What shoes to wear with a maxi dress, you ask? We've got you.
Wedding season is fast approaching, which means you might be scouring the internet for a good wedding guest dress. A maxi dress is a winning bet, but what shoes to wear with a maxi dress, you ask? The length of the garment is what adds instant formality, even if it's a boho style cotton dress. (If you're going to a strictly black tie wedding that may not be the most appropriate, but I'd argue that for a summer's day, it absolutely is – with the right accessories, and avoiding white of course.) But the key is in the footwear.
Even if you're not planning to attend someone's imminent nuptials, a maxi dress is a great addition to your wardrobe. The beauty of a long dress is that it's a complete outfit on its own: you don't need to style it with anything but a coat (if necessary), shoes and accessories. Plus, a flowy maxi dress made from light materials is the perfect summery, breezy statement to have you floating through the streets.
Unsure on what shoes to wear with a maxi dress? Depending on the exact length of the dress – floor length or ankle length – you may barely see the shoes at all. But that doesn't mean that the footwear doesn't matter: shoes can be quite transformative to the look, since they can either dress up or dress down the outfit. Trainers, for instance, will give an instant cool contrast, allowing you to wear most maxi dresses out and about without appearing overdressed. (With the exception of hyper sparkly or embellished dresses which are unmistakably in the arena of evening wear. For those, we'd recommend a glam pointy pump or a sandal heel.)
If you're looking for visual inspiration, you're in luck: we're in the midst of fashion month, which means that the street style set are out in their droves. And one thing is clear: there are certain combinations that pop more than others.
Pointy pumps
By far the most popular formula is to match a maxi dress with pointy heels, and it’s easy to see why. The pointed toe peeks out from under the maxi dress, creating an interesting visual dynamic. It stops the shoe from being completely swallowed by the dress, holding its own among the excess fabric. Plus, there's just something so undeniably glam about a pointy pump.
Matching colours
Another beloved combo – and this is especially applicable when you want to look your most elegant – is to match the colour of your shoes to your dress. Perfect for weddings and evening events, it makes you look instantly put together. Again, our suggestion would be to opt for a pointy toe here, but you can play around with it.
Trainers
Now, let's go in the opposite direction. You want to wear your gorgeous maxi dress, but don't want to seem too overdressed. Trainers will be the perfect contrast, breaking up the formality and injecting your outfit with some coolness. As mentioned above, this combo may not always be possible, since some maxi dresses are unmistakably meant for evening events. But with some creativity and confidence, you can pull off a lot.
Boots
Boots are a great one, since they look just as good on the street as they do at an event – although you probably don't want to wear combat boots to a wedding, unless the married couple are particularly cool. Like trainers, the toughness of boots provides the perfect contrast to dress down a maxi dress. Alternatively, a pointy-toed heel boot will be more than suitable for the evening, but it feels sexier than a sandal heel.
Platform heels
Platforms make total sense with a maxi dress, since the elevated sole ensures that the shoes will actually be visible! It also stops your long dress from dragging on the ground, which is especially useful during cold or rainy weather. Accidents happen, but you want to avoid dirtying the hem of your dress as much as possible.
Ballet flats
This is another styling option that could work both for a stroll round the city and a more formal event. It just depends what kind of ballet flat you're into. Something a little weirder like a Margiela Tabi flat (with its signature hoofed toe) might feel more suited for daytime – unless you're a particularly dedicated fashion girlie. Similarly, a square-toe black leather flat will be a great companion to break up the formality of a long dress. On the other hand, a pretty satin or sequinned flat will look beautiful at a wedding, and your feet will probably thank you!
Sandal heels
If you don't want your feet to thank you (the combination of rubbing sandal straps and the pressure of a heel is lethal, in my opinion) but you do want to show off your cute new pedicure, opt for sandal heels! They are a classic option for a formal look, and the great thing about them is that they don't overpower the outfit, allowing the dress to really shine as the star. If you're looking for greater comfort in this style, opt for a chunky platform heel, as in my experience the width of the heel offsets the pressure on your foot.
