Let's Talk About Bookending - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Let's Talk About Bookending

Thistle

Veteran

I understand bookending in theory. But, as a dark blond, light brunette (my hair is actually the same color as my new gold booties), how does one do this successfully, particularly if one is prone to wearing shades of grey, ink, and black on our bottom half? Can gold footwear be worn even with black trousers?

How do you handle bookending? Do you even try to bookend?

Dressing

28 replies

Latest reply was from Style Fan

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Watching with interest... I also find this (more) challenging these days with white/silver hair and a definite preference for black/navy on the bottom. I assume you've searched "bookending" in the blog? I know Angie has written on it. I think bookending light hair can also be achieved with scrunched sleeves, belts, bags, etc. It doesn't necessarily have to be at the "end" as it were. But I could be wrong.

And yes, I htink you could wear your gold boots with black trousers, as long as the style of trouser isn't stumpifying. I have worn my white booties with black bottoms.

trekkiegirl

Veteran

I would think of bookending as a particular style to have in your arsenal, not a necessity. If it works, great. If it doesn't, no biggie. Unless you're really attached to the idea... Then maybe dye your hair?? That seems a bit drastic though, but is about all I can think of.

cinnamon fern

Veteran

Blond-ish shoes with black trousers absolutely works! I particularly like it with bootcuts or wide leg pants - with skinnies it is a bit stumpifying on me - but if I remember correctly you are a long-legged creature so that shouldn't be a problem.

Helena

Veteran

I don't think it would need to be a match per se, just the same depth - perhaps a cognac or tan might also work? I also agree that lighter accents (e.g. if you are thinking of shoes or purse) can really soften and freshen up dark neutrals.

Helena

Veteran

PS - Thistle, here is an old blog post with some different ideas on bookending, if the shoes thing is not your cup of tea: http://youlookfab.com/2013/10/.....ookending/

jackiec

Veteran

I'm also a light brown/dark blond. I find that taupe and cognac booties work really well for me. You can absolutely wear lighter footwear with black. I really like cognac booties with black or grey bottoms.

Thistle

Veteran

I didn;t realize light footwear worked with dark pants. Hmmm, something to ponder, especially as I have a pair of gold smoking slippers and a new pair of gold booties.

lyn67

Veteran

I know what you mean, Thistle. I do have a hard time to bookend my blond hair color with taupe or other lightcolored shoes-WHEN wearing dark bottoms. (I do it easier for white or distressed jeans). To say it honest, I much preffer an animal print (which contains black or darker patches) to black/dark pants. OR cognac/burgundy/navy still lightens things up. But taupe, or any other lighter color is harder, esp if you dont't have any other splash of that color on the upper part. It's easier if you wear a white/light colored shirt peaking out from somewhere. Or a dark/light stripe(or other patterned) top/topper-to look intentional. I dunno if it's only me, but for me bookending blond hair with light shoes only(when wearing dark bottoms) it's not enough-but, then I like me a smooth column of darks-so that may be another problem.

shiny

Veteran

Thistle I meant to add on your most recent WiW that your hair is looking particularly lovely these days. Such a beautiful color! I think you are dead on with the idea of gold shoes to bookend. And yes, absolutely, you can wear gold shoes with black, ink, gray, pants!! Gold is a neutral.

I also think you need some leopard shoes.... if you don't already have any? Cognac would also work.

Anonymous

I don't think bookending needs to necessarily involve hair. I understand it as a colour which is repeated i.e a belt and shoes that are a similar shade to each other.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I agree with lyn, I wouldn't do JUST the shoes, but if there is another lighter element somewhere it can look fine.

abc

Veteran

I have a similar hair color as you and I wear a pair of snakeskin shoes to lighten up my outfits. The tone is around the same as my hair, meaning it's not an exact color match, but not too dark and not too light. I suspect the gold shoes you mentioned would function along the same lines as mine. And I agree, it doesn't have to be hair matching shoes, it can be any color/tone/texture repeated in two places. I see a lot of times people wear cognac shoes and cognac belt (or another similar tone of brown) and it repeats nicely and adds the cohesion you're looking for.

Also, re your question about gold shoes matching ink or black pants, YES! My metallic shoes are some of the most worn because they act as a neutral in my wardrobe and go with almost everything. Jeans, black pants, gray pants, etc.

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

celia

Veteran

Hi Thistle,
You don't have to necessarily bookend your hair.If you want to use black boots with black pants to elongate your legs, you can bookend with a scarf that has some black in it.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

YES. You can wear light shoes with dark pants. Of course. I do that all the time.

Bookending can be subtle. Most warm light shades or white tend to bookend my own hair because I have several colours going through my 'do.

