Off-White Shoes - HELP! - YouLookFab Forum

Off-White Shoes - HELP!

Echo

Okay, I think I've asked this before, but the difference is that now I am talking about off-white FLAT shoes and not heels. How does a person wear off white flats with a wardrobe of almost exclusively darks - especially dark pants? I have been thinking tha the black/white trend would work well with this, but I'm still having a hard time visualizing lighter shoes with a darker outfit (even if it has white/light accents).

Can anyone give me visual examples? I just bought off-white flats in a style that I've wanted FOREVER. I cannot keep them if I can't figure out how to wear them (often!), and I REALLY want to keep them. Help?

10 years ago

Dressing

11 replies

Latest reply was from Suz

always trying

Veteran

I see a lot of white sneakers with all colors of pants on pinterest. i wear my silver flats with black pants and dark jeans. So if I had off white flats that I loved I would wear them but probably only if the pants were crop and showed some leg, and would wear something white on top, even if just a small part showed. but that is just me. I would not like the look something like wide leg pants with just a bit of shoe showing.

10 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

What kind of flats?

I was looking for the longest time for white or pale gray low heeled or flat shoes or booties and finally found what I wanted with a black and white color blocked shoe, because it worked equally well with both light and dark bottoms.

Having a gap of bare skin on the ankle (so rolled or cropped pants) helps to my eye sometimes when there is a dramatic color change between the shoe and pants. Otherwise I try for pants that tonally blend with the shoe more often than not if the hem is touching the shoe --- or wear a top that is matchy with the shoe.

ETA: I think Aida's outfits have some good examples of light shoes with dark pants

10 years ago

old chic

Active Member

I would wear lots of pearls to "bookend" the shoes. Also, if you have darks with pinstripes, I think they would look good with the shoes.

10 years ago

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Have a look at Aida's posts she wear a lot of white footwear (there are others too but my brain won't work).

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....e-and-blue

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....en-copycat

ETA: Ha cross-posted with rabbit

10 years ago

K. Period.

Veteran

This is a really old WIW of mine, but I'm wearing my bone and black shoes in this. It took me a while to feel easy wearing mine. Angie makes it look so simple! Originally I thought my blonde hair would be enough lightness to bookend with the shoes, but I never really felt comfortable with that. The shoes always seemed off a little. What I ultimately found was that I needed something white or very light to pair with my shoes to make them feel connected. I'd wear a patterned shirt or jacket with white in it or a skirt with a strong white presence in it. So, maybe experiment with that in mind?

10 years ago

Echo

Veteran

rabbit: These are the shoes.

Sadly, I am not so good with PPL and showing skin at the ankle. In my mind, pants are PPL if they skim the floor, and I cannot seem to adjust my mind otherwise. I might have to work on that. But the other issue is that nothing except perhaps a capri length will fit me as an "ankle" pant unless I have it tailored. And while I have a tailor, they are about an hour away (the perils of living rurally), and ankle length pants make me nervous.

*sigh* I am so tired of buying shoes I cannot make work. I'd have purchased these in black, except I cannot find them in my size (likewise with the silver), and I thought the off-white was simply striking and beautiful. I am very attracted to lighter shoes, except light colours don't bookend anything on me, and my wardrobe is mostly dark. I justify them in my head by thinking about the black and white trend, but I still have a hard time making them work.

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

10 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

I like those shoes! Even a white shirt showing a little at the collar or cuffs, or a white clutch or a white belt can add an element of white to an all-black or gray or navy outfit for example, so I'd maybe experiment with that and with the pants you already have just to see if that feels more balanced for you.

10 years ago

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

These are my outfits - with black cropped pants and dark wash BF jeans.
I think the trick is to repeat white somewhere else in the outfit - bookending works well in this case.
Here is my Pinterest board for flat oxfords and loafers - quite a few of them are white so you may check it out too.
Love the shoes you got - hooray on HEWI happy ending!

This post has 2 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

10 years ago

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Also Angie wears A LOT of flat and low heeled white shoes in her outfits so check them out for inspiration too!

10 years ago

Echo

Veteran

Sveta, I really love those outfits, and they look like something I could wear. Thank you!

And thank you Caro and Aida (Caro for posting them and Aida for wearing them!), too, because the visuals really help. I have a hard time visualizing things in my head, so seeing it IRL is a big help.

Sveta, I am off to browse the Pinterest board you linked to!

10 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I love Sveta's examples. It's easier with light hair, but I think the trick with any strong neutral is to "bookend" with something else in your outfit. I wear light shoes all the time, and dark ones, too, even though my hair is light.

I love the shoes you bought!

10 years ago

Category