YouLookFab Forum » Topic: How do you choose shoe colors?

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: How do you choose shoe colors? https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 14 Apr 2026 17:03:27 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php nemosmom on "How do you choose shoe colors?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors/page/2#post-1984622 Thu, 20 Dec 2018 13:49:15 +0000 nemosmom 1984622@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Lesley - that makes perfect sense. Your shoe Venn diagram is a great way to look at it. Windchime - I am familiar with orphaned colored shoes! I had a pair of red ballet flats that I thought would be my magical "go with everything" shoe, but I always ended up wearing one I liked better with any outfit. I think I wore them twice... cindysmith - I truly envy your approach to buying what tickles your fancy (and makes your feet happy, of course!!) I think your collection is pretty great. LisaP and SarahD8 - I should have been more clear about whether my question was about buying or wearing shoes. Actually, it's both, but I do feel more anxiety over choosing shoes to buy. SarahD8, thank you for your analysis of your current collection! Your contrasting shoes in the summer fit the colorfulness of the season so it makes complete sense. shiny - thanks for showing how you sort by type then by season. I will try that when I edit again! Gigi - your thought process is great. Often I fail to consider what I will do with the shoe (creating a column, etc) and just buy one. That explains my conundrum. All - this has been really fantastic feedback! I am NOT a shoe gal. Until a couple of years ago I had only four pairs; a navy pair of chucks, a white Olukai flip flop, a brown pump and a brown flat (one pair of running/gym shoes that I consider gear and exclude from my day-to-day collection). I changed jobs, moved from San Francisco to Chicago and needed to overhaul everything. During my overhaul, I panicked a bit and started adding things on a whim and both my budget AND style suffered from it. I'm trying to be more mindful about new purchases and outfit creation going forward and hearing how you make your choices has been more helpful than you know. I really really appreciate all of you for taking the time to respond so thoughtfully! Thank you! Gigi on "How do you choose shoe colors?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors/page/2#post-1984553 Thu, 20 Dec 2018 03:46:27 +0000 Gigi 1984553@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Good question, lisa p. I had assumed that she meant which color to buy, but maybe I'll turn out to be wrong... I've never really sat down and thought about how I choose which color of shoe to buy, but I guess I do have a bit of a thought process. Sometimes I am just attracted to a particular color of shoe, mainly if the color is a little out of the ordinary. For instance, this past summer I was loving yellow, and I desperately wanted a pair of yellow shoes. I am also currently loving white retro booties and am looking for a pair. So in these two cases, the color is the main attraction. Other times I will find an unusual color of shoe just when browsing. I ask myself whether I can build outfits with what I already own that will work with the color, and if I can, then I buy that colorway. If I can't make outfits with what I already own, I usually pass. Another consideration is what I am trying to do with the shoe. Am I trying to have a column of color? If so, do I need a light shoe or a dark shoe to create the low contrast? Since I normally wear a lot of dark footwear, I'm covered for a dark column of color, but on the rare occasion that I want to do a light column of color, I can struggle, because I don't have many light-colored shoes. So if I find a pair of light-colored shoes that I like, I imagine how they would look with lighter-colored outfits, as well as how they would look as a high-contrast addition to a dark-colored outfit. This helps me decide whether the light colorway or the dark one would be the better option. I am very pale, so in the summer, when I'm wearing shorts, I don't often like to wear dark footwear, because I'd rather the footwear blend in with my pale skin. So that's another consideration. I have found that metallics, especially gold, work well to add a little interest but not create a lot of contrast where I don't want it. The metallics act almost as a nude for me. Anonymous on "How do you choose shoe colors?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors/page/2#post-1984538 Thu, 20 Dec 2018 02:36:30 +0000 Anonymous 1984538@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I haven't read every reply - yet- but want clarification  Choose as in buy?  Or choose out of your closet? shiny on "How do you choose shoe colors?