What shoes do you need in your wardrobe?

As a Personal Stylist in London, one of the biggest questions I have when styling clients and outfit building with them is ‘But what shoe do I wear with that?’ Shoes complete a look… it's no joke that they can ruin a perfect outfit… Sounds dramatic but I believe it's why everyone finds shoes so tricky to choose. 

I regularly joke with my personal styling clients that finding the right shoe for your outfit is like learning to speak a new language... It’s HARD and wearing the wrong shoe can immediately undo all the work you have put into creating a flawless look. 

Simply put, choosing the right shoe comes down to three things… colour, shape and style of shoe. Crucially you also have to like the shoe and let's not gloss over them having to be comfortable. It's a lot… No wonder my personal styling clients find it so mind-boggling. 

I have a ‘shoe maths’ theory I swear by... ⁠you can find my original blog here which explains my shoe maths theory in more detail.

In a nutshell, this is how to choose the right colour shoe for your outfit….

• ⁠If your outfit is very dark/black = black or dark shoes because there's no contrast between dark colours. 

• If your outfit is bright/light = An Ivory or a bright coloured shoe works because ivory will lift your look and bright will carry on the vibe of the outfit. ⁠

• If your outfit is in between dark and bright = either neutral like ivory or  metallic or neutral print like animal print will look gorgeous.⁠ Again the ivory will lift it, metallics work with any outfit and brights will add an instant pop of interest. 

• Top styling tip - Dark shoes will kill most looks IF there's nothing else dark in the outfit to balance out the harshness of a black or dark shoe. 

• ⁠If something seems ‘off’ with your look It usually comes down to either your shoes or your neckline... I suggest always switching up your shoes to start with and taking it from there.⁠

How to choose the right shape of the shoe

The shape of your shoe is also very tricky to nail. If I had to generalise, a pointy front is better for most of us because it carries our leg line on and gives us the illusion of longer legs… find me someone who doesn't want legs for days. 

As I work all over London as a Personal Stylist I am very aware that pointy shoes don't work for everyone because of comfort, foot issues, wider feet and personal preference. Hail the round toe - this actually really helps us to emphasis our female shape and can add extra femininity so it's a real win here too.

Square shoes are a bit more trend focused but really work with chic styles and for dressier looks. Think smart work events or special occasions like weddings. Like pointy shoes are better for us gals’ with narrow feet.

How to choose the best boot length for you

Boot lengths are pretty tricky to get right. Over the knee is a safe bet for us all but can feel a bit OTT for everyday situations.

If the boot top sits on your calf, try choosing one with a dip at the front. The reason for this is straight lines across our calves can cut off our legs and shorten them. Cowboy boots are a great example of a boot that is calf length but has a dip at the front.

For ankle boots try to choose one that sits just below where your calf finishes so that you don't cut your leg off. Any length from ankle to the bottom of your calf will work and bonus points for a dip in the boot to lengthen your leg again.

How to Choose the right Trainer

Essentially it  comes down to high tops vs low tops. I think a pair of each is kinda essential. My personal styling clients sometimes worry about high tops cutting off their legs. I suggest wearing high tops that fit under cropped trousers to cover a bare leg or with midi/maxi skirts/dresses. Sometimes the pesky bit of skin showing between trainer and skirt throws off the balance of the outfit.

Low tops are fab with long trousers, full-length jeans and dresses. They also work really well with mini skirts and dresses as they keep your leg length long and there's no concern of chopping legs off. 

Basically high tops for mid to low length hems and low tops for high hemlines or floor length bottoms. 

Style Tip; Ankle straps are commonly found on lots of shoes but they can cut off our legs in an awkward part. If you fall in love with an ankle strap shoe go for it but try to choose a colour that suits your skin and avoid harsh colours like black. Choose gold if you have a warm skin tone and silver if you have a cool complexion. 

How to choose the right style of shoe

The final element to choosing the right shoe is down to your own personal style. As a Personal Stylist in London, I work very closely with clients on something called style personality. If you are unsure of yours check out my style personality blog here. Once you are clear on what type of clothing you like, how it reflects your lifestyle and how to put looks together the shoe will be the finishing touch. Literally.

Classic style personality

If you have a classic style personality I suggest clean, simple and chic shoes like loafers, mules and slip-ons in neutral tones

Dramatic Style Personality

If you have a dramatic element to your style you want bright and colourful options with elements of texture and big details like bows or feathers.

Natural/Scandi Style Personality

If you fall into the relaxed natural style, opt for trainers, espadrilles, suede shoes in neutrals or maybe a small check or animal print to add texture to your look. 

The Creative Style Personality 

The world really is your oyster here, choose multicolored trainers, bright heels or printed boots. Colour and metallics instead of neutrals. More is more. 

Boho or Romantic Style Personality

The boho style is all about texture, tassels, and soft fabrics. Think crochet sandals, clogs, tassel boots and metallics to work with your love of prints and floaty fabrics. You can even go for a cowboy boot to add some structure. 

The Urban Style Personality

You really are the ultimate queen of trainers here. High tops, flatform trainers or even a stiletto for special occasions. Think clear colours and pops of details to lift your look. 

The edgy or vintage Style Personality

Think studs, leather, gladiator, biker styles and cowboy boots. Metallics are your vibe as well as any form of animal print from leopard to snake and lots of red…

The shoes you NEED in your wardrobe

I recommend having a range of the below shoes in your wardrobe. This will cover every look you style throughout the year. Make sure you buy shoes based on the right colour, shape and style though to maximize how much you wear them. 

• Long Boot

• Ankle Boot

• Flat smart Shoe

• High Top Trainer

• Low Top trainer

• Mid Heel

• High Heel

• Metallic Sandal

• Colourful Sandal

• Flatform

So to conclude my advice as a Personal Stylist based in London - make sure the colour of your shoe works with the colours in your outfit, the shape of the shoe works with your frame and the style of the shoe reflects your actual style personality and voila… you'll no longer be stressing about your shoes.

Stylish wishes as always,

Sian 

Personal Stylist, London.