Ask Angie & All: What are your thoughts on nude patent pumps? - YouLookFab Forum

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Ask Angie & All: What are your thoughts on nude patent pumps?

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Hi,

I know that you, Angie, prefer other types of light colored shoes to beige/pink/skin-toned patent pumps. Would you mind sharing your thoughts on these very popular shoes? They have been around for a while now. Do you consider nude heels a classic, or a trend that is on it's way out? If I should buy a pair, do you recommend a pointy toe or almond toe? I'm very grateful if you have time to enlighten me on this.

To everyone: Do you wear nude patent pumps? If you do, what do you pair them with? If you don't, what do you prefer instead and why?

I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts. Thanks in advance!

Dressing

46 replies

Latest reply was from Jjsloane

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

Hi Ingunn, I love this post, because this is on my wish list and I can't wait to see what Angie says. I like nude pumps, because, as a blonde, I want to bookend and I think they're leg-lengthening, too.

I think you would be safe with either pointy toed or almond. I have a cream pair of low sling-backs, but I really want to get a true nude pump that is comfortable.

Chiming back in to say that I do have a pair of nude patent Kate Spade pumps, but the toes are too round and I would much rather avoid patent, because I think leather is more easy on my feet than patent.

abc

Veteran

I have a pair of nude patent Cole Haan wedges, not pumps, but I love them. Super comfy (bought while preggers and still going strong). I wear them a lot with both of my VC tube skirts (b&w polka dot and b&w stripes). I have even worn them with bermudas in summer. I find that they lengthen the leg line a ton, almost where your foot/shoes become invisible (if that makes sense). I would imagine the pump would function the same way.

They are the only nude tone shoe I own but I did just buy a pair of nude-tone snakeskin peep toe pumps because I see this tone/color getting more play in my wardrobe. Amen to non-black shoes (for me at least!)

ETA: link to pumps I just bought (mine are not d'orsay if that's waht you call it but very similar in cream snake print and design)

http://www1.macys.com/shop/pro.....3247#fn=sp

MsMary

Veteran

I wear them with everything! I love them! I particularly like how they solve the shoe problem when I am juggling a lot of balls in the air with the other elements of my outfit, you know?

ETA: I'd buy pointy toes because that's the newer-looking shape to my eye these days.

El Cee

Veteran

As I have dark auburn hair and fair skin, I always feel I need a little more contrast in my shoe than "flesh tone", which for me would be nearly white. I have been using pale metallics as my "nude equivalent". I do not require the leg-lengthening effect, as I am tall and rather leggy… so this may be another reason why I can go more "high contrast" with my footwear. I, too, am curious to see what Angie will say on this subject.

Suja

Veteran

They are workhorses in my work wardrobe. They work with colored bottoms like a red skirt or a green dress. Black shoes would look too heavy and colored shoes (pink or yellow) might make more of a statement than I want for the outfit. Mine are patent because the last pair I had got scuffed easily and I thought patent would look nicer longer. I have them in pointy toe but almond is a good choice too and possibly more trend proof.

always trying

Veteran

I have a pair that I have had for a few years, roundish toe as they were before the pointy, and they stayed when I did the big shoe purge last month. missed the purge because of the practicality and comfort level. Originally bought them to wear with winter white. I have worn them with my geometric print dress, the purple dress, and the winter white outfit, but also with bone wider leg pants. not sure what I will wear them with now, but they are my only heels that aren't black, so will get worn more. OH, just remembered I wore them once with taupe ankle pants and a lite biege blazer. IMO they are the best neutral if one has so few pumps or heels like me, and sometimes black just doesn't work. I just recently bought navy pointy toe because they were on sale and didn't flop on my heels as a lot of pumps do.
Looking forward to what everyone has to say also.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Ingunn, I love blush (pink) footwear actually. So pretty. And it's on my shopping list. A patent blush would be lovely.

Personally speaking, nude/beige I like less because I prefer white, cream, gold and silver. For my style and very pale skin tone, those light shades are crisper, fresher and more graphic than nude. They pick up the colours in my hair, which is a nicer colour repetition than beige/nude. I WILL wear a very, very light nude that borders on cream though. Especially in a suede or patent, which gives the colour texture.

That said, many of my clients wear nude/beige heels, flats and sandals. I love those options for them. VERY versatile and flattering. Nude has become an absolute classic, that is still quite on trend - if that makes sense.