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors/page/2#post-1984512 Thu, 20 Dec 2018 00:43:54 +0000 shiny 1984512@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Cindy, you crack me up! Love your shoe collection! When I responded earlier I should've just posted this visual file I maintain. I have 38 shoes. Pic 1 is organized by type. Pic 2 is organized by color.... I did that because this thread got me curious! This was a really helpful exercise so thank you for starting this thread. It helped me see my shoe collection in a different way, and consider how I can cull/refine/update it. I did do a serious culling fairly recently, but I see now there's yet more to cull. You can see that black really crept back into my shoe-drobe. That's all in the last 5 years, with the job requiring travel. I've been on a temporary hiatus from the travel -- and thoroughly enjoying the white booties. I keep passing up the black footwear. I feel "off" of it.. yet I know the travel will re-start and I'll be back on it soon enough. The orchid Converses were a present from the hubby. I don't find Con's all that comfortable and the color ... well...the color makes me happy. But, I've only worn them a couple of times.  jussie on "How do you choose shoe colors?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors/page/2#post-1984505 Thu, 20 Dec 2018 00:03:20 +0000 jussie 1984505@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Great question. I make sure I always have the following: a nude shoe for every season, and a black shoe for every season. That’s my essentials covered. However, I have quite a few other colours across the seasons, but these are mainly bought for fun as extras- I can already cover any outfit with my nude and black “core” shoe collection. The others that I wear most frequently are pink, navy, and gold. The pink and navy shoes because they’re two of my favorite colours and easy to blend in with my clothing colours, and the gold because they’re incredibly easy to bookend with jewelry and gold buttons on clothes. Also they add a festive glam to every outfit :). wendy on "How do you choose shoe colors?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors/page/2#post-1984489 Wed, 19 Dec 2018 23:32:09 +0000 wendy 1984489@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ My style leans towards very casual boho hippie thing, with the occasional outside my box outfit. I wear Docs the majority of the time. When I add color or pattern it is usually with converse. SarahD8 on "How do you choose shoe colors?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors/page/2#post-1984482 Wed, 19 Dec 2018 23:11:47 +0000 SarahD8 1984482@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This is an interesting thread! nemosmom I'm not sure if your question is more about choosing shoes to build a shoe wardrobe, or choosing shoes to build an outfit. Or maybe it is both! I am a shoe gal, but I don't have a very organized process for any of this! Here is what I have noticed after thinking about your question: -My winter shoes are mostly neutrals. My summer shoes are mostly colors. This might be more about availability than any kind of preference on my part though?  -My summer shoes tend to contrast with the colors I most often wear, rather than match. For example, I seem to have accumulated several pairs of summer shoes in the pink/fuschia range. That is not a color I wear much of in clothing, but I like how it contrasts with the navy and white that I do have a lot of. -I think that when adding new styles, I tend to "fall for" a pair of shoes, and then if they prove their worth in my wardrobe I am likely to duplicate the exact model in a different color, or look for a similar style in a different color. -I am not likely to purchase two pairs of shoes of the same color in the same category. For example, I have a pair of cognac riding boots that are absolute workhorses. I am not interested in buying another pair of cognac tall boots. I'd love a pair of burgundy tall boots, though. -I might look for the same color in a different category, though. For example, once I realized how useful those cognac riding boots are I started thinking about a pair of cognac ankle boots. -Re: choosing shoes for an outfit, at least when it comes to my cold-weather style, I think many of my outfits could go with multiple pairs of footwear. So the choice is partly whim and partly rotating for variety. So for example today I'm wearing black leggings, plum tunic and cardi, and gray tall boots (see pic). I think the gray boots lighten the look a bit. I could also wear this outfit with cognac riding boots (they would warm up the outfit), or black tall boots (for a sleek, leg-lengthening look). Or black or cognac ankle boots would work too! cindysmith on "How do you choose shoe colors?