MATCHING SHOES WITH YOUR OUTFIT

wearing the perfect shoes to complement your outfit is somehow difficult to do. Often times, women find it difficult deciding which shoes are the most appropriate for their outfit. When you have the right pair and colour of shoes to match your outfit, it makes you feel elegant. The first step in selecting the best shoes is choosing the ones that complement your clothing, rather than ones that compete with your outfit. The next step should be choosing a shoe that would match the type of event or occasion. Let’s take a quick guide to the dos and don’ts of matching footwear with your outfit.


Heels
Arguably the most alluring shoe option, heels are great for adding more style into a variety of outfits. But that doesn’t mean people should go overboard by wearing heels with every outfit. Heels work best with dresses and skirts, and if you’re considering slipping on taller heels, pencil skirts tend to help add some length to your frame. Lower heels have more versatility when it comes to wearing clothes, and for office settings, kitten heels match well with slim pants for a look that’s both professional and elegant. For those with shorter legs, you’ll want to try avoiding taller heels. Typically, the higher the heel, the less slender your legs will appear; so it’s always a good rule of thumb to wear shoes with heels that’s no taller than three inches. Stick with closed-toe heels for more formal outfits, such as suits, jackets and trousers. When it comes to open-toe heels, show off your feet with skirts and dresses geared more toward lively settings, such as cocktail parties or a night out in town.




Flats
Every woman needs a pair of flats. It’s typically best to slide on some flats or loafers when you’re trying to stay comfortable rather than stylish. But that doesn’t mean the two can’t mix. Knee-length skirts, shorts or capris are generally the go-to bottoms when it comes to wearing flats, and you’ll generally want to avoid pairing these shoes with longer dresses or skirts. Flats are also great for an outgoing style because they come in a variety of prints and designs that can add some uniqueness to one-coloured outfits.



Boots
When it starts to get a little chilly outside, as we are approaching the Hamattan season, this is the perfect time to dust out the boots, mainly because of the sheer variety of styles they come in. If you’re trying to find a more sophisticated look for your boots, strap on some skinny-heeled boots the next time you wear a pair of darker jeans or straight-legged trousers. Women with longer legs will look great in knee-high heeled boots with dresses and skirts that rest just above the knees. Of course, the classic combination of a vest, black leggings and fur-coated wide-heeled fashion boots is always a winning look during the harmattan season.

Colour coordination
it’s important not to forget how the colour of your shoes complements your outfit. Brightly coloured heels or boots should be worn with a more subdued outfit. If you’re wearing a printed top, try to pair it up with a solid coloured bottom that matches the shade of your shoes. Of course, you can always play it safe by going with coloured attire that will always match while looking classy and elegant. Colour Colour is very important when choosing your shoes; you must always keep in mind the colour of the dress to well make the best choice. The dress and shoes do not need to be the same colour, but you need to combine them correctly. Some colours are always more difficult to combine, and preferably, black shoes go with any colour of outfit, as such, it could be your best bet.

BY MAIMUNA BAGUDU