Almond versus Pointy. Go with whichever is more comfortable. xo

fuzzylogic

Veteran

I find nude, patent pumps to be really versatile. They can be paired with denim (either the pink or yellow based nudes), a single coloured dress including a little black dress or an outfit with pattern where you want to turn the volume down (they tend to subdue things somewhat, where coloured pumps amp up the volume!).

fuzzylogic

Veteran

Oh, I forgot to add, check out how Kate Middleton wears them!

carambola

Veteran

I have a pair of nude patent pointy toe wedges. They are an essential part of my work wardrobe for spring and summer and I wear them through the fall. I am 5'4" with short legs, so I love their leg lengthening properties and I find they go with everything. They are not interesting shoes, but I see them as a basic that help the outfit gel, particularly if there is striking color and/or pattern elsewhere, as MaryK said.

shiny

Veteran

I can't live without nude footwear. It's my go-to in the warm months, just as black tends to be my go-to for cold months. It lengthens the leg line, bookends my hair, and is more practical than white or cream as it doesn't show dirt quite as easily. I have flat sandals, peep toe heels, and just added a round toe patent heel. I chose round toe because it was more comfy in patent - patent doesn't give much, so pointy toe didn't work. I would love to add a nude bootie.

But, not ALL nudes are the same, and I'm really very picky. I look for a nude that has a blue undertone, rather than yellow or orange, as i find it more complementary to my skin tone. It's rather a lot like choosing the right shade of tan or beige or trench coat -- some shades may work but a lot are soul-sucking.

I'd definitely do a blush shoe.

Helena

Veteran

my first thought was also Princess Katie M., who can do no wrong in my book, so I'm on team nude pumps!

Care

Nude pumps are on my wishlist, but I don't really like patent and that seems to be the most available right now, so I am patiently waiting for the right pair. I plan on wearing them with skirts mostly. When I wear jeans, I tend to wear more casual shoes.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Thank you Angie, for chiming in so quickly! It makes sense that you prefer a blush to a beige shoe for your coloring.

I've been thinking of getting a pair of nude patent shoes for quite some time. I guess the first time I tried a pair on was back in 2011-12, but it has proved very difficult to find the right shade and color. My skin tone is quite neutral, but probably more beige than pink. Last year I bought a pair of patent loafers in a light blush that are quite nice, but the color doesn't blend with my skin tone because my skin is darker. I have in fact bought two pairs today for comparison, and will post a K/R tomorrow when I have had time for photos. One lighter, more blush with almond toe, and the other is beige/nude with a pointy toe. I'm exited to hear what you have to say about them.

To all of you: It is so interesting to see how the fairer ones among you rely on nude heels to bookend your colors, whereas many of the darker haired/high contrast girls among you do not. I'm in fact not sure where I am on a scale from light to dark, or low-high contrasted colors. I think I fall quite in the middle. So - does that make me qualified for a beige nude shoe? I don't know, but I think I finally have found a pair that works.

I'm off to stalk the beautiful Princess (Duchess?) Kate now.

Jenny H

Veteran

I have a very particular opinion about nude shoes and I'm not surprised that it doesn't seem that common here. I love them, so long as they are simple and matte/not patent. I don't care for nude shoes/sandals with lots of straps or for nude footwear with a patent finish. To me, the strappy nude sandals or patent nude shoes undo the advantage of the footwear, which to me is matching/blending with your skin color as closely as possible so your legs look super long.

My first introduction to the extraordinary nude shoe was watching old episodes of Mary Tyler Moore Show on Hulu some years back. She wore some very simple in style shoes that exactly matched her skin tone in quite a few of the episodes and I was amazed at how long her legs looked. I've been looking for the perfect pair ever since but I still haven't found it.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

abc, I love the print and color of your new pumps. Gorgeous!

MaryK, I agree, pointy toes seem more current, and they are of course classics, too. My DD's prefer almond or round toes, though, but I think that is great, because then I can have my shoes to myself

El Cee, I've been lusting after a pair of metallic pumps, too, but I cant't have it all. It is in fact really difficult to choose, as I think silver metallics could be just as versatile, except for maybe being a bit "louder".

Suja, I agree! I have a red dress and a red skirt that doesn't get enough wear because I don't particularly like my other shoes with these pieces.

always trying, I like navy a lot, too, and I'm sure your new shoes are great. But for now, I try to pare down my pumps collections to avoid shopping too many pieces for my dream life, so no colored pumps for me. I have black, brown peep toes in snake print, and perhaps soon nude ones. That will cover most occasions, I guess.

fuzzylogic, that is what I think, too. I really like how they act as a support in the outfit.

carambola, I am also looking for more or less seasonless shoes, or at least ones that crosses over from spring to fall. I think a slightly darker beige is better for me because of this. Your wedges sound perfect for you.

Shiny, you are fairer than me. Do you think I will find nude shoes as versatile as you do? I have medium brown hair. I'm also very picky about the color - I've tried so many pairs without liking any enough to jump.