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors/page/2#post-1984481 Wed, 19 Dec 2018 23:11:29 +0000 cindysmith 1984481@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I choose shoe colors in much the same way a bass fish chooses what to bite. They're drawn to the sparkly, wiggly, shiny ones. I'm that way about shoes. Whatever catches my eye and strikes my fancy... generally, the more color or shine, the better. As evidenced by my current collection, which has neither rhyme nor reason LOL I'm seriously currently dressed like an Easter egg in a pale pink sweater, mint green jeans, and purple booties. So I choose my shoes based on what my heart tells me, occasionally tempered by what my brain says is sane Windchime on "How do you choose shoe colors?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors/page/2#post-1984468 Wed, 19 Dec 2018 22:50:49 +0000 Windchime 1984468@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ You ask a really good question. Like many others here, my shoes are mostly neutrals—in my case, the majority are black, with a couple white pairs, a pair of grey, and a pair of navy blue. I want to add silver footwear, which would bookend my hair. A couple years ago, I impulsively bought mustard colored sandals because I liked the color. I wore them only once; I always chose something I liked better whenever I tried them with an outfit. So I’m not sure that bright colors in my footwear are a good idea for me these days. Kathie on "How do you choose shoe colors?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors#post-1984461 Wed, 19 Dec 2018 22:36:39 +0000 Kathie 1984461@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I first built my shoe capsule around my primary neutral, which is black, and also bookends my very dark brown hair. I also have a lot of black in my wardrobe, so it’s a good fallback option for me. More recently, I’ve added some color- yellow slingbacks that match a yellow bag, and lots of red- suede pumps, shooties, slingback Danskos, and I’m looking for red booties and fashion sneakers. In general, I’m more comfortable wearing blues, black, and more classic cuts for my clothes, so shoes is where I have some fun and choose ones with interesting details and bright colors. The Cat on "How do you choose shoe colors?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors#post-1984453 Wed, 19 Dec 2018 22:21:36 +0000 The Cat 1984453@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I like to own shoes in my favourite neutral colour (gray) as well as some of my favourite non-neutral colours. When wearing shoes in a non-neutral colour, for a cohesive look I prefer to repeat that colour somewhere near my head or upper body--i.e. in a top, topper, scarf, necklace or glasses. Lesley on "How do you choose shoe colors?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors#post-1984441 Wed, 19 Dec 2018 21:29:00 +0000 Lesley 1984441@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ In a particular category of shoes, I like to have one pair that theoretically goes with everything, although since I like loud stuff, that one pair can be a metallic. Or, I might have one pair that goes with just about everything, then identify the types of outfits the pair DOESN'T go with, and fall in love with a second pair that covers the hole or even covers the hole and overlaps with the first pair (like a shoe venn diagram). Then, because I love color, if it is a shoe category I wear a ton of, I'll add a bright color or maybe a print. If it's a fantasy shoe category (ie, heels for going out, when dressing up that fancily happens twice a year) I might stick to the one neutral pair that goes with everything. In a category that gets a lot of wear (sandals, fashion sneakers) I would be more liberal with adding.  I don't even know if this makes sense... I love shoes and am definitely a shoe-first dresser, so the concept of not knowing how to choose is so foreign. For me, the challenge is how to not blow my clothing budget on shoes every year, so that I have a closet full of tatters and excellent shoes to wear with them!  Anonymous on "How do you choose shoe colors?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors#post-1984436 Wed, 19 Dec 2018 20:50:59 +0000 Anonymous 1984436@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I seem to choose lighter colours in the summer and darker ones in the winter. But, not necessarily. Not having a strategy seems to work out for me.  I would like to add maybe some bright red or orange sandals this summer. With bright colours, I think I prefer to have them in sandal format, so that there isn't one large block of colour.  Molly Mac on "How do you choose shoe colors?