HELP - new thoughts on what shoes with gray cocktail dress

When I went home for lunch today, I pulled out my pewter suede shoes. They do bookend my hair color beautifully. However, they're very close in color to the gray dress, so my thinking is if I decide to wear them, it's going to look like I tried to match but missed. The dress is a darker gray than it appears online, and the lining is the same color as the lace.

The gray shoes I originally posted about match the gray dress exactly, which may come across as too matchy matchy.

That leaves me with black sandals or ankle boots (providing you all think my hair is dark enough for black shoes to work without having to bookend with a necklace or something)...

or a pair of open-toed taupe beige sandals that work great with my skintone but will not bookend anything except perhaps the ivory pearl necklace I plan to wear. Keep in mind that my skin is going to show through the lace at the top of the dress, and the dress is sleeveless, so there will be quite a bit of skin showing--which would make it easier to wear the taupe beige sandals. Please help me sort this all out. Thanks.

Also, I'm going to need some sort of wrap, as the cruise ship will undoubtedly be chilly. Suggestions, please, as I have nothing that would work with a peplum dress.

13 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I think we need pictures of the options.

Anonymous

I vote red if you are willing to buy something. If not, I'd go matchy matchy. I love the combination of red & grey. I am no help in the topper department, because I never wear a topper with an evening gown, other than a coat or trench, if required by time of year, that I take off while indoors. Why? because knowing myself, I'll cover the dress with the topper, all night, so one will see my pretty gown. A shot of - insert drink of choice here - is the best topper;)

@annagybe: Most of my shoe options are already posted on the "cocktail dress splurge" thread I started in the Shopping section.

I'm hoping not to have to buy new shoes, but...

I love Angie's suggestion of snakeskin shoes, except that I already have a genuine snakeskin clutch that I plan to carry.

I love the idea of red shoes, too; just don't have any and am trying to keep my budget in check.

SIGH...

Either the matchy shoes or the taupe/beige sandals sound like they would be fine. If I were buying something it would be silver/pewter metallic.

rachylou

I am leaning towards sandals, black or taupe. A little more toward the black, because I feel the need for more dressiness for your occasion here.

That said, I'm making some assumptions about the sandals. That they are dress shoes and not wear to the beach boardwalk shoes.

How long is your hair, Ruth?

Yes, it's a very dressy occasion. We will be eating in the formal dining room, and this dress will be worn on the ship's "Formal Night." I have other dresses to wear on the other nights of the cruise. Both my black sandals and my taupe sandals are dressy. My hair is a layered chin-length bob, parted on the side. Does this help?

I was actually thinking of pictures of you with the dress and shoe options on.
But I think all those booties you posted were too casual. I'm leaning towards the black sandals. Also don't over stress it. When I went on a cruise, formal night clothes ran the gamut from full length evening gowns to much more casual options.

Thanks. I've been on numerous cruises as well, and have seen many outfits--most of them very formal for Formal Night. This is how I know how cold I'm gonna be if I don't find a wrap, too! The reason I'm concerned this time is because this is my 25th wedding anniversary and I want to look extra special.

Scarlet

Well, I can't see the dress because the link doesn't work for me (maybe because I am in another country?). It just goes to the Nordie main page. However, with a grey dress I would automatically say wear black, snakeskin, or deep red. You said your clutch is snakeskin, so that leaves black or deep red. You black sandals are cool shoes, but they don't say "cocktail" to me, although I would really need to see the dress to know for sure. It sounds like warmth is an issue anyway though, so it is really sounding like you need some new shoes.

See if this link works...

http://www.bing.com/shopping/e.....38;lppc=16

I bought the gray one, which is darker than it appears online.

I have bunions on my feet that I don't wish to reveal, so I don't have any strappy sandals. I have these...

http://www.sofftshoe.com/Sofft.....lack-color

and a pair of these (see below) except they're black nappa, not black patent...

http://www.bing.com/shopping/w.....38;FORM=EN

unfrumped

New shoes might be great if you really need them and find some you'll wear a lot with this dress or others, and it would be great to have the perfect outfit in all respects. But, I agree with not stressing out too much for cruise dinner footwear if it means you'll either overspend or buy a one-time item, because I don't think that will be as noticeable and memorable (think photos) as your dress and upper body bling and hairdo/happy smile.

That's where trying on will help--of any of the shoes you mentioned look pretty good, I'd move on to other issues. Dressy or "delicate" style may be more important than color as long as the color is reasonable.

Assuming I can find it in my budget to buy new shoes, I'll see if I can find something metallic (silver probably) or red. In the meantime, I need to concentrate on finding a suitable wrap so I don't freeze my tail end off. I don't plan to wear a wrap for pics, but I will need something to cover my shoulders for the rest of the evening so I don't end up borrowing my DH's coat, lol.

It has to be sandals for me, unless you go for new slingbacks or pumps. With your short hair, the booties would be ultra cool, but cool is not formal. I'm a traditionalist for "dinner dressing" when it comes to ships and resorts and so forth. I would even go the totally sheer stocking route with sandals because I have cane and rum in my blood (I know, I know, dowdy - but a little warmer!). And I'd do the sort of little survival sweater Duchess Kate did, on her wedding day to Prince William. In grey.

Thanks, Rachylou. At least I know the booties would work for less formal occasions. I'll keep that in mind. Unless I can find slingbacks that won't kill my fussy feet, I'm going to wear the black Pavia sandals--with ultrasheer nude hose. They may not be ultra formal, but they'll do the job, and I know they don't hurt my feet. I used to have some dressy pointy-toed slingbacks, but got rid of them because they weren't even remotely comfortable. I don't have Kate's clothing budget, but maybe I can find a dressy gray sweater somewhere. It will have to be short enough not to cover up the peplum, though. Let the safari hunt begin...

How about a royal purple pashmina to cover up?

Would a pashmina overwhelm my petite size 6 frame? Just wondering. I'm open to it if you all think a pashmina would work, and I like purple.

I also found this website that sells various coverups for formal wear:

http://www.bluevelvetvintage.c.....8;q=bolero

You could always tie the shawl at your back for a bolero look, like from the link.

The silver satin bolero from the link is quite pretty. The mink bolero looks a lot like what Kate wore (fuzzy angora-type sweater).

Sidenotes: I suck at managing shawls unless I'm sitting still reading. A personal thing. Btw, I like your sandals a lot - I pinned them!

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