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alternatives to black footwear

always trying

Veteran

Before getting on this board I almost always wore black footwear with black and dark color bottoms and dresses. Somewhere along the line I think there was a rule about dark shoes with dark -but that must have gone by-by with rules like no white before Memorial day. Then I started seeing other colors on here, and lots on Pinterest. So this past winter I wore my cognac tall boots and cognac booties with black jeans, dark denim and dark olive pants. Now I am wearing my tan, cognac, other shades of darker neutrals with black, and found that my taupe sandals look super with my LBD for spring/ summer.

Last spring I bought white loafers. Hardly wore them, but mostly because it was so hot I wore sandals a lot. now I am finding myself looking at white sandals. Do you have or want to get white sandals? wear them with what? I do not wear a lot of pastels, but have quite a bit of white -

Dressing

19 replies

Latest reply was from UmmLila (Lisa)

abc

Veteran

I was exactly like you re black shoes and pants. Oh the wonders of ylf!

I now have metallic footwear that works year round for me as a neutral. I couldn't live without metallic shoes and purses now.

White could be a good option for you as you've mentioned. I just find metallic to work even better for me but ymmv. Congrats on getting out of the black footwear rut!

jenanded

Veteran

I am still venturing into this space. I already have fussy, hard to fit feet so black is often the only option but I would love something in the old cordovan colour... that kind of dark red brown....

Thistle

Veteran

I love my white sandals. They were a regular workhorse for me, and so aresome gold colored sandals that both bookend my hair and are close to a nude for me.

SandyG

Veteran

Bronze footwear -- my summer staple. It's dark enough not to look dirty like so many lighter nude tones, and it's perfect for travel because the color goes with almost anything.

lisaflex

Veteran

i am of the mindset...just say no to black shoes of any type (except boots of course lol) not a lover of black shoes. brown, taupe, camel, silver, gold, bronze, peweter, navy, cream...anything but black imho.....leopard print is good too!!!

greycat6

Veteran

I have a pair of white sandals and love the lightness they can add to a summer outfit. Mine are flat with a silver metallic strap mixed in with the white. I have worn them with a sundress, skirt and shorts which are all casual outfits.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I like black, but lots of other colors in footwear, too. Bridgette Raes, who I am generally not a big fan of (junk jewelry doesn't make a look, sorry!) has some good points on alternatives to black footwear.

http://bridgetteraes.com/2015/.....-wardrobe/

Staysfit

Veteran

I definitely will be wearing white but not in traditional sandals this year, only Birkenstocks. I love them so I purchased two pairs, one in the Florida style and one Gizeh. I predict that I will wear them frequently, with my casual work outfits and if not to work, they will become my house shoes. I tend to wear Birkenstocks with most anything except formal dresses, and I don't wear formal clothes to work. I have some silver sandals for more formal summer occasions, plus I have one wild card pair in rose gold. I personally also purchased sandals in pearly pink, rose brown, and charcoal and I have two pairs of summer sneakers (white perforated leather and sky blue), plus a collection of AGL ballerina flats, the newest is a pretty light navy. Last summer the sandals I wore most frequently were a pair made by Mephisto and they were a mixed metallic with gold, silver and bronze. I also had a pair of ecru lace-less oxfords that I wore frequently. I have replaced these with a slightly different pair.

If you're looking to venture into color but want to stay more conservative, how about red? I think that's a great color and it seems to work with a lot of neutrals also. You can find some great deep shades of red that aren't overly bright and beacon like. Another fun color is blue maybe cobalt, or royal blue. Blue can be more attention grabbing, so you need to think about that one.

I don't own any black sandals. I have black shoes, but as they wear out, I'm not replacing them.

Runcarla

Veteran

Black, navy, 'Jean' blue, red, silver, olive, cognac, nude are all represented in my closet. Cognac is my 'go to' since it bookends my hair. I don't have white (anymore). Silver is my default with white outfits, at the moment.

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

My white sandals get so much wear that I'm amazed they're still usable. I admittedly don't wear a lot of black in the summer, but I pair the white shoes with so many of my jewel-toned seasonal items. And of course they work well with any patterns containing white. And I don't know if you have light-coloured hair, but if so I'm told white ccan make a great bookender.
Your reply
Edited to add: I should mention that my taupe snakeskin sandals get equal wear, but my true favourite is to wear pewter or silver metallic footwear both in summer and beyond.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Another vote for metallic! I also have a black footwear comfort zone, and I have some white sandals that I enjoy, but I have to say that metallic shoes are my favorite alternative to black. Softer, more interesting, yet still neutral and not as stark as white. Since I also tend to wear cool colors and not much brown/tan, metallics tend to play better with my wardrobe than tans/taupes.

Zibbets

Veteran

I'm finding nude, either patent or suede is very versatile and flattering with black, navy, and almost anything else. They're also leg-lengthening, which is nice.

rachylou

Veteran

My white sandals are one of my favourite pairs of sandals. I hold back on wearing them, so they will last me forever. I love them that much.

Deborah

Veteran

I have very little white footwear, despite being blonde and the bookending value they can provide.

I do have white birks which I wear with black.

Otherwise I actually prefer black footwear. If I stray from black I tend to still select 'dark' tones, deep dark red (oxblood) for example. If I do go light, I find that a taupe can be a better choice for me.

Olivegreen

Reading YLF has moved me to enjoy more color than the serviceable brown and black in both bags and shoes. White Naturalizer sandals and Converse sneaks are now a staple. And very comfortable. My most recent trail shoe is a navy/blueberry color and they make me smile. Tevas come in loads of color and were an entry level drug for me.
Taupe boots and sandals also workhorses. Down to one black pair of lovely low heeled pumps for the Italian Widow capsule. Suitable for opera and funerals
Have silver hair at this point so the low contrast works.
The one thing I am puzzling about is a pair of Joseph Siebel hitops in dark metallic bronze...turns out hard to style that colour for me.

Anonymous

I have summer sandals in black, tan and pewter. I'd say tan and pewter get about equal wear.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

White footwear is my thing. I find it much easier to incorporate than black footwear because I wear a lot of white.

BridgetteRaes

(website)

UmmLila, thanks for the compliment and criticism. Haha. It's okay if we're not on the same page, but thanks for recommending my post.

I really don't like white shoes, at all, but am SO on board with metallics. I just think they are easier to wear, especially in the summer. However, some people, like Angie, look great in white shoes. I think it all depends on someone's style.

I don't own black shoes, haven't in years, but I know I am the exception, not the norm. With so many pretty summer shoe colors out there I would rather wear those.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

Bridgette, I like your ideas on green shoes (and bags.) I'm fond of white, too.

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