Any tips for metallic footwear newbies? - YouLookFab Forum

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Any tips for metallic footwear newbies?

nemosmom

Veteran

I find myself drawn more and more to metallic footwear (in particular, a loafer I have bought/returned 3x now...) I have never worn metallic shoes... I LOVE the shoe, but am struggling with it looking 'right' in an outfit - it's looking very loud and jarring on me.

I found this old post that was helpful, but I'm still struggling. The metallic doesn't bookend my hair, or echo a 'color' in my tops or bottoms, so when I look in the mirror all I see is the shoe. This was the case for both the loafer and a gold metallic Birk.

How do YOU incorporate metallic footwear into your look? Are you keeping tones the same (silver shoe with cool tone outfit; gold with warm)? Keeping the rest of your look basic and letting the shoe be the focal point? Adding jewelry?

I realize this will vary for everyone, as footwear is such a personal style choice, but knowing how YOU do it might help something click for me.

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Dressing

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SarahD8

Veteran

Hmm, I would love to troubleshoot this with you but am having trouble without pictures for a starting point. I would think that a darker warm metallic like bronze or copper would bookend. A lighter metallic like the loafers may contrast — essentially the same effect as white footwear (I’m realizing that light metallic footwear may be my version of white).

Some posts on wearing white footwear:
https://youlookfab.com/2018/09.....ite-boots/
https://youlookfab.com/2018/11.....and-jeans/
https://youlookfab.com/2018/11.....nd-skirts/

I have a pair of silver slides and a pair of gold ballet flats. I wear them with whatever (truly, I probably wore the silver slides for three weeks straight last summer). Here’s a post with outfits featuring both:
https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....d-by-angie

Interestingly, the silver slides got a bit of a mixed reaction as I recall. Some people liked them but others thought they were too jarring. I think you might just have to decide if you personally like the look. For me, my eye has adjusted and I like it.

Roberta

Veteran

Fun question! I have many metallic shoes, boots, sandals, because i think they work as neutrals on me. I do tend to buy more muted versions, at least to my eye.

As you suggested, I wear warm (bronze or gold) tones with warmer colors (reds, brown, olive) but I also love gold with forest green, not really a warm color. I wear silver with grey, navy, and purple. About the only colors that don't get a metallic shoe are yellow and orange. Why yes, I do have orange and yellow pants!

If I am more dressed up, I match jewelry and watch with rose gold shoes. My metallic shoes tend to be casual; flat boots, loafers, sandals, sneakers. These are a serious Jones for me, i bought four pairs of metallic shoes in the past year. Currently i am eyeing copper Birks. But they are expensive and that patent will scuff easily, so maybe not.

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ChristelJ

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I can relate to your struggles. Every time I have purchased metallic shoes that were full coverage, they dominated too much, but I have found that muted metallic sandals work much better for me because there is less material overall and just a subtle glint instead of a big shiny foot showing. It is such an individual thing, though. I am short with big feet.
I do try to bookend a bit with the silvers or bronze in my brown-grey hair, and found that gold never works at all on me. There are so many shades of metallic out there; I feel like there must be some that work for you if you have the patience to unearth them...Good luck!

Jane

Veteran

I have metallic pink Birkenstock’s. An easy start for me but so far they are my only metallic purchase.

Lesley

Veteran

I love metallic! I do bookend a bit, although not necessarily with my hair. If my upper half has some light colors or white, that's when my silver shoes come out. In the summer, it feels like enough to wear loud silver earrings to pair with silver sandals. But I guess I have also bookended with my hair, because one of my favorite metallics is bronze!

JAileen

Veteran

I have quite a few pairs of metallic footwear, from sandals to booties. They bookend my hair which is silvery. I have a pair of oxfords that I absolutely adore, but I rarely wear. At first I thought it was because they were so bright. But I have bright Fitflops that I wear without problem. So apparently it’s the style rather than the brightness.

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Christina F.

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Team Metallic Shoe reporting for duty. Honestly, I just wear them and don’t worry about bookending etc,
but then I don’t usually worry about that. I don’t mind having standout pieces, so maybe it’s a personal thing. YMMV.

I would start out with a duller metallic to get your eye used to it. The Birks look duller but I guess they still felt too shiny to you? I am thinking of something like the boots in Roberta’s post. You probably don’t want to start with the higher shine of those loafers.

