Patent leather shoes

Elizabeth P

Can I get your input on patent leather? I love it, however I think of it as dressy. I have a fab pair of red patent shoes that I've worn about 3 times in 2 years... to Christmas parties. I'd also wear them (patent in general, maybe not the red) with a skirt or suit.

So, I was at my fav shoe store last week, and there is patent up the ying yang... in all kinds of great colours - orange, fushia, navy (and it's always hard to find navy shoes, so this is great)... fabulous. Obviously very popular, and to be worn in many more ways than my tiny brain thinks of it to be worn. I'm not sure I can get my head around wearing it in a more casual setting. With jeans? with crops? Is this something I need to get over myself with?

What do you think? Do? Continually trying to climb out of my box...

12 years ago

Dressing

6 replies

Latest reply was from Aida

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I have a pair of red patent leather flats (studded) that I ONLY wear casually!

(I am not generally all that comfortable in flats.)

Suitability depends on the style of the shoe as much as on the fabrication (patent, suede, fabric, regular leather). Are the shoes you were looking at flats, pumps, loafers, booties, boots, oxfords.....

A patent shoe will always look a bit ore polished but that does not mean formal necessarily.

12 years ago

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Good point Suz.. Should have qualified that - most of them were pumps or heels of some form, which is why it struck me as unusual. Or rather, struck me as a lot of shoes for what I would think of as something having limited use. But I have been under a style rock for a while.

I'd definitely wear flats in a more casual way, esp with some fun embellishment on them, like your studded ones.

12 years ago

deb

Veteran

I say, they go with everything and I wear them that way. Red patent with jeans is wonderful and always makes me feel better when I am down.

12 years ago

Anonymous

You're mother probably bought you patent shoes for dress when you were a child and the dressy vibe stuck. I have low heeled pumps in red, black and nude patent and love to wear them with jeans and a silky top or tee and blazer. I also like the patent for its texture addition to an outfit. Try a pair in red or nude first.

12 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

I love the look of patent, and I would wear it casually, although in more of a loafer or oxford. My feet don't much like heels.

That said, I have had a tougher time finding patent leather that is as comfortable as leather as the patent leather doesn't mold to your feet as much.

12 years ago

Aida

Veteran

I have a serious weakness for patent pumps! I wear mine pretty much exclusively casually, most often with all manner of denim (skinny, slouchy, flared, blue, black, colored...). I also wear them with culottes, trousers in various silhouettes, and long roomy shorts. My most favorite and versatile pair is dove gray; I use them as a "nude for me" shoe in spring/summer, and they complete nearly every outfit I can come up with (and I have nearly-black hair, so that's saying something). The juxtaposition between the dressiness of patent and an otherwise causal outfit can be really striking, and if you like patent it is certainly worth exploring.

12 years ago

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