How to Choose Shoes to Match Your Prom Dress

So you've finally found your dream prom dressand you're thinking that your days of tirelessly searching the shops are over. But then, ahhhhh, you remember you need shoes too! And what's more, you don't just need shoes you like, they've got to match your prom dress too! Fear not, just follow this guide to finding the perfect prom shoe and you'll be done in no time! 1. Show toe or covered toeThe best place to begin is to decide whether you would like shoewtoe or covered toe shoes. Show toe shoes look more youthful while covered toes can look very elegant. The best way to decide is generally to look at the type of dress you've chosen. If you're going for a more mature and sophisticated prom dress in a heavy material such as matte or duchesse satin, covered toe shoes can look very elegant.  If you're going for a short prom dress, ball gown or more slinky evening dress then show toe shoes may be better suited to your look. 2. Heel heightThe most important consideration when selecting a heel height is probably the length of your prom dress. If you have a long length prom gown, you need to make sure that it's not too far off floor when you wear it. Many manufacturers make their prom dresses extra long, but if yours isn’t (or you're tall) you'll need to choose a heel height carefully. If you're tall try on shoes you already have with your dress to work out what is the maximum heel height you could have before your gown starts to look to short for you. If your prom dress is way to long for you then you may want to have it taken up by a seamstress. In this case you'll need to purchase your shoes before you go for your fitting. The other important consideration is whether you are likely to be spending a long night on your feet. If the answers yes then you may want to reconsider wearing high heels, which could be a real pain (literally)!3. ColourWhen choosing a prom shoe there are generally three choices: Match your colour to your prom dressThe first choice is to match the colour of your shoe to your prom dress. You can match shoes to your prom dress in one of two ways. You can either take your dress (or a sample of your dress fabric, such as the shawl) shoe shopping with you or buy a cream of white pair of shoes and have them professionally dyed to the same shade as your prom dress. Silver or GoldIt is generally the case that silver or gold will match any colour prom dress, which can make finding metallic shoes that suit your prom dress easier. Metallic shoes have the advantage of adding a bit of extra glitz and can be worn again with other outfits. Choose either silver or gold based on what jewellery you are wearing (i.e. if you are wearing gold jewellery, wear gold shoes).  BlackBlack shoes are always a popular choice and if you're wearing a black prom dress they are probably the best choice. However, while it's generally considered that black goes with everything, if you're wearing other colours black may not coordinate as well as metallic or matching your colour. For example, if you're wearing a light or bright colour prom gown and have black shoes on, the black shoes will draw attention downwards and won't look coordinated. 4. Making sure they're comfortableIn order to wear your shoes in, wear them around the house a few times before your prom. This will both stretch them and ensure that your skin toughens to any areas in which they rub. If your shoes continue to rub and it’s a concern, visit your local pharmacy where you can pick up and anti-chafing stick and blister plasters to keep in your bag. You may also want to consider using some gel inserts. They're inexpensive inserts that go between the ball of your foot and the shoe, providing an extra level of comfort at your prom. By making some key decisions about what type of shoes you want before you start shopping you can narrow your search and avoid wasted time. Start out with a clear picture of the type, height and colour of the shoes you want and you're get the perfect prom shoe to match your prom dress in no time!