted to know what color shoes to wear with it. I’m stumped. Thanks, Lisa
Hi Lisa,
This is a tricky one. Any shiny or sparkly metallic dress will command a lot of attention, so you want to be careful to select a shoe that lets the dress remain the center of attention.
Your shoes should complement, not compete with, your dress. Choosing the perfect color of shoes to wear with a gold dress depends on several factors. First,
Wear Gold with Gold
A light gold shoe can look lovely with a gold dress. You get that continuous flow of color from the dress to the shoe, creating a nice, long, lean line. If you are wearing a gold dress with gold shoes, you need to be careful to coordinate the color of gold and the intensity of each.
There are so many shades of gold. Gold dresses range from champagne gold to yellow gold to pinky rose gold. You want a gold shoe with a similar look and feel to blend in.
For example, if your dress is shiny or sparkly gold, go for a less sparkly shoe. If your dress is matte, you can pair it with sparkly gold shoes. It’s nearly impossible to find a shoe in the exact color of your dress, and you wouldn’t want to anyway.
Opt for a gold shoe that is slightly lighter or darker than your gold dress, which should be fine. A champagne-colored shoe is similar to a gold shoe, but softer. It is an excellent choice!
Nude shades pair well with a Gold dress.s
Another option is to pair your gold dress with nude or champagne-colored shoes. This creates a subtle look that accentuates the dress.
Black Shoes are an Option
Black shoes can complement a gold dress and are a popular choice, but I find they work best with a dress in a deeper, darker shade of gold, such as bronze, or if your gold dress features black accents, like the one above.
Black shoes worn with a light, bright gold dress can be so high in contrast that they look heavy on your feet, ruining the uplifting feel of your gold dress. This is especially true for those with light hair. However, if you have dark hair, it can sometimes balance out with dark shoes.
Evening Bag Guidelines
As for your evening bag, don’t be matchy-matchy in all cases. For example, try a gold or black bag if you are wearing nude shoes. You can even carry a similarly colored nude bag with a different finish or texture. The bottom line is to mix it up in terms of color and finish to achieve a modern look.
What Color Shoes to Wear with a Silver Dress?
It’s the same. You can wear black or pewter shoes with a silver dress, and Navy can also work. I like silver shoes and a silver dress.
Do Colored Shoes Go with a Silver or Gold Dress?
Some women may try to wear jewel-toned shoes, such as emerald green or ruby red, with a silver or gold dress, but I find these colors stand out like a sore thumb and can make you look like an overly decorated Christmas tree. Jewel tones against silver create high contrast, are very bright, and appear loud. They can come across as tacky and not classy, especially if the dress is classic and elegant.
What to Wear with a Bronze or Pewter Dress?
Bronze is gold mixed with black. Pewter is silver combined with black. If you wear a bronze or pewter dress, black shoes will look wonderful because they’ll pick up on the black in the dress and balance the intensity of the dark metallic. See how striking the dress above looks with black sandals.
Whatever you decide, remember that a little sparkle and shine is better than too much glitz if you want to look elegant and chic over 40.
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I love the last outfit you put together (one with the bronze dress). Where did you find those earrings?
I have wondered if specific shoes are age-appropriate for someone over 40. I am 63, petite, size 2 or 4. I am no fashion expert, but I have learned a few things. Regarding age-appropriate shoes: if you feel ridiculous in them, you will probably look silly. Extremely high platforms resemble stripper shoes, in my opinion. I sort of limit myself to a 4-inch heel. I have fallen a few times into higher shoes. I think you can get away with wearing a higher heel with a longer skirt or dress instead of a mini skirt. One question I am wondering about is the stiletto sneakers. Fenty by Puma has some cute ones. Have an outfit that would look cute with them, but I don’t want to look like I am trying too hard. Any suggestions?
Hi Delta,
The term, age-appropriate, seems to have fallen by the wayside. There are no actual rules, and it’s up to the individual what she wears and how she wears it at any age. I checked these shoes out: http://tinyurl.com/z8xjrd2, and all I can say is they wouldn’t be for me. I find them much too trendy. I always like a more subtle nod to any trend at 50 or 60+. Congrats, though, if you can walk in heels that skinny and high.
Cheers, Deborah