Shoes for the Maid of the Bride
Manolo says, one of the Manolo’s internet friend has asked the question.
I have been an adoring fan for, well, years, and so, I find myself at a loss and in desperate need of fashion advice/direction/insight — in short, your wisdom. In April, I am in a wedding wearing the following dress:
As you would expect, shoes are the issue du jour. The men & the groom are wearing long sleeve navy silk shirts with trousers, so the bride fears that a silver dress sandal will be too dressy … I fear that to “match” navy is too difficult and can be too “matchy.” Luckily, the bride is quite open to all ideas but is also budget minded.
Ayyyyy! We have entered the age of the Casual Friday Wedding, when brides begin to worry that the silver shoes are “too dressy” for the occasion!
Yes, the extravagant six-figure bridezilla-based wedding is to be deplored, but one should not go so far into the other direction, so that one begins to plan weddings around groomsmen dressed in Dockers and novelty t-shirts.
Perhaps, the Manolo has misunderstood, and that what his friend’s friend, the bride, is asking is not if the shoes will be “too dressy” but about whether or not silver shoes are appropriate for the daytime wear.
Formerly, the golden and silver shoes were exclusively reserved for the fanciest of the evening occasions. Happily, this is no longer the case, as the widespread popularity of the metallic colored shoes has rendered them appropriate for the daytime events of festivity.
For the Manolo, this dress calls for the dressy shoes, perhaps something like this, the Markita by Vigotti, might be best.
Not only is it reasonably priced, but the refined silver satin material does not have that metallic sheen that may not appeal to the demure bride. It would undoubtedly look quite smart with the knee-length navy bridesmaid dress.
April 1st, 2008 at 1:41 pm
I think you nailed it with that one. It’s a home run. Go out and buy it immediately. I really hate wearing a dress that is the same colour as my shoes. I just can’t do it. It seems to ‘matchy’ for me as well. Definetly go with silver. Coerce her into your way of thinking.
April 1st, 2008 at 1:49 pm
I need to know where to buy the dress. I am getting married this fall and this is exactly what I want my attendants to wear (especially if it might also come in gold…in which case, perhaps they could wear navy shoes?). Just kidding about the navy shoes, but I am definitely interested in the dress. Any hope of getting information on it?
April 1st, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Redblur- click on the picture, the link goes to the Ann Taylor site :)
Beautiful dress!
April 1st, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Wow Manolo. She asked for non silver shoes, and you gave her silver shoes! I should think something strappy in a bright blue or yellow may better appease the bride as well as accommodate the more casual dress code.
April 1st, 2008 at 3:13 pm
For a casual wedding, I would suggest nude-colored sandals, perhaps with a pointy toe. With a cocktail dress like yours, they would make your legs look longer. I agree, the silver is very formal. And would you ever wear them again?
April 1st, 2008 at 3:18 pm
What about a lovely pair of strappy sandals in a neutral shade like tan, ivory or beige, etc.? There are plenty of choices out there from super casual to fancy pants, and they’ll elongate the line of the leg, mais non?
April 1st, 2008 at 3:22 pm
I was too late! K. beat me to the punch. (I swear I didn’t copy off your paper!)
April 1st, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Thank you Cassandra. Woulda never thunk of that. I’m obviously oblivious due to premarital bliss!
It is a great dress…and the shoes are fab too.
April 1st, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Thank you Cassandra. Woulda never thunk of that. I’m obviously oblivious due to premarital bliss!
It is a great dress…and the shoes are fab too.
April 2nd, 2008 at 2:44 am
I think for the navy dress, nude, tan, or taupe would be fabulous and you can wear it afterward with other navy pieces or bright color dresses and skirts. A gal just can’t go wrong with taupe or nude.
April 2nd, 2008 at 4:20 am
I agree that nude and taupe both look good with navy, but speaking personally those colors are awful for my skin — I would much rather have a matte silver sandal. I don’t think matte silver satin is too dressy for the afternoon. Had the esteemed Manolo picked shiny, sparkly silver shoes with beads or crystals I would have raised an eyebrow, but I think the ones he suggested are perfect!
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:41 am
The Annalucia seconds the Melissa regarding the beauty and suitability of the silver sandal. It helps of course that she greatly loves the silver shoes in any case.
But if the lady does not want silver, what of red? This complements nicely the navy blue as well.
April 2nd, 2008 at 3:42 pm
I agree wholeheartedly with the Manolo. If the shoe is a lighter shade than the dress, I think it has to be metallic (if not shiny shiny), otherwise it just looks funny. Nude shoes will look odd, especially if not all the attendants have the same skin tone. The matte is perfect, strappy sandals are never overdressing, and red, I think, would make the whole ensemble look a bit too much like the Fourth of July.
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Brian’s Babymomma (ok typing that just made me giggle): the asker didn’t necessarily ask for non-silver shoes, just that the bride thought silver shoes were too dressy.
I think the Manolo’s choice was most excellent, and I have to agree with wannabe that while nude shoes could be a good choice, it might not work for the bridesmaids if they have different skin tones. For all we know, the asker could be African-American.