Open toed shoes in winter? - YouLookFab Forum

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Open toed shoes in winter?

BlondeAmbition

Have been attending a lot of weddings lately and more to come in the following wintery months. It has been really cold in NY and yet I see lots of women wearing what seem to be summery outfits at these weddings. Strappy sandals, strapless dresses without shrugs. What's your take on dressing formally? Should seasonal rules apply to formal wear?

Dressing

16 replies

Latest reply was from LeahJanes

Marigold

I run cold so I don't know how they're doing it! That's why I got married in June (at the beach

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

I wouldn't do it! But i also live in MN. And i like to be warm.

I know there's always advertisments of girls wearing sleeveless party dresses to their apparently super fancy Christmas parties (why don't i ever get invited to those?!) but i honestly think there are ways to still look cute and dressed up while still being weather appropriate inside and outside, you just may have to do a bit of digging out in the retail world...

Refugee

Veteran

For me, they have to apply. I chill very easily and am unwilling to be miserable. Unless pasty white gooseflesh suddenly becomes the must have accessory of the season, I'll stick to seasonally appropriate clothes no matter the occassion.
.

Late Bloomer

(website)

I think something really open or with thin straps won't work but if you have a shoe with just a peep toe I think they look fine with tights or stockings. How about those lacy look stockings.

elsa

(website)

Member

i think a dark peep toe shoe with the same colored tights is appropriate for the season.

i myself would not go with strappy heels in the winter. not only because i too hate being cold but it just looks out of place to me.

Becky

Veteran

Yes, I think I'd be more likely to go with peep toes rather than a strappy sandal. And with strappy sandals, you'd almost have to go bare-legged, which would be a deal breaker for me.

MsMary

Veteran

I live in So Cal, and we wear strappy sandals and strapless/sleeveless/spaghetti strap/halter dresses to dress up occasions all year long.

Steph

Veteran

I have worn strappy sandals and strapless dresses to winter weddings before. These weddings tend to be ones where I cab, or drive and park. So in the walk from the car to the location, I will wear a dress coat or a wrap. But once I'm inside, those come off and I'm just wearing dress and sandals. I never have a problem with this, and am always confused as to why so many people do: the venue is always temperature controlled. As long as there is heat on, I'm okay! The only part that's difficult is walking to and from the car with part of my bare legs exposed.

Maya

Veteran

Steph, as I recall you run on the warmer side, so that definitely accounts for some of it. I do not have this problem only because I don't attend formal events, let alone in the winter. But I know I'd be frozen solid if I had to wear sandals. Indoor temperatures vary widely. I like my thermostat on around 75, but most places keep it at 68-70. I don't warm up very easily once I'm freezing cold. So if I had to walk in 20 degree weather for any length of time with bare legs, I'd probably just remain cold for the rest of the night--because the typical 68-70 range isn't warm enough to fully recover my comfort level. I'd probably be cold even in summer. Most places keep the AC on too cold, but in summer, most formal events like weddings take place outdoors anyway.

There's also the assumption of having a car, which I realize most people do, but yeah--that's an absolute dealbreaker for me and probably the only reason I'd ever consider pants.

Marley

Veteran

Ditto what MaryK said!

Vix

Veteran

While most of my friends and family have a thing for getting married when it's a million degrees -- with humidity to match -- I've had the pleasure of going to a (very touching AND fun) winter wedding in an AMAZING historical venue.

The women, who were a geographically diverse bunch, were mostly in sleeveless or strapless dresses with wraps; I saw both hose and bare legs.

[For context, this was in the middle of a snowstorm; I wore rubber-soled shoes to get the few feet to my cab then changed into heels. Judging from the coat check room, so did a lot of other women!]

I certainly wouldn't think it was weird for someone to be wearing a beautiful evening jacket or a long-sleeved item for a winter wedding/party, but I remember shopping for online and a bunch of stores in fall of 2006 for a dress and not seeing much with sleeves. Seems like that's the case every year....

Though I always run cold in the winter, I went bare-legged/sleeveless because:

a) I was wearing extremely high-for-me peep toes and figured mesh hose wouldn't give me much warmth and the extra traction of bare feet wouldn't hurt

b) I knew I'd spend most of the reception on the dance floor!

ps I am more of a comfort shoe type (albeit heeled comfort shoes) and rarely hear anything about my footwear, so I was LMAO at all the compliments I got on my metallic platforms.

I guess that's what everyday life is like for all you Shoe Addicts!

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Splash0306

I like peep toed shoes with tights.

Isabel

Veteran

I agree with peep toed shoes. I think there is something to be said for being appropriate.

BlondeAmbition

I like peeptoe and tights as well, but I don't think it's appropriate for a formal wedding. When I see women walking in the snow in freakin strappy hells all I can think is "that woman is ridiculous!!" I totally get the strapless situation as long as there is a coat or shrug to accompany the outfit.

I really think there needs to be more selection for winter formal. It seems that hollywood starlets attending award shows in the middle of winter in california is much different than attending a wedding in upstate ny in february. Maybe we shouldn't be looking to LA for fashion advice in that respect.

taylor

Veteran

I wear open toe/peep toe year round...

LeahJanes

If it's going to be inside, I will wear peep toes with formal hosiery, or open toes with bare legs. I run hot though, if you're a cold person then wear closed toes. I think winter dressing rules have more to do with avoiding the cold than social appropriateness or modesty.

For formal occasions I find that opaque hose casualifies the look too much - particularly with a peep-toe or open-toe, so I avoid it.