Footwear Conundrums

Dear Fashion Hauties,
     It's really hard because I love heels- can you wear heels without a dress? And can you wear boots with a dress?

- Jen

via Facebook

Of Course!

     Heels are fun to wear to dress up any outfit. Sometimes, the weather is so bitter in January that it is not the best feeling to sport a knee-length frock-especially without tights. Often, this time of the year, the best way to wear your heels is with pants. Wearing higher heels with a skinny jean would elongate the legs making them look like they go on for miles. Sometimes, the place we are, such as school, wouldn't be altogether appropriate for your favorite stilettos. Try a casual wedge or heeled sandal in the summertime to spice up an outfit in an ultra-casual setting. In the winter, try a bootie with a lower heel.

From Chictopia.

     

From Real Beauty. 

Stylist and Icon Stacy London sports subtle heels with some casual pants and a button up. 

From Tumblr. Here's a nice, casual outfit to wear with heels.

     Boots are positively wonderful. They've made a major re-appearance this fall- Frye, a major boot distributor, says their sales are booming. The nice thing about boots is they dress everything up- perfect for a tunic, skirt, or tea dress, to name a few. When pairing boots with a dress, be sure to match the general style of the dress to the boot. For instance, a preppy oxford dress pairs impeccably with chic riding boots while a loose, flowy tunic looks great with cowboy boots.

     Another factor to keep in mind about pairing boots and a dress is the length. If a dress is short, show off your legs and go for a small boot, such as an ankle bootie. A dress that is around knee length would be perfect for a taller boot- show a smaller amount of leg. Think of the knee as a line of reflection:  if the dress is four inches above the knee, aim for boots that fall four inches below the knee.

Molly put together her outfit wonderfully. Her almost knee-length skirt is paired perfectly with her awesome riding boots. This is a perfect example because the textured tights would look very busy with the rest of the outfit- the 5" or so of visible tights is visual indulgence without overdoing it.

From Permission to Pursue.

Taylor Swift rocks her mid-western cowboy boots, matching the vibes of the outfit as well as following symmetrical rules.

My short, summery dress looks great because it shows more leg with the shorter booties.

From The Stir. 

These booties and the dress have great knee symmetry.

I hope this helps with your footwear inspiration! 

To submit your fashion-related questions and invocations, email us at fashionalexandria@yahoo.com, write on our Facebook wall, or send us a Tweet. Can't wait to help resolve your hardest conundrums! -Abby