Understanding Shoe Aesthetics

Message from Diana
Feature Article: Understanding Shoe Aesthetics
Glossary: d'Orsay Pump
Resources: Shoes

First, while many companies are feeling the pinch of the recession -- including Adidas, whose First Quarter profits fell 97% from a year ago - several reported increases: Hermes is up 3.2% and Giorgio Armani SpA sales rose 1.5% from the same period last year. Interesting what's considered "essential" in times of trouble, eh?

The first Saturday in May brought the "Run for the Roses" at the Kentucky Derby - and the annual hat fashion show that goes along with it. While some of the attending celebrities were spot-on with their choices (LeAnn Rimes, Valerie Bertinelli) others just left me scratching my head (Brooke Shields, Bethany Frankel). You can see pictures and read all about the race, the red carpet, and all the great parties from the Louisville Courier-Journal .

LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes

Valerie Bertinelli
Valerie Bertinelli

Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields

Bethany Frankel
Bethany Frankel

A few days later, all eyes turned east to the Met's annual Costume Institute Gala in New York. While there were amazing dresses and OMG-what-were-you-thinking?! dresses (yes Madonna, I'm talking to YOU!) the real drama came at one of the after parties when bad boy Kiefer Sutherland - forgetting that you can only kick a** AND get away with it on TV - got into an argument with Jack McCollough over Brooke Shields (that girl gets around!), and allegedly head-butted the Proenza Schouler designer, breaking his nose in three places. McCollough filed charges and Sutherland, on probation from a 2007 DUI, could face up to a year in jail if convicted.

Finally, for the many who have asked, I will NOT be at the AICI convention this year due to an unfortunate scheduling conflict. I have my fingers crossed for next year.

If you regularly sweat SO much you're embarrassed to raise your arms or wear certain clothes, you could be suffering from a common medical condition called hyperhidrosis. Regular deodorants won't help you - neither will prescriptions. But there is a simple, effective solution that can eliminate this problem for you in as little as two weeks - from a guy who used to sweat so much he'd go home on his lunch hour to shower and change clothes. He's been sweat-free for over a decade. If you're ready to stop sweating and starting living, here's how ...

Last Friday afternoon as I was driving along restaurant row on Main Street doing errands, I saw several young women who looked amazing - from the ankles up. Great hair, cute clothes, pretty jewelry, they had obviously spent a lot of time pulling themselves together for a Friday night on the town.

For many, it was the ubiquitous flip flop that caused the problem. For others, it was an unfortunate color or style choice. Then there was the girl who teetered on heels so high, she could only make teeny-tiny Morticia Adams-like steps as her (clearly annoyed) date all but dragged her along behind him. That there are so many fashion mishaps with this particular accessory can only point to one thing: a need for more education.

If you've ever been befuddled by shoe choices, here are some things to consider next time you're standing in front of mirror, mulling over which shoes to wear:

If you're wearing casual clothes, your shoes should be casual. If you're wearing formal clothes, your shoes should be formal. Shoes made of canvas, rubber, straw, or plastic are typically casual; shoes made of good leather or fine fabrics (satin, lace, tweed) are typically formal. Thick heels, cork heels, platforms, and wedge styles are typically casual; thin heels and simple silhouettes are typically formal.

Casual Attire

Formal Attire

Note: flip flops are beachwear, designed for use near sand and surf. They are too informal for most casual clothes. Save them for the pool, the beach, and your backyard.

This is often ignored but instantly creates a "what's wrong with this picture?" feeling when you see it.

If your arms and shoulders are exposed (tank top, sleeveless top), you should expose more of your foot for visual balance (sandals, d'Orsay pumps, slingbacks*). If your arms and legs are covered (sweater and jeans), you should cover your feet for visual balance (pumps, loafers, boots). To cover or expose one part of your body without repeating it elsewhere looks unbalanced.

Visual Balance

Visual Balance

Visual Imbalance

For a pleasing aesthetic, old school rules say that your shoe color should be darker than your hem color. So a white dress with black shoes would look fine whereas a black dress with white shoes would not. Same goes for hosiery. Light or flesh colored hose with dark shoes almost always look better than dark hose with light shoes.

Attention goes to the dress and face

Attention goes
to the feet

While matching your shoe color to your outfit color can be very stylish, it can also look strange, depending on the color, your body type, and the proportions of your outfit. If you're petite or have short legs, for example, visually "chopping up" your body with blocks of color will only make you look shorter, so be careful. Also, while matching red, blue, and black shoes can look very elegant, matching odd colors like lime, plum, or orange can look very costume-y and - dare I say it? - déclassé outside of a bridal party. Proceed with caution.

Be careful matching shoe and clothing colors

White reflects light and makes anything it's on look bigger, including feet. If you have small feet or really like the summer-time feeling of white shoes, wear them. If you're self-conscious or don't want people looking at your feet, don't.

When in Doubt, Try Flesh Tone

A flesh-toned shoe in a simple style can see you through years of use. Not only will it visually elongate your legs, it will go with a variety of outfits. If you want to trim your shoe wardrobe to a bare minimum, invest in a dark pump and a flesh toned pump, slingback, or sandal, depending on your wardrobe and lifestyle. You won't regret it.

Flesh tones make
your legs look longer

Any ensemble should only have one focal point. If your clothing is complicated - artful construction, unusual fabrication, or dynamite color, for example - keep your shoes simple. If your shoes are "fierce," then your clothing should be simple to give your shoes center stage. Don't make interesting elements compete against each other for attention. Only have one star per outfit.

Neckline competes with shoes

Focus goes right to the waistline

While there are TONS of cute shoes out there, only buy the styles that make sense for you. Don't stuff your feet into shoes that are too small, have heels that are too high, or that mercilessly bind and pinch. If they look great but hurt your feet or exacerbate an old injury, they're not for you. Keep looking.

Pleaser USA
Zappos.com

Finally, attend to any necessary grooming BEFORE exposing your legs and feet to public view. Get a pedicure and shave your legs. No exceptions. You want people to be delighted and amazed by your great shoes, not turn away in horror at your nasty toenails, cracked heels, or hairy toes. See to it.

Looking great from head to toe takes a little time and effort, but the rewards are definitely worth it. When you look good, you feel good, and when you feel good about yourself, it shows. Try it for yourself and see.

Need some more help sorting out which shoes work best for you? Then download a copy of ACCESSORY MAGIC to see how easy it is to create a signature style and stretch your clothing budget with accessories.

http://www.accessorymagic.com

A d'Orsay pump is a shoe style where the vamp of the shoe is cut very close to the box toe while one or both sides of the shoe are cut away, exposing the arch of the foot.

Delman
Zappos.com

Stuart Weiztman Zappos.com