Bookendding does mean head and footwear. We are talking about ends, and not other areas of the outfit.

columbine(erin)

Veteran

I usually need to bookend other things than my hair (bright blonde) because my footwear is dark and I prefer wearing dark bottoms. But I have one pair of light brown boots and I bookend with a cardigan that has similar tones, and I frequently wear these with a navy column of color. I.e., boots, navy knee length skirt, navy sleeveless top, cardigan. If my boots had red or orange in them I'd wear them with navy pants, too, but they don't look quite right. I plan on getting a pair of sandals to bookend my hair this summer because it will help create a lot of new outfits I think. Following this post with interest.

abc

Veteran

Yes, Angie is so smart. So I think we (myself included) may be confusing terms. Bookending is hair color and shoe color. Color repetition can happen in an outfit and helps bring cohesion, but it doesn't HAVE to be via bookending and doesn't have to be head and feet - like my example of shoe and belt color. Or the example given by celia of black boots and a black color in a scarf.

columbine(erin)

Veteran

Thanks for the clarification Angie and Abc

Aziraphale

Veteran

I don't care a whole lot about bookending, but I do understand why it works. Sometimes I wear an all-black outfit with brown boots that almost perfectly match my hair, and I really like the effect. It's effortlessly cohesive.

I agree with Angie that you can wear shoes lighter than your pants. I do it all the time!

kkards

Veteran

it took me a while to get comfortable with lighter shoes and dark pants, at 1st i thought i would look out of balance, but its a look that has grown on me.

rachylou

Veteran

I don't make a point of it, but it may be why a lot of times lighter coloured shoes feel like flashing beacons on me - like I could guide ships into port with my feet. I should try a white headscarf with white shoes... hmm

That is to say, I'd deploy bookending to keep the eye moving through my whole outfit and back again, if it's not happening otherwise.

Anonymous

As a not very tall person, with not very long legs, I'm more focused on leg lengthening than bookending. And also making my feet inconspicuous, so no flashy footwear, and that would include big light/dark swings from pants color to shoes.
Bookending is not a priority for me but I like the tidiness of it. I also love fancy footwear on other people.

Clueless in canada

I love this look, and until now i did'nt know what it was called. I wear a pair of pinky beige shiny ballerina flats with br black/white cropped pants and a pinky beige whbm nylon jacket.

kerry

Veteran

I have dark blonde hair too and I'm always drawn to light footwear. I do, however, like the leg lengthening of darker footwear when I'm wearing dark bottoms. It's a trick Right now I'm trying decide on a pair of chelseas. I can't decide if I should do black or dark brown. I don't wear brown and my hair's not dark brown. I also shunned cognac boots in favour of taupe. But I'm now noticing lots of blondes in gorgeous cognac boots and am wondering if that colour could be bookending for me too - my hair colour does have some "warmth" although my skin colouring is "cool".

Show us your gold booties with your bottoms!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Like Lyn, I tend to like the effect on myself better when there is also some light coloured item elsewhere in the outfit (not necessarily the same colour). But my hair is short so there is not that much of it -- maybe that plays a role.

Also -- I think it has to do with the level of contrast that suits you and that you enjoy wearing. Angie can wear higher contrast looks; Lyn prefers more tonal neutrals, so a high contrast shoe/ pant isn't really her thing. I think I am somewhere in between. Based on my colouring alone, I shouldn't really go high contrast. But my personality can manage more contrast, so sometimes I enjoy the effect.

For me, gold, taupe, animal print (snake print with taupe in it, or leopard) are all great bookending colours. Pewter doesn't literally bookend, but it does act as a sort of "shiny near-nude" and seems to lend cohesion in a similar way. I haven't really tried plain cream or white footwear yet. My hair is darker than Angie's so I don't think these will bookend precisely, but they might work rather like the pewter does. I do enjoy two tone shoes with navy/ black and cream or white. Actually, I LOVE them, as it is a safe way to introduce high contrast!

Thistle

Veteran

I think I will give my gold booties a whirl yet this week. You all have inspired me

Anonymous

You know, it's such a valuable dressing tip - yet I keep forgetting to do it! The several times I've deliberately done it, I've absolutely seen and appreciated what a difference it made, and especially when my hair is blonde. It has meant I've had to open my eyes and mind to lighter coloured footwear all year 'round, which isn't always easy to find.....so I consider your post a good reminder to keep it in mind

Style Fan

Veteran

I like the idea of bookending. It keeps footwear simple especially for travelling, which I am doing a lot of now. My hair is pretty light and I don't care for light coloured shoes (for myself) so I wear cognac. I also read that you can match your eye colour to your shoes. I am all over that one because I love green/teal. So now I am on the hunt for green shoes, booties and handbags.

Style Fan

Veteran

PS. I just read the link that Torontogirl posted and Angie writes about eye colour as one of the possible bookending colours. It is a great post.