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Firstly, what a cute dress! Thanks for sending in the pic. The dress in itself is your statement piece so I’d advise keeping the rest of your outfit pretty neutral.
Wear red or burgandy shoes and you risk looking like Mrs Claus. Wear white and the outfit will look too summery, although you certainly shouldn’t rule out this dress for summer. Red and white epitomise a 50’s, retro look and this dress would look fab with a pair of espadrille sandals or a pair of wedges (both excellent if you want some height) or gladiator sandals if you prefer flats. If you’d like to go for a more casual summer look, wear with canvas shoes like model Agnes Deyn did last summer with a red and white polka dot dress.
The fact that the pattern is a tiny polka dot reiterates the fact that you should tone down accessories, and by toning down, I mean the use of colour. As this is such a chic and classic print, it’s all the more reason to keep the chic in the rest of your outfit! No black or metallic’s needed here, dear reader.
But back to the Christmas party –
If you want to jazz up the dress and arrive at the party in style, go for a fake fur “gilet”/ vest in a neutral colour – Penneys do some lovely ones with sleeves. When I wear mine, everyone ends up stroking it; it’s so nice and will add the glamorous factor needed to wow your colleagues at the Christmas party!
Nude Shoes
If you’re after a sharp, sophisticated look, the best fit shoe wise would be nude shoes. To be specific; patent, peep toe shoes in a nude colour (also referred to as camel or beige). Nude is great for elongating your leg ( in winter, wear with sheer tights), as an otherwise coloured shoe in metallic or black would “break up” your leg too much, thus shortening your legs.
See how Eva Longoria wore nude shoes in our “Trend we like: Nude” article – the emphasis is kept on her dress and her legs appear longer.
Despite the fact that nude is seriously on trend for this year and next, it will always be one of those basic, staple colours that you can WEAR WITH ANYTHING (even jeans), so there’s no need to worry about these shoes going out of fashion. So, when all the mistletoe has withered, you’ll still have a sexy pair of shoes for the next party, the office, or friend’s wedding.
Christian Louboutin is the king for your nude patent peep toes; in fact Dannii Minogue has worn her camel Loubs consistently on X Factor this year (€585 online at mytheresa.com or €585+ at Brown Thomas). If your budget doesn’t stretch this far, Miss Selfridge (pictured) has come up trumps on the high street, with their nude pumps (£40, €45 approx). (update 1st April 2o1o – sold out).
One final tip on the shoes front: Peep toes and rounded shoes are great for apple, hourglass and pear body shapes. Pointy shoes are better for column shapes (same shape up and down), and taller, mannish figures.
If you don’t like the sound of classic patent pumps with a 4.5” stiletto heel, you could choose a pair of studded sandals, which also come in beige. Balmain’s ones rocked the catwalk this season, while the boutiques and the high street are offering them too. Again, I like the ones from Miss Selfridge (£65, €73 approx), but as usual, there’s plenty of studded sandals out there to choose from including from Penneys.
Where to Buy Nude Shoes (updated on 1 April 2010)
Aldo Withey £60,
Zara €34.99
Nine West at Kurtgeiger.com, €65
Nude wedges are available at Gina at Brown Thomas (€510 )
Partee nude patent wedges €135 at Cocobelle and also at Reiss.
Nude shoes, Nando Muzzi at Cocobelle (Royal Hibernian Way, Dublin 2) €335. They also stock the most amazing Steve Madden peep toe ankle boots called Huntley (€220) and Tricked t-bar nude shoes (€165).
LK Bennett have peep toe, closed toe court shoes and nude sling back courts, various prices.
Just check which shade suits you best. Some are on the browner side of things, really a taupe, some are cream and some a rose beige. If you’re very pale go for a rose (pinky) beige or grey beige and the darker skinned you are, you can pull off the darker “taupe” shades of nude.
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November 19, 2009 at 9:33 am
Thanks a mil for this! I like the nude shoes with the dress. Would cream or nude shoe boots go with it as well?