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors#post-1984435 Wed, 19 Dec 2018 20:46:57 +0000 Molly Mac 1984435@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I am no help at all. I own over a hundred pair of shoes in all colors and silhouettes. They are my favorite accessory and I frequently build outfits around my shoes. My shoes last for ages as I like good quality and most see only a few wears a season. I do have a few workhorses (winter boots mostly) that see more wear and get replaced more often. My most recent purchase was a pair of black patent leather Chelsea boots from Marc Fisher. They have been seeing a lot of wear as they can be dressed up or down. Sorry I wasn't much help, but shoes are my kryptonite. nemosmom on "How do you choose shoe colors?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors#post-1984432 Wed, 19 Dec 2018 20:37:12 +0000 nemosmom 1984432@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Ginger - seeing your outfits is really helpful. Thank you for posting them! Ginger on "How do you choose shoe colors?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors#post-1984429 Wed, 19 Dec 2018 20:16:39 +0000 Ginger 1984429@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I went for a browse through my recent outfit photos; maybe this would help. Sometimes shoe color makes a column, and sometimes it stands out. 1. Navy skirt, navy tall boots. 2. Green dress, black shoes. I could have worn green shoes, but I didn’t feel like it. These are black shoes, and there’s no black elsewhere in the outfit; but they’re not very solid shoes. To me they didn’t look visually too heavy. 3. Navy tall boots and navy leggings. I think this qualifies as a column of color. 4. Being very Christmas-y this day, with green top and bag, red jewelry, belt, and shoes, and black skirt. The red shoes are echoed in the belt and jewelry. Green or black wagons would have worked as well, it would just change the balance of the outfit. 5. Another column, this time black skirt and heels. Visible skin, so it’s not as solid. Red shoes would work as well, they’re just not what I was feeling that day. 6. Somewhat different, dark purple dress with pearly blush shoes. The shoes are very low contrast with my skin, but also pick up the pale pink in my brooch and earrings. 7. A very colorful outfit. Black shoes, balanced by the black belt. I tried this with white booties and belt and it didn’t work at all. I wouldn’t have liked the black shoes if there wasn’t a black belt, though. 8. Burgundy dress and boots with black tights. 9. Dark teal dress with tan boots. Another of the few occasions where shoe color doesn’t exist in the rest of the outfit. Though it does sort of bookend my hair. Unlike others, I very rarely bookend. nemosmom on "How do you choose shoe colors?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors#post-1984428 Wed, 19 Dec 2018 20:13:07 +0000 nemosmom 1984428@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sal - I get overwhelmed with too many options and it's hard NOT to think that one new pair will fill all the holes!  nemosmom on "How do you choose shoe colors?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors#post-1984424 Wed, 19 Dec 2018 19:58:38 +0000 nemosmom 1984424@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thank you everyone for your feedback. Christina F - I like your idea of not having too many of the same type in the same color. Joy, JAileen, Alice - I like your suggestion of limiting the palette; that would help with versatility! Ginger, Rachylou, Bonnie, Jessikams - I'm still experimenting with the "column of colour". I wear jeans most days and as I branch out, I need to remember the column... I am Team No Bag, so it leaves one less color for me to play with. Angie - I love how controlled - yet diverse - your collection is. And I can see how your 'Modern Retro' style moniker is represented. I have yet to come up with my own moniker; maybe that's why I feel so scattered... Suz - Your formula of four is a pretty great way to have enough to cover your bases. Your red bright works year-round and complements your core palette so well! Texstyle - I like your idea of complimenting your coloring. I try bookending with my hair, but I get tired of cognac shoes. BarbaraDiane - what fun patterned shoes you have! JenniNZ, bj1111 - you are too funny! cjh - I can identify with your collection of brown! For years, three of my four pairs of shoes were brown, the fourth was a white flip flop. I branched out and bought a navy pair of chucks when the flip flops died! suntiger - is your low-contrast footwear the same palette as your clothes? Sal on "How do you choose shoe colors?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors#post-1984422 Wed, 19 Dec 2018 19:51:35 +0000 Sal 1984422@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I don't have a formula - and I have some shoes that get a lot of wear  - and others that get minimal (once per year). I have added four new pairs of footwear this year (outside running shoes) - typically it is three.  That is about my budget so I try to fill any holes I have the best I can.  I try not to think that one new pair will full all my holes and I also know that I don't want too many options.  