When dressing, do shoes come first or last? - YouLookFab Forum

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When dressing, do shoes come first or last?

harmonica

Veteran

I plan the next days outfit every evening, but most often I am too tired too think of accessories, so necklaces, bracelets and shoes are chosen in the morning rush. Every morning I regret not planning the entire outfit in advance. *sigh*

Anyway - I noticed that shoes very often is the last item I add. This morning I tried on 5 pairs (!) before I went out the door, and I am not sure it was the best choice.

What do you do? Do you start or finish with shoes? Or other strategies?

Dressing

34 replies

Latest reply was from harmonica

ramya

Veteran

In my case it depends....

Sometimes I plan my outfit based on shoes...but mostly its the last

Deborah

Veteran

If I plan y outfit the night before I generally work out the whole deal:). If I don't plan I may wake up thinking I want to wear a particular pair of shoes and build the outfit around them, otherwise I would say they are the last thing to be added and it can be really frustrating as I tend to feel it can often be the shoes that make or break an outfit.

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

When I started posting my WIWs on YLF, I did my own themed weeks because I had to learn what works for me and what doesn't, and why. So, I was building outfits around anything - from choosing a particular color (red week), to choosing pattern (stripes), to choosing the event (my late mum's birthday inspired a week of recreating some of her outfits I remembered), to accessories (I had a bracelet week, necklaces week and the week inspired by shoes). I worked in the office at the time, so it was easy to build a week's worth of outfits and have cohesive example to draw some sensible conclusions from. One thing that certainly stood out is just how much one detail can shift the outfit from one end of the scale to another. And although I used to change things from what I'd originally planned, I didn't leave any details unplanned until the actual moment when I had to get dressed - that took away a lot of pressure of getting it right in the morning.

So, to start with, I'd really recommend to plan everything in advance - it will make your life so much easier, I am sure. And with children to take care of in the morning too, you will appreciate having one thing less to stress about, i'm pretty sure of that :-).

Then, you might check your shoes and see which ones are safe, default options you can always count on. That way you'll know what will work with almost anything even if you don't think of any other options. Also, it will help you really focus of what type of footwear you might search for next, e.g. something neutral that'll go with practically anything, so it makes your dressing even easier.

roseyw

Always comes last for me.

rute

Veteran

for me it depends, sometime I build an outfit based on a pair of shoes I want to wear sometimes is an acessory, others a skirt, it all depends on the mood!

Louise

Veteran

depends on what my day involves, if I'm doing a lot of walking then I choose shoes first so I know they'll be comfy x

harmonica

Veteran

Fun read! Thanks for sharing your takes on shoe dressing

Ornella - thank you for your insightful and wise reply! I must say that the days when I have everything figured out, I am less stressed (about that at least). I am more of a mood dresser so planning several days ahead seems impossible, though when I have a stricter schedule at work I plan those days in advance, so that I don't end up with too much of the same outfit several days in a row, i.e. I'd wear a dress one day, trousers the second and skirt the third. And different toppers.

Default shoes are a great suggestion!!! That way I have at least one good option to fall back on if I can't figure it out in the morning rush.

Also agree very much on how one detail can change an outfit from failure to success, but also changing style (i.e booties vs ballet flats, utility vs patent belt)

Julie

Veteran

I usually build my outfit around the boots I want to wear that day.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think there are two kinds of shoes - background shoes and statement shoes. Every woman should have some of both, unless she truly hates statement shoes.

But statement shoes often need to be planned around. So they take a bit more thought.

It's funny - when people travel they are often given the advice to plan their travel capsule starting with the shoes. I'm beginning to think it is good advice for every day, too! Here's why.

1. What are you doing? As Louise mentioned, if you're walking a lot, you'll need comfy shoes. And that will dictate certain trousers or skirts.

2. The weather. I don't like wearing some of my shoes in inclement weather, so that rules them out. I HAVE to wear sandals if it is super hot. Etc.

So more and more I am starting with the footwear and building up.

harmonica

Veteran

Louise - I totally get that point! When I know I have a lot of walking ahead, I need comfy shoes. Either I bring a pair so that I can change, or I revolve around the ones that I have chosen

Suz - wow, so great to read how you break it down and it it true that weather predicts a lot! When travelling I think it is always so hard to choose the right shoes and not bring too many. I'm not sure I'm ready to start with footwear on a daily basis, but will for sure implement it a bit more often when planning outfits

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

It can go either way for me. Sometimes i really want to wear a certain shoe so i'll make sure the rest of the outfit works with it. Other days the outfit takes precedence.

Krista

Veteran

I have this crazy job where it is a guaranteed fact of the universe that if I'm wearing statement shoes something bananas like a fire drill, fight, police emergency will happen (I work in a large high school) and I will have to run on a moment's notice, so I generally have a few pairs of shoes that I know I can wear without fail and I plan my outfits around them.

I used to plan pretty outfits with pretty shoes and now I just plan pretty outfits with somewhat pretty and sensible shoes. The circumstances of my job dictate what kind of shoe I can wear (I also have picky feet - see my post in Rae's thread on walkable pumps), so I do plan ahead a little bit (not a week in advance, but definitely the night before).