What sort of jewellery would go with this dress? I know it should be kept minimal so maybe i should wear no jewellery?
November 19, 2009 at 10:09 am
Youre welcome. Yes nude coloured booties would go with it too, they are everywhere at the mo and worn with dresses a lot. See our article on ankle boots with dresses
http://www.whatshewears.ie/index.php/2009/08/ankle-shoes/.
Again, keep jewellery minimal, nothing around your neck as the dress is too busy, so Id suggest a large cocktail ring and earrings or a sleek hairband (not both) and a large clutch handbag of course!
November 19, 2009 at 11:39 am
Hi,
This dress is really lovely – where is it from?
Thanks, Dee.
November 19, 2009 at 11:43 am
Hi girls,
I have these nude peep toes and LOVE them!! I bought them about a month ago and have got endless amount of wear out of them. They’re perfect with skinnies or with a short dress to elongate your legs. They were my best ever bargain buy. I have lusted after the louboutin’s for a long time now, but sadly like most people I simply cant afford them. I got mine in Miss Selfridge in House of Fraser in Dundrum and they were e61.00…a steal!
Kate
Ps. I adore the site – the best of its kind in Ireland. Keep up the good work!
November 19, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Aldo have Laboutin inspired beige patent pumps that have been brought down to €75 from €100 – if your like me love the look but not so much the price of the real ones : ) one day …….
November 19, 2009 at 5:36 pm
The dress is from Topshop but no longer in stock Dee
November 19, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Thanks for the personal recommendations Kate and Julie-Anne and the lurvely comments. I’m checking them both out ASAP myself to decide which ones I’ll buy -the Miss Selfride vs Aldo showdown…how exciting!
November 24, 2009 at 2:10 am
Your article is wonderful! Hold it. And my favourite high heel shoes is christian louboutinshoes , they are very nice and sexy !! Thanks !
December 1, 2009 at 6:25 pm
hi i need your hel bought this dress…love it but dont no what shoes to wear,idealy would like to wear tights but dont no if that would look good…thanksxx
December 1, 2009 at 6:26 pm
http://www.awear.com/Tunics/Beaded-Scoop-Neck-Tunic/invt/10301264 here is dress
December 1, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Heh, gorgeous dress! I saw it in Awear, its like the Jimmy Choo for H+M one. It will work with or without tights, for either option you can wear with black ankle booties. Definitley stick to plain shoes, ie no studs or detail as there’s detail enough in the dress. They are popular right now and look great. For real Italian leather choose the brand Ash (€180), stocked in Serenas in Sandymount (not sure where youre located?). Otherwise, New Look do a pair http://short.ie/4xbuih.
Alternatively go for black patent court shoes with a heel or black patent peep toes, they will never go out of fashion (try Office for these).
For tights, you should go glam with this dress: such as Wolford Satin De Luxe Tights (which are the same price as your dress, but worth it!) or Wolford black opaque tights in an 80 denier. If you go for the bare legged look, still wear skin coloured tights as you will freeze!
Hope this helps
December 5, 2009 at 4:17 am
Amazing as always
April 16, 2010 at 11:07 pm
Just spotted these beautiful nude wedges from Kurt Geiger http://www.kurtgeiger.com/online-shop/142587-kurt-geiger-eleonora
March 20, 2011 at 12:51 pm
would nude shoes go with a gray with black flower design? i mean which is better nude high heels or nude flats coz i dont really wear heels??
March 20, 2011 at 12:55 pm
its a gray mini dress with little details of a black swirls of flowers
November 26, 2011 at 12:06 pm
Hi wanted to know if I can wear black stockings with peep toe nude pump..I’m wearing either a black skirt with it or zebra skirt (whichever goes best) and a plain purple tank and cardigan over top..I just wanted to wear black stockings cuz it’ll be worn first week of Dec. and don’t want to go leg-naked during colder season…pls. let me know your thoughts