Torontogirl, Kate M is a style icon indeed

Care, maybe you will find a pair in suede? I've seen some interesting ones recently, in beige and light gray. But I live in Norway, so it might be very different where you are.

karymk

Veteran

To me they are a wardrobe staple. I wear them with lighter colors. If I have a dark or colorful dress I don't usually grab them because I feel I need a darker shoe as an "anchor" if you know what I mean.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Jenny H, we double posted:)

I hear you on matte shoes, and agree to some point. They ARE easier to match with skin, but many would argue that a too close match might look odd, too. I have a pair of more casual pumps in light grey nubuck, and they are ok for daily wear. Unfortunately they are with a small platform and round toe, both features I've lost interest in. I actually like the matt/shine contrast between skin and patent quite a lot, so I think my next attempt at nude pumps will be in patent.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Karymk, do you have them in patent? I find patent somewhat dressy, and worry if I will get enough wear out of them because of that.

ramya

Veteran

My nude is dull brown or very light green Ingunn. They go eith everything.
But when in doubt I usr my dark brown pumps. Instant bookend eith my hair and voila outfit is fab

Von

Veteran

My nudes are caramel, and it took me FOREVER to find the one pair I do have (they are peep toe pumps). I'm still on the search for caramel brown patent pumps, but skin tone shoes are worth their weight in gold on a day you don't know what shoes to wear!

K. Period.

Veteran

I have a pair that I've worn for the last five years or so. Nude patent with a wedge heel and peep toe, so no worries about changing toe shapes making them out of date. And Franco Sarto so they are much more comfortable than they have a right to be with a 3" heel. They are a great match for my skin tone too. I wear them all summer long. I wasn't sure that I'd find them all that functional when I bought them, but I've found they are indispensable! Whenever I can't figure out what to wear with an outfit in the summer, they come to the rescue. I hope yours turn out to be as great an addition to your wardrobe.

unfrumped

Veteran

Reading this with hope. Not a real high-heel pump person, but I became a big fan of nude in various hues and glad to hear it's going strong. I can't always line up an exact style and color when I want, with my fussy feet and low-blocky heel requirements, so Im williing to consider various lighter colors like camel, pale taupe or warm gray. As a brunette I find white or cream can be too light, or too "dressy" for my work, so glad that choosing colors to go with one's palette makes sense.

rachylou

Veteran

I think... and I'm getting ready to duck... nude patent pumps are A) a trend that's passed and B) a little cheesy-boring. That said, they're useful and of course I have a pair stashed in my closet.

LoriFLA

I have the Vince Camuto Goldie Pump in the color, La Creme. They are more of an almond shape, comfortable, and have a low heel -- 2.25. I like them. I wouldn't say they were supremely comfortable but they were comfortable enough that I danced on them for about two hours straight a few weeks ago, without any discomfort. I too am getting kind of tired of the nude pump look, and welcome something new, but they are versatile and look good in a variety of clothing situations.

ETA that my nude pumps are not patent. I like patent but prefer the nude in straight leather over patent.

Day Vies

Veteran

Love nude pumps, I generally wear them when the weather is warm when my outfit doesn't need any extra embellishment. I want them to lengthen my leg and disappear. I think in patent it's a nice dressy addition to any outfit. I don't have any patent nude pumps because finding the right color is a little tricky for me.

carter

Veteran

I finally found the perfect pair of nude-for-me pumps in the Fall. Now my doc said no more mid to high heels, so I'm back to square one. Desperately seeking a 1" heel in the right color. I generally don't do patent because my right foot needs some stretch in the leather.

Anonymous

I have not yet found a pair of nude pumps that would work for me. I'm looking for natural leather. Also I'm not sure how well they would work if I did find them, because I have spider veins on my legs and (this is a concept Clinton Kelly described on WNTW a few times talking about wearing the color nude or blush) the perfection of the nude shoe matched up to the imperfection of my legs might shine a spotlight on the spider veins and such. So I might be better of with a shoe with some interest of it's own, like a low-contrast animal print or metallic. Now if I were going to wear hose with them, that would change the game. I'd almost have to shop for them with my nude hose on, or buy them together to make sure they'd match. I love the D.O.C.'s look with her nude hose and pumps. Perfection!

kerry

Veteran

I just bought these yesterday ...

https://www.ninewest.ca/product.asp?productid=9267

I tried a pair of Vince Camuto nude patent pumps but felt they were too stiff and uncomfortable so I'm now a little leary of patent.

I like the heel height of the Nine West shoes I'm still not sure if the point is too much. The nude colour is pretty good for my skin tone. I also have nude sandals, a pair of light snakeskin wedge sandals and snakeskin peeptoe wedges. I'm always looking for leg lengthening! Next will be some fab metallic pumps!

Don't you just wish you could design your own shoes? And then you'd get EXACTLY what you want every time!

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