Anonymous

I often dress from the bottom up, starting with my shoes because my feet are fussy. If I did it the other way around, I'd eventually end up having to change things out so it's just easier this way.

Anonymous

I also have a crazy job and don't want to get caught out with the wrong shoes. I have a stash of work boots, steel toes, and plain flats that live in my office for the rare times I wear heels or something in case I need to make a quick change.

shiny

Veteran

Hand bag is the last item chosen; that's because I keep all my hand bags near the front door. Usually I have a pretty good idea which one I'm going to choose, but I have been known to scuttle back and forth between front door and bedroom full length mirror to double check if the handbag works with the outfit, before I swap out all the contents.

The down side to this strategy is that I can forget I own certain purses. For example, I have a cobalt bag that has not seen enough use and that's a hot color now. So I will probably try to plan around that bag for awhile.

Otherwise, I plan according to what the day has in store for me. I don't work every day in an office. Every day is different.

Do I need to go errand running? Flat comfy shoes, and probably a layer because I freeze in the grocery store.

Do errands include hitting up the mall, where I might try on clothes? If I'm going to shop for dresses, make sure I am wearing a dress with proper dress underwear. If I'm going to shop for pants or tops, don't wear a dress. And wear comfortable heels so I can check pants length. No buttons on top because getting in/out is too difficult. No boots for same reason. Is there an item I'm shopping for a coordinating piece? Wear it. Yes I think all that through.

Am I meeting girlfriends for lunch? They'll likely be dressed from the office, so might as well dress as if I have also been at my office.

Am I going out and about with my teens with or without their friends, or will the friends be hanging out here? Take extra special care to dress my age and look "grown up." Since I'm shorter than all of them. But don't go overboard and look frumpy and dated; remember I am their role model for what it means to dress "grown up."

Am I meeting up with accountant, lawyer, doctor or some other professional? I like to dress respectfully for such occasions.

Am I canvassing for my favorite political candidate? Wear blue, and comfortable shoes.

Am I going to be walking on cobblestones? Wear flat shoes or wedges.

Is today an in-office day? That means I'll be on video conference. No patterns. Pearls are a must; no silver/gold. Something with a strong shoulder line in a flattering color.

Am I going out after work hours? If so what are we doing? Dress appropriately for the occasion. If coming from the office, how can I swap accessories to go from day to night? Are we going to the theater? An art reception (dress creative/trendy)? A movie (dress warm)? Dancing (wear heels)? What neighborhood will we be in (each has it's own style)? Etc, etc...

Am I seeing my Mother-in-law? Dress in something she hasn't seen me in yet. She loves to ooh and ahh over my outfits, and she's a fashionista herself.

Possibly I have over-thought your question, but it was fun answering.

Echo

Veteran

I think it completely depends on the outfit... and how new and fun the shoes are! But I feel that everyone should have dependable shoes that match with almost everything that they can always wear when in doubt. Then again, statement shoes are fantastic and important to have, but one usually needs to plan an outfit around the shoes instead of the other way around. So it really depends on the occasion for me.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

It all depends on my mood. Some days, my outfits actually start with my shoes, especially if they are new and my fave at the time. I also have a real thing for shoes so consider them an integral part of my outfit every time.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

I build a lot of outfits around footwear, because our weather is so demanding. Start from the bottom up is my motto.

Anonymous

For the most part, shoes come last; but when it's raining or snowing outside, shoes come first. There are certain shoes I refuse to wear in bad weather.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

What Laura and Rute, said.

KathyL

Veteran

This has been very interesting reading! My shoe collection is not all that exciting, so it usually comes last. It does depend on amount of walking, who I'm going to see, and what I need to do to some degree. I don't have a huge shoe collection so it's easier in some ways

Anonymous

Last, but they never look like an afterthought, but as though they were planned all along....does that make sense?

rachylou

Veteran

Varies. But I frequently enough think about shoes first. Things sort of start with whether or not I want to wear heels or flats, or if I want to wear one of my pairs of cool shoes (as opposed to non-interfering basics).

catgirl

Veteran

This is a great question. For me shoes always come last which is why I end up defaulting to the same basic ones again and again. Maybe I need to switch it up and start with the shoes! Thanks for this question!

Scarlet

Veteran

I start with shoes when the weather is restrictive. I often need to walk outside for a time.

MsMary

Veteran

Sometimes first, sometimes last. But I always include the shoes in the outfit planning because sometimes the footwear takes the longest time to get just right!

Jonesy

Veteran

Ditto exactly what MaryK said!

Diana

Veteran

Depends. Some days I am restricted by foot pain, weather, activities to wearing certain pairs of shoes so then I might start with the shoes. Or if I just want to wear my cool new shoes! Other days I just throw them on at the end although I might try a couple of pairs to get it just right.

Physically, my shoes are usually the last thing I put on because I don't wear them indoors.

Aziraphale

Veteran

I usually start with the shoes and work up from there. The weather, and my planned activities for the day, greatly affect which shoes/boots are appropriate, so that's kind of why. Also some days I just really feel like wearing a certain pair of shoes, so I'll plan the outfit around them.

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