This summer I wanted tan smart casual sandals and a pair of flat light neutrals.  The finds are the two I added. I have 20 pairs of shoes outside rainboots, running shoes, merrel sneakers and jandals.   I am not going to add any new dressy heels for a while (I hope) and new additions will be flat-low/mid heels.  Next winter I want some flat practical city walking boots as my number one priority - probably cognac as I have a bag they will go with and I find this colour easy to incorporate. I do mostly stick to neutral rather than colour - my favourites are tan/cognac, metallic, camel, cream/bone and black (I have one pair brown suede and one pair of ink boots as well).  My only colour are green sandals. Anonymous on "How do you choose shoe colors?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors#post-1984419 Wed, 19 Dec 2018 19:21:29 +0000 Anonymous 1984419@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I like your strategy Suz! My non black essential is low contrast (cognac, dark tan, mustard, gold, copper) footwear across temps and refinement levels-probably = to or even more than black! But i also magpie- within my color scheme, as long as i have other pieces that go with them. My new burgundy booties have quickly become workhorses, since they go with so much. cjh on "How do you choose shoe colors?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors#post-1984412 Wed, 19 Dec 2018 19:05:58 +0000 cjh 1984412@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Darker colors for some oxfords, loafers and monkstraps in black, light and dark (pewter) silver, navy, very dark green or olive, which all go with my wardrobe. I also have Converse tennis shoes in purple, turquoise, light pink, bubblegum pink, black and dark olive. Still, those are the colors of the clothes I wear. I used to buy only brown shoes all the time, ages back when I wore only one pair of shoes for everything. bj1111 on "How do you choose shoe colors?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors#post-1984407 Wed, 19 Dec 2018 18:54:54 +0000 bj1111 1984407@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ any color as long as it's black.  at a push, gold and navy. Jenni NZ on "How do you choose shoe colors?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors#post-1984405 Wed, 19 Dec 2018 18:51:31 +0000 Jenni NZ 1984405@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Um... all the things in all the colours? That probably doesn't really help you. I like to dress like Rachylou, having the shoe colour match the outfit. With very bright colours, they will be colours I already like so I will have clothing that matches eg teal, red, cobalt blue, coral. kkards on "How do you choose shoe colors?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors#post-1984397 Wed, 19 Dec 2018 18:03:51 +0000 kkards 1984397@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ in general i try to match my footwear to my pants or to my top...so blue pants- navy shoes. burgundy sweater -burgundy shoes... now that being said, i will occasionally wear shoes that patterned...those are bought because they are in my color story, but add interest Suz on "How do you choose shoe colors?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors#post-1984394 Wed, 19 Dec 2018 17:55:26 +0000 Suz 1984394@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Ooh. Fun seeing these footwear collections. Texstyle, yours is gorgeous and perfect for your colouring! Barbara Diane -- LOVE those sneakers! Angie, your collection is just plain amazing.  Assuming I can find what I like and what fits comfortably at retail, I like to think of it this way. For each main season, I want to ensure I have:  <ul> <li>One light neutral.</li> <li>One dark neutral. </li> <li>One bright. </li> <li>One metallic. </li> </ul> A patterned shoe/boot is also great but not essential. In choosing, once we get past comfort issues (which come first) I ask myself --  <ul> <li>Does it work with my personal colouring? </li> <li>Does it work with the colours in my wardrobe? </li> </ul> Or that's what I tell myself. In reality, like Christina, I probably go with my gut. I love shoes, so it's a lot about fun and intuition!  It helps enormously to limit the colours in your wardrobe. Once you know what your key colours and neutrals are, you know what might work with those and can basically stop thinking about it.  My strategies for outfit creation are similar to Angie's, with adjustments for my different personal colouring.  <ul> <li>I like to bookend with my silver hair, so silver, pewter, and grey are excellent choices in any season. I try to ensure I have at least one silver sandal, sneaker, and boot/ bootie in the closet. </li> </ul> <ul> <li>I like white/ light footwear when I'm wearing white, ivory or cream in my outfit. </li> </ul> <ul> <li>I love bright footwear and red is my go-to for this. But any vivid bright can work. I especially enjoy bright sandals. </li> </ul> <ul> <li>I wear a lot of dark footwear in winter because I walk a great deal in wet or slushy/ snowy conditions and dark footwear is simply easier to deal with. I have shortish legs and like Shiny, I try to extend the leg line so if wearing dark bottoms, a darker shoe works best. I prefer navy or ink but also wear black. </li> </ul> <ul> <li>I like cognac as a contrast to my mostly cool-toned wardrobe, and taupe is another useful brown for me, as a cooler near-grey. </li> </ul> Jessikams on "How do you choose shoe colors?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors#post-1984386 Wed, 19 Dec 2018 17:39:30 +0000 Jessikams 1984386@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ As others have already said, I find bookending to be a handy shortcut to looking put-together. My hair is light brown/dark blonde, so a beige color works as a bookend. The bonus it is also functions as a leg-lengthening nude look if I have bare legs. Other than that, useful shoe colors are: Any color that matches accessories I already own (bags and scarves and big bright resin earrings especially) Any color that matches some pants or tights to create a column of color (right now my burgundy boots are useful this way, as I have burgundy tights and leggings) Any print or pattern that combines colors I frequently wear (yellow and brown sandals were a workhorse for me last summer) I keep hearing that metallics are great for dressy shoes but haven’t explored in that direction yet. Barbara Diane on "How do you choose shoe colors?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors#post-1984385 Wed, 19 Dec 2018 17:32:11 +0000 Barbara Diane 1984385@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ My fun patterned sneakers. Barbara Diane on "How do you choose shoe colors?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors#post-1984384 Wed, 19 Dec 2018 17:27:37 +0000 Barbara Diane 1984384@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I had dark brown hair and still tend towards black pants and skirts. Shoes are primarily black but I have fun patterned sneakers also. My favorite sandals are metallic but I also own black and one pair of cream. The challenges with my patterned sneakers are that they often don’t work with my patterned tops and they have less support. I am quite challenging to fit. If I could snap my fingers and have shoes fit I’d start by adding metallic dark silver/gray shoes in all categories and then add navy and then some other colors. shiny on "How do you choose shoe colors?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors#post-1984380 Wed, 19 Dec 2018 17:12:26 +0000 shiny 1984380@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I like the bookend concept so gravitate towards white and nude, but do have a lot of black too. Awhile ago I challenged myself to a "no black footwear" policy and went for years without any. It really helped me up my style game. But then I got a job with 50% travel, and black footwear crept back in, as it's very easy to create a travel capsule around. I do also like how it lengthens the leg when wearing black pants (which are my travel go-to).  I don't have much brown footwear as I don't wear a lot of browns, beiges, and other warm tones. I do however have a pair or two of cognac tall boots -- but they seem to act like a bookend for me. When I wear a black dress with black tights, I don't like to wear black boots as it just seems too much. That's when the cognac boots come out.  I also have a pair of wine boots but they are very old, not sure they even fit anymore, so are probably getting decluttered. Used to wear them a lot with charcoal grey.  I love animal and other prints as well. I've got leopard mules, booties, pumps. And giraffe pumps. And snake skin heels. I added a pair of yellow embroidered mules this past spring.  For sneakers I have Allbirds in white (spring, summer) and grey (fall).  For sandals I have two pairs black, and a pair metallic.  I love metallics as well but don't have much right now. I designed my closet with shoe and boot cubbies so there is a limit to how many shoes I can have. I practice a one-in, one-out policy (hence why the wine boots are still hanging around... ) texstyle on "How do you choose shoe colors?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-do-you-choose-shoe-colors#post-1984376 Wed, 19 Dec 2018 16:51:41 +0000 texstyle 1984376@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I try to make sure it goes with my personal coloring - hair, skin, etc. I don't really wear solid black shoes (I have one pair of black sandals that rarely get worn and my merrell winter boots have some black). If I had dark hair I'd likely wear more dark colored shoes. My main colors seem to be cognac, blush, white, tan and gold tones.