Sneakers and sandals were my gateway items. I have yet to take the plunge on metallic boots, except for a metallic navy blue (not so noticeable with blue jeans etc). But I’m considering it for next year. I had similar feelings about white footwear at first, but am embracing it slowly.

jill58

Veteran

I agree with Christina's advice to go with a duller metallic. I've had good luck with "pewter," (for example) but find shiny silver more difficult to integrate into my wardrobe.

The Cat

Veteran

For me, it is very easy: I wear silver og pewter metallic footwear, which bookends my hair.

When I was younger and had dark brown hair, I sometimes wore gold metallic sandals. I considered them to be neutral and didn't feel the need to match them to something else in my outfit.

Anonymous

I have just had metallic sandals mostly- gold and copper. I just think of them as nudes, like cognac. Just a more fun version of nude!

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Look at all the good advice I got in this thread, particularly at Aida’s counter-intuitive advice on wearing metallics to de-emphasize your feet (very similar to what ST just said). But there’s plenty of other good thinking and good advice in there too. https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....-lifestyle

I think Sarah and others here have a good point about different colors of metallic.

I still haven’t take the full metallic plunge. I started off with these loafers, which obviously aren’t metallic at all, but some of the colors on them are shiny, and they have shiny steel on the instep side of the heels, so there is a flash when I walk. I’ve moved on from them to the gold ankle boots, which are more like all-over metallic. Both pairs for me are upgrades to basic styles I’d wear anyway. I wear the gold boots basically as neutral.

The metallic mermaid boots are **sigh** one day.

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Sal

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I find pewter easy to incorporate, gold and silver a little harder. I feel silver is a style statement on me and I wear usually a silver pendant when I wear these shoes. I don’t match my rings but I do try and match my sunglasses - I don’t wear gold aviators with silver shoes. Pewter kind of goes with everything.

I do like metallic footwear - it can mark and is harder to polish or touch up - so I won’t add too much.

Molly Mac

Veteran

I am actually wearing my gold Tretorn sneakers today. I wear them as an alternative to a white shoe. I have dark
hair so I don't worry about the bookend effect. I am wearing a navy Swiss dot blouse, olive boyfriend style chinos and my gold sneakers. My jewelry is gold as is the buckle on my brown belt. I think you just have to decide if metallic footwear is "you" and go for it. I am drawn to styles on others (jumpsuits) but have found that for me, I am just not comfortable with the look so I pass on it for myself, while admiring it on others.

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Jenni NZ

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I have a number and my first trick is to match my jewellery where possible. So gold watch and necklace and earrings with gold shoes, or a tiny bit of gold in the outfit somewhere, or yellow- eg yellow stitching on jeans.
Second trick is match the tonings in the outfit which is what I hope to do with my new bronze booties ( haven’t worn them yet as it is only just autumn here and a warm one at that, still wearing sandals). I bought them in midsummer/ December on sale. For you, a deep bronze would bookend your hair.
The only silver pair I have are sparkly sandals I have worn heaps this summer just gone, their first summer. They are quite delicate which I like, they bookend my grey hair, and I like to wear clothes with silver plus silver jewellery with them. I’ve worn them 27 times.
I’m in the fortunate position of being an originally warm-skinned person (believe I was a “Spring” in the old 4-season scheme) who has cooled a little with age and greying of hair- skin has gone a bit pinker rather than as yellow-based and hair now cooler ( originally a rich brown) so I feel I can happily wear both warm and cool tones.
Illustrations below.

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Jenni NZ

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Also, FashIntern, those mermaid boots are about as impractical as these that have been on my fantasy wish list for maybe a couple of years! Too high, and reviews said they tended to crease in the front after wearing. But when I first saw them I thought they were the ultimate statement boot for me.
They stay as fantasy.

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Janet

(website)

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I have dark hair and don’t fret the bookending thing when it comes to metallic shoes. I am usually not crazy about white or light shoes on me unless they are sandals or sneakers, and somehow metallics manage to make the cut — they are eye catching without being too in-your-face like I always feel white shoes are on me.

I tend to match the metallic somewhere in my outfit — a bag, or jewelry, usually. I think you just get used to seeing it on yourself after a while, even if at first it seems odd.

Joy

Veteran

I have almost the same silver pointy toe loafers and they were jarring at first. Just wear them and the feeling will pass. Having a silvery bag will help pull things together ot wear silver watch or jewelry. I wear my shoes with everything but especially like them with white or light neutrals and color.

