Does this work at all for a DRESSY holiday party? (LBD+booties) - YouLookFab Forum

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Does this work at all for a DRESSY holiday party? (LBD+booties)

Diana

Veteran

Since I am thinking about boots, I thought I'd try my dressy booties with my LBD.

Not sure what the dress code will be, but it will be at the least cocktail, possibly formal. The event is my fiance's law firm holiday party held in a hotel ballroom at night. I will have some sort of topper, a fancy jacket if I manage to find one or else a shawl of some sort. I will also be wearing either black or nude sheer hose. Do you think this dress+booties look would work at all in this situation or do I need to go do some dreaded pump shopping?

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Dressing

24 replies

Latest reply was from Diana

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I think the booties are shiny enough to work. Maybe add an extra level of polish to get them sparkling.

Krista

Veteran

I think it works but maybe with opaque tights? I feel like an opaque tight would balance the booties out. Then you can add a fancy jacket or shawl that's a little bit funky to go with the booties and dress.

cobaltblue

Veteran

I think this can work - get cracking on finding a perfect fancy topper!

Isis

Veteran

These booties totally work, and I like the bare legs!

I'd fancy it up with a sparkely clutch or jacket!

(And what brand are those booties; I LOVE them!)

Emily

Veteran

Oooh, I like. What are you thinking accessory-wise? My vote is for black hose... maybe patterned or sparkly, depending on topper?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think it does work, Diana. I vote sheer black or nude hose as you mentioned. Now, where the heck is that topper? I do think it might be tough to find the *right* one. The neckline of the dress is fabulous, but makes some jackets difficult, I'd think.

Dashrashi

Veteran

For cocktail-verging-on-formal, I don't think it works, to be honest. I find these specific booties to be reasonably casual, or if not casual, daytime, while the dress is very "night." I find it somewhat discordant.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

I think it would work splendidly. I'd go with black textured tights. I like all black outfits when they mix up textures for added interest.

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

My husband's company does hotel ballroom events often and this would not work.

. Is there anyone in the law field that could chime in here?

Diana

Veteran

TraceyLiz and Dashrashi: I had some of the same hesitation about whether the booties were too casual. I should add that *I* am not a lawyer, so I think I have a little more leeway than the actual people who work there. But, still, I would like to be appropriate and feel comfortable in what I am wearing. I will not know anybody there besides J. and social situations like this make me very, very uncomfortable as is.

On the other hand, I don't own any pumps, hate shopping for them, can't really walk in them, and don't even really like the way most of them look.

Would something like these work better? Because these are actually styles that I could potentially walk in.

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cciele

Veteran

I love the dress with the booties, but also don't feel it's a cocktail/formal look. I'd wear strappy metallic sandals!

Diana

Veteran

Yeah, I know there is the option to just wear my strappy sandals, but to be honest I just hate the look of hose and sandals. And no hose is not an option in January.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

I work in a law firm and booties would be fine; however, I'm on the west coat where things are more casual. Diana, if you are feeling anxious about this event, it would help to feel confident about your outfit, which might mean being a little more conservative with your footwear. The shoes you just posted would be very nice, but only if they are comfortable.

Diana

Veteran

The blue pair (which also comes in red and black) are in my shopping cart right now. Am wondering whether the blue would be an impractical color for pumps. Also, they have suede detailing and are (I think) slightly distressed (although not on the black).

The black pair is a $$$$ Valentino pair, so pretty as they are I will not be buying them!

Amy

(website)

Veteran

I have cobalt blue booties and am surprised at how often I wear them. You have a lot of blue things in your wardrobe don't you?

Diana

Veteran

Yeah but they would have to work with my formal wear and ideally my "interview wear", otherwise there is no point in buying pumps. I would not wear them day to day.

ETA: nevermind, blue is not available in my size. Anthro has them in black and a dirty looking beigeish color.

Diana

Veteran

Oh, just had another thought. I do have these shoes... are the light color and wooden heel too casual looking? The heel is pretty high but they are OK for comfort and they are closed toe so I can wear hose.

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Ornella

(website)

Veteran

I just skimmed over the comments and I see you added some pumps. My view is that the bootiea are probably a bit too casual. The outfit itself works, it's actually brilliant, but maybe not for this occasion? I would prefer something more pump-like. Not helping here, am I

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I think those last shoes you've pictured might work if you wear nude micro fishnets or nude hose, AND (and this is important) a silvery clutch or silvery shawl to bookend the grey-ish coloring of the shoes. In an all-black ensemble they will seem out of place.

(I am another one who cannot wear pumps, I need the adjustable strap in back for the shoes to stay on, I have very very narrow heels and really wide feet.)

If this doesn't work, I vote for a red or blue pair of pumps with the strap in back (there is a name for those pumps, what is it?). They will look fabulous with any number of black dresses, and I don't think you have to spend too much.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I love shoe shopping
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/j-.....sultback=0

priced better than these http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/pr.....sultback=0

These aren't blue or red but I think they would serve the same purpose, the heel is low they might stay on in back.
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/j-.....sultback=0

There is something about these but they might slip off http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/de.....sultback=0

http://www.amazon.com/Ros-Homm.....back+pumps

http://www.amazon.com/Adrienne.....back+pumps

http://www.amazon.com/J-Renee-.....back+pumps

http://www.amazon.com/Aerosole.....back+pumps

Or you could try a thrift/consignment store.

ManidipaM

Veteran

Denise, do you mean a slingback?

I have trouble with pumps too, if that's any help to Diana, and usually choose a cross between pump and maryjane. This year, I bought one that was a cross between slingback and maryjane from Clarks. Very happy with it. It's called 'Colour Chart', though I only saw it in neutrals --- black and mink (pinky nude? sort of... depending on your skin tone).

Anonymous

I love it. I would do a sheer hose. I am so into back seaming these days. I have all of these:
http://www.barenecessities.com.....ndoH10T2BK
and these:
http://www.barenecessities.com.....andoH10T12
http://www1.bloomingdales.com/.....?ID=631726
You can also add a sheer shimmery hose. Super FAB!

bj1111

Veteran

check out zara's version of the valentino pump--especially in gold!

http://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs.....S%20TACHAS

http://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs.....TH%20JEWEL

Diana

Veteran

Thanks, all. I think the general consensus is that the outfit with the booties is good but maybe not for this occasion. Amy is right that I will probably feel too self-conscious in it, so more conservative shoes are a better idea. I think I might look around for other shoes, but in case I don't find anything, I will wear my grey slingbacks that I posted above.

Denise, I do have a silver clutch. Good idea to use it to bookend the lighter shoes. However, if the Heed lace jacket works out, I might be wearing that too, which is ink blue.... hmmm. I also do have a big ice blue cashmere shawl, or, you know, I could always get a silver pashmina from the Tibetan store down the street that always has them for $10.
You are right that slingback shoes are much easier for me. Ankle straps are even better but hard to find, especially paired with a 2.5" heel. I have actually fallen flat on my face at a formal event before because of my shoes, and I don't care to repeat that any time soon!

Oooh, Zap, I LOVE the idea of seamed hose! Thank you!

BJ, you reminded me that I meant to go to Zara and try on their shoes. I asked here about them a little while ago and the consensus was they were OK, but inconsistent so I figured I really should go to a store to try.

I did go by my consignment store last week and looked at the shoes but did not find anything that worked.