“Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue…” Blushing brides aren’t the only ones hearing the old wives’ tale considering that we’ve been wearing “something blue” to pretty much every event we’ve attended during the season. And, we’ve been wondering what color shoes to wear with a light blue dress the entire time.
Whether you’re attending a wedding or an event, going on a date, or catching brunch with your girlfriends, a light blue dress seems to be the right choice at all times.
When we’re talking about the specific shade of blue that’s been on-trend during the season, we’re referring to lighter shades of blue such as baby blue, sky blue, and blizzard blue.
Barbicore pinks and Bottega greens passed the spotlight onto baby blues, and the calming hue popped up pretty much everywhere – from celebrities’ event ensembles and streetwear to the newest collections and runway shows.
Karlie Kloss, who was dressed by Christopher John Rogers, rocked a blue-on-blue moment from head to toe. Tracee Ellis Ross sported the electrifying hue at the Bottega Veneta’s Milan Fashion Week show.
Bella Hadid topped a black-on-black outfit with a blue blazer on the streets of Milan. And, Olivia Culpo fashioned a blue babydoll dress at Paris Fashion Week. Need we say more?
Now, we might not be ready to break the bank to wear, let’s say, the Givenchy fluted ribbed-knit dress or the Alexander McQueen pique-trimmed pleated shirt dress. But, that’s not to say that we can’t snatch the celebrity style by wearing the shade of the season the right way.
What color shoes to wear with a light blue dress, you wonder? Wonder no more, because we’re bringing you a step-by-step (or even better, a color-by-color) guide on how to style a light blue dress.
1. Silver, for a blushing bridesmaid moment
Oh, you wouldn’t believe the love we have for anything silver (especially for silver stilettos!). Of course, we can’t discuss the colors and shades that work with light blue without mentioning silver as the one color/shade you can’t go wrong with.
Whether you go for silver stilettos, silver platform pumps, or even silver ballet flats, you’re guaranteed to look polished and put together. Silver footwear, depending on the style you go with, can be the statement of the entire ensemble or the piece that ties everything together.
Silver strappy sandals, on one hand, add the sparkle that goes great with sparkly accessories and a sparkly handbag. Silver platform pumps or silver booties, on the other hand, stand out more because they take up more space.
And, as far as trends go, we would suggest you go with something along the lines of Cos Platform Heeled Sandals, Loewe Bow 100 Metallic-Leather Sandals, or Saint Laurent Blade 90 Metallic Leather Slingback Pumps which have that fashion-forward, mirrored effect.
2. Gold, for a take on the metallic trend
Metallics are everywhere and we’re not complaining! We know that the metallic trend might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s a way to ease the transition between basic, boring blacks and whites to shimmering silvers and golds.
Start with sparkly gold earrings, for example. Add a gold belt and a few gold accessories (maybe even a gold bag) and you’re ready.
Also, throw on some gold stiletto sandals to tie everything together. Actually, we’ve noticed that whenever someone’s wondering what color shoes to wear with a light blue dress, gold shoes never come to thought.
Strappy sandals such as Jimmy Choo Antia 85 metallic leather sandals would look stunning with a floor-length light blue dress whether you’re attending a wedding or an event. Similarly, Arielle Baron Narcissus’ metallic leather sandals and Schutz leaf heels would make a simple silky slip “pop.”
Reformation Eleonora sling-back block-heel sandals, on the other hand, would be more suitable for daytime events, especially when combined with a flowy, floral dress or a shirt dress. J.Crew Sorrento leather lace-up gladiator sandals and Porte & Paire metallic leather sandals are great for an everyday dash of gold.
3. Nude, for an effortless ensemble
Nudes are great because they’re guaranteed to not take away from whatever you’re wearing on top. Now, that’s probably the reason why nude stilettos became celebrities’ favorite footwear wherever they’re going, whichever event they’re attending.
Never say never, but we don’t think nude stilettos are going anywhere which happens to be another reason to consider buying the perfect pair you can wear year-round.
Nude stilettos have a way of making your legs look longer and allowing whatever you’re wearing on top to sparkle and stand out, and that’s the case when you’re wearing a light blue dress, too.
We’re talking your ears off with nude stilettos because that’s our preferred style to wear with most dresses. But, there’s nothing stopping you from choosing between nude pointy-toe pumps, nude kitten heels, or even nude ballet flats.
Christian Louboutin Rosalie Leather Red Sole Sandals would be our top pick (of course), but you can also go with the strappy Lilah heels from Steve Madden (our personal fave) or the strappy Kia heels from Sam Edelman.
When push comes to shove, the Everlane Italian Leather Day heels inspired by ballet flats would work wonderfully.
4. Brown, to add some warmth
We’re getting to darker shades which can be tough to style the right way, but we’ve got your back. Brown shades have a way of adding warmth to your looks without creating too much contrast (when you’re wearing lighter shades).
Brown and blue complement each other, but you have to choose the right shades that go together rather than throwing the first two that catch your attention. Lighter blues work with lighter browns and darker blues work with darker browns (as a general rule of thumb).
Light blue dresses that are flowy and flowery would work great with light brown espadrille wedges, and light blue dresses that are simple, sleek, and subdued would work great with light brown strappy sandals or light brown pointed-toe pumps.
Think Manolo Blahnik Carolyne Kitten-Heel Halter Pumps or Saint Laurent Cassandra YSL Medallion Espadrille Sandals.
5. Black, to play things safe
Everyone’s got ’em, why wouldn’t you want to wear ’em?! Black stilettos, black combat, boots, and black slippers seem to be one of those wardrobe must-haves you can wear with everything you want. Black can, at times, make you appear bottom-heavy.
However, black can also make you appear taller and slimmer (effortless, timeless, classic, and chic…).
When you’re wondering what color shoes to wear with a light blue dress, don’t shy away from going back to basics and wearing black pumps. Wear a form-fitting light blue dress, a matching blazer, and black pointed-toe pumps when you’re attending a business meeting or simply going to work.
Wear a light blue shirt dress and black espadrille wedges when you’re grabbing brunch or channeling your inner Meghan Markle. Or, wear your flowy, floral dress with black Birkenstocks when you’re running errands or grabbing a coffee.
Whatever you end up wearing, don’t worry about breaking the black and navy rule – black and blue don’t fall under that rule.
6. White, perfect for summer
When we think of white shoes we think of weddings, right? While the combination of a baby blue dress and white strappy sandals sounds like the embodiment of “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue,” weddings aren’t the only occasions you can wear the calming combination.
Whatever event you’re attending, you can’t go wrong with a baby blue dress and appropriate white footwear. Wear white stilettos such as Badgley Mischka Sacred Satin Crystal-Knot Pumps to a wedding only when you have the bride’s nod of approval, or when you are the bride.
Wear white platform pumps such as Andrea Wazen Double Jeu Mary Jane Platform Pumps for a summer girls’ night out. Or, wear smaller, block-heeled sandals such as Badgley Mischka Ultima Crystal Crisscross Block-Heel Sandals for a date night.
Of course, nothing’s stopping you from wearing white sneakers with flowy, light blue dresses on a regular.
7. Clear, for a Cinderella moment
We’re walking on eggshells with these wedding-worthy suggestions, but we couldn’t pass on the opportunity to talk about Cinderella slippers that have been all the rage for the past few seasons.
We have to underline, though, that you should always check with the bride whether you can wear a lighter-colored dress that resembles white or lighter-colored shoes that resemble bridal shoes.
When you get the green light from the bride, go ahead and get your dream Cinderella slippers. We’re, of course, talking about the Amina Muaddi clear pumps that have been remade by other designers, too.
Whether you go for the Muaddi ones or a similar style, know that you can’t go wrong with clear stilettos, high-heels, or kitten heels. Clear footwear, or naked footwear, seems to be the opposite of a fashion faux pa these days and we don’t see a reason why you wouldn’t check whether you agree.
8. Pop of color, for a fashion-forward statement
And, with that out of the way, we come to the end of the article. We might have saved the best for last considering we’ve come to the part of the article where we talk about the most eye-catching, jaw-dropping footwear out there!
When you’re wearing something as simple and subdued as a solid, light blue dress, you’re begging to add a pop of color to make the entire ensemble stand out and turn heads, right?
We suggest wearing such an ensemble with a pop of pink with Valentino Garavani Tan-Go platform pumps, a pop of pastel with ATP Atelier Costanza hot pink heeled sandals, or even a pop of green with Bottega Veneta crystal-embellished silk mules. Whichever way you decide to go, we’re wishing you the best of luck!