Brooklyn

Veteran

I prefer a more muted metallic - like bronze, pewter, rose gold or light gold. I do have one pair of bright gold sandals but I have to be in the right mood for them. With them, I would definitely wear gold jewellery. The more muted tones read more neutral to me and I wouldn’t necessarily feel the need to match jewellery. Although I would probably wear warm toned jewellery with warm toned shoes and cool with cool.

I think you’ll find them a very useful addition to your wardrobe. They can really lift a look.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

What good timing - I just wrote on Runcarla's thread that I have a hard time wearing metallics. Reading the tips along with you!

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

I don’t think it has to be the outfit focus. These days metallic shoes are pretty normal!

I find it helps to think of it as a light/bright. For example today I’m using a silver bag to partner with white shoes. They play similar roles as “bright spots” within outfit, if that makes sense.

Style Fan

Veteran

I wear metallic sandals as a neutral. Gold and warm metallics bookend my hair so they are easy for me to work into an outfit. I have also worn silver and pewter sandals even though I have a warm skin colour. I also don't worry about matching metals but I am not a matchy matchy person.

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Anonymous

@Jenni I think I need those booties

nemosmom

Veteran

Thank you everyone for your thoughtful, wise responses. I will be back later to properly comment, but wanted you to know I appreciate you taking time to weigh in on my dilemma

AndiB

Veteran

https://m.6pm.com/p/ecco-shape.....olor/58499 These arrived yesterday, Ecco, a brand that my feet like! I am so grateful to Angie for giving permission to wear comfortable shoes and still be fashionable. I eyed those similar Paul Green metallic open toe sling back booties for a couple years (some forum members have them including Janet maybe?) and was thrilled to find my version in 6pm. These are super comfortable and I love them!

nemosmom

Veteran

SarahD8 - yes, I think you might be right that the light metallic would essentially be like white footwear. It's interesting - I LOVE white footwear and find it easy to wear and don't mind the jarring effect at all. The metallic seem to be an amplified version. Maybe I just need to get used to it.

Roberta - thank you for confirming gold for warmer tones and silver for cooler. Maybe these pewter loafers look 'off' because the majority of my wardrobe is dark warm autumn colors... interesting... Copper Birks sound pretty and I hope you'll post if you get them!

ChristieIJ - YES! A muted metallic with less material could be key.

Jane - metallic pink Birks sound really fun, and perfect for you!

Lesley - picking up a tone in the top sounds like a great solution. I'll give it a go.

JAileen - interesting that it's the style and not the brightness that you struggled with. Those oxfords are really cool, though!

ChristinaF - the Birks are duller (a washed metallic) and a warmer tone. The loafers are much cooler and brighter (especially in the sun!).

FashIntern - lots of great tips in the thread you linked. I'll spend more time there, for sure. The mermaid boots are dreamy!

Sal - interesting tip to match sunglasses to the shoe. I've seen Angie do it with her specs, but always forget about my shades!

MollyMac - YES! I think you are on to something - I need to figure out if it's for me. Maybe I can find an inexpensive option to test drive and go from there.

JenniNZ - those photos are super helpful! Thank you! I love how you pick up the tones of your jewelry (and you have some really AMAZING pieces!)

nemosmom

Veteran

Janet and Joy - yes, it could be that I just need to get used to them. I wear bright white sneakers, sandals, and flats with ease, so I'm not sure why the metallic is throwing me. I want more edge and less polish, so I was hoping the metallic loafer would serve to replace the white loafer for that.

Brooklyn - yes, maybe muted is the answer. The loafer is 'pewter' and it has an olive-y tone to it, so I thought it would be easier to work with. Maybe I need to go warmer and much more muted...

Jessikams - love the idea of looking at it as a light/bright together. Silvery with white makes perfect sense.

StyleFan - thank you for reminding me it doesn't have to be matchy!

AndiB - those are fab! I hope you will post outfits with them!

April

Veteran

NM -- my tip is less about wear than about care.

You'll pretty much never find a metallic polish to match a shoe (unless you fancy buying a slew of Tarrago colors and mixing), so my suggestion is before you ever wear them, give metallic shoes a good coat of clear polish or spray protectant.

LaPed

Veteran

My only metallic shoes are pewter, so fairly muted. The really bright metallics don't appeal to me much, but then, neither do white shoes. What I really like are metallic navy and metallic black (see sneakers below). You get a subtle glint without it feeling too bling-y. I definitely think you should consider bronze and copper for bookending purposes, and they'd look great with all of your dark greens.

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nemosmom

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LaPed - Those are super cool! I may have to try these...they appear a warm-toned color in the photo - do you find that is true? Or are they more black like the name suggests?

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