Beige or Black?

Aquamarine

i have need of a dressy sandal for a few events this summer, and cannot decide between a black pair or a beige pair. Our summers are s short so I do not want both. I am looking at some cage-style sandals (are they still in style?), mostly because my feet are narrow and difficult to fit so the more straps the better.

i have dark hair and wear a fair amount of black in the summer, but a black sandal seems so heavy, especially a caged sandal. Beige is leg-lengthening (I am 5'4") but I am not convinced it would look ok with a darker outfit, given my hair color. Your thoughts?

10 years ago

Dressing

10 replies

Latest reply was from gradfashionista

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Beige or taupe will look fine with a darker outfit as long as you tie it in somehow. If it bookends your hair more or less, then you have automatic cohesion. With dark hair, that won't be the case, but any outfit that includes some lighter elements along with dark should be workable.

10 years ago

Sal

Veteran

Both would work, I would go with your preference. I had a similar dilemma in my summer and decided on black in the end (flat sandals)..it just tied in with black shorts and tees nicely.

10 years ago

Adela

Active Member

I'd go with beige, taupe or tan, if you need something that really goes with (almost) anything. For sandals, even if they don't match your clothes or hair, they match with your skin.

10 years ago

Deborah

Veteran

Given we are talking summer, can I assume that you outfits will show some skin? If so, then I think the lighter sandal can actually bookend with, for example, bare arms, skin at the neckline etc.

10 years ago

Dimity

Active Member

I really enjoyed wearing the beige shoes I bought for this summer. They looked good with everything, never too heavy and were leg lengthening. I'd go with that because black does sometimes look heavy, especially on slim feet with lots of straps.

10 years ago

crutcher

Veteran

I would go for the lighter shoe in summer...Beige shoes have gotton a lot of attention recently...you would be right on...

10 years ago

Joy

Veteran

If you want a limited number of summer sandals, I'd go with something that can act as a nude on you. It goes with anything. Have you considered a metallic?

10 years ago

Aquamarine

Veteran

Thank you all for your thoughts. Yes, my summer outfits, even if they contain black items, show skin. Last year I had a casual pair of beige sandals and found them versatile. This year I need a dressy pair and am hoping they will look right with darker dresses. I am a classic IT with dark hair and thin legs. I have multiple pairs of black shoes and boots, but in the summer black just looks odd and heavy on my feet. I suppose if I could wear very strappy sandals it wouldn't matter, but it's a struggle keeping that type of sandal on so I need more foot coverage.

Joy, I love metallics in the summer and have several metallic flats that I wear. I would love to find a sandal too.

Anyway, rambling here but you have all assured me that beige will work over black. Thank you!

10 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

Just to add a little disclaimer, although I've seen 'nude' shoes look great on other people, I've yet to find a 'true to me' nude that doesn't just make my skin look uber pale or gray next to it. So for example, many warm cognac sandals look really awful on me. So I think a lot depends on 'which' beige sandal and how it works with your particular coloring -- since if it's not taking color cues from your clothes or hair (like a black sandal) it really just taking them from your skin.

10 years ago

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

If you go with a patent leather or a leather with a sheen, or sandals with delicate straps, then I don't foresee any problems matching the shoes to a black outfit. The specs of the shoe will matter as much as the colour.

10 years ago

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