When we think of fashion’s favorite shades, earth tones, neutrals, and soft, muted hues come to mind, as these are the colors we often see people wearing. While there’s nothing wrong with preferring understated tones, we encourage you to broaden your palette with a shade that evokes the essence of nature—green. And when you embrace this lively hue, don’t forget to pair it with shoes that complement your green dress perfectly.
What better way to tie the entire ensemble than with a tinge of green? You get to choose from a variety of shades from seafoam and sage to forest and evergreen. Even designers and fashion-forward thinkers agree that green brings a dash of je ne sais quoi to the simplest of looks.
Celebrities didn’t shy away from wearing green gowns – we haven’t gotten over Kate Middleton’s rented gown for the Earthshot Prize ceremony in Boston or Meghan Markle’s bold green Emilia Wickstead dress she wore at the Commonwealth Day service.
Kate paired her dress with pointed-toe pumps adorned with silver crystals, while Meghan chose neutral-toned pointed-toe pumps. Which style do you prefer? And which ones do you think pair best with a green dress?
We love looking to designers and celebrities for fashion inspiration and styling tips. If you’re wondering about the best shoes to pair with green dresses (whether or not you already have one), you can’t go wrong with neutral-toned or crystal-embellished pumps. Keep reading to explore more styling options!
1. Black, a timeless classic
Black pointed-toe pumps, black strappy stilettos, and black knee-high boots have to be the most elegant, effortless footwear out there, right? And, when you’re searching for the best shoes for green dresses, chances are you’re searching for exactly that – a surefire way to look like you know what you’re doing.
Now, unlike black and navy, black and green seem to work wonders together. Whether you’re wearing a green gown with black accents, patterns, or even black stitching, you’re guaranteed to appear polished and put-together when you throw on a pair of black pointed-toe pumps.
When you’re going for an office-appropriate outfit, you can wear black loafers, black combat boots, or black knee-high boots. At the moment, we’re pining over the Balenciaga Square Knife leather pumps, but you can go with pretty much any black footwear appropriate for the event you’re attending.
2. White, a summer must-have
Repeat after me: “Summer dresses aren’t summer dresses unless they’re combined with white sneakers, white espadrilles, or white strappy sandals!” We’re kidding, of course.
We’re not, however, kidding about the fact that flowy, flowery, leafy dresses become a summer must-have when combined with white shoes.
We’re rooting for white sneakers such as Stuart Weitzman Livvy convertible sneakers or Common Projects Tournament leather sneakers for running errands or grabbing brunch with your girlfriends.
Depending on the style of the dress, we’re also rooting for Stuart Weitzman 75mm Marguerita espadrille wedges or Castañer Chiara platform espadrille wedges for a garden wedding or a family barbecue.
Whatever the case might be, you also can’t go wrong with white strappy sandals with a formal frock (we hear that ASOS carries stunning ones at the moment).
3. Silver, a dash of shimmer
When we’re talking evening events, there’s nothing you can wear that doesn’t go with silver, gold, metallic, sparkly, shimmery stilettos.
Whether you’re wearing an emerald green silky slip dress, a Christmas green, floor-length frock covered with sequins and sparkles, or an avocado green, corseted number, you’re guaranteed to want to add a dash of shimmer with silver stilettos.
Silver pointed-toe pumps such as Nine West Timie slingback pointed-toe pumps or Badgley Mischka Daisy II Half d’Orsay Pumps (available at Nordstrom as we speak) work with pretty much any style of the dress for something simple and subdued.
On the other hand, silver strappy sandals like the Aquazzura Tequila crystal-embellished metallic leather sandals or the Aquazzura Barely-There sandals (in silver) elevate any ensemble, adding an alluring, seductive, and sensual touch.
4. Gold, a “golden hour” footwear equivalent
When we think of gold stilettos, we hear JVKE’s “My radiant beam in the night, I don’t need no light to see you shine. It’s your golden hour!”
What better way to describe how the perfect pair of golden strappy sandals or golden stilettos make you feel?! We’re pretty sure that whatever green dress you’re planning on wearing and whatever event you’re attending, you’re going to look like a million dollars when you throw on some golden shoes.
Naturally, we’d recommend opting for a standout piece like the Aquazzura Barely-There metallic sandals or the Jimmy Choo Saeda crystal ankle-strap pumps. However, if you’re looking for budget-friendly options, you can find similar styles almost anywhere.
Zara, Mango, and ASOS carry metallic pumps, sandals, and ballet flats to save you some time.
5. Cinderella, a princess-worthy piece
Oh, are we the only ones down for the naked trend? Whether you’re attending a wedding, an evening event, or an occasion that requires you to wear an evening gown, you can’t go wrong with Cinderella slippers (or sandals, or pumps…).
We would go as far as to argue that Cinderella slippers are the best shoes for green dresses because you literally can’t style them the wrong way. That’s right, transparent, PVC, and mesh shoes go with everything, show off your pedicure, and make you look like you’re walking barefoot (kind of a plus?).
To be honest, we wouldn’t suggest spending too much money on Cinderella slippers only because they’re a trend that might go away after some time and leave you with something you don’t want to wear.
However, that doesn’t stop us from gushing over Loewe’s glassy flats, Dilara Findikoglu’s mules, or Simone Rocha’s sandals.
6. Green, a monochromatic moment maker
Monochrome’s here to stay, according to Vogue. Meanwhile, we suggest you go on a hunt for matching strappy sandals, pointed-toe pumps, or even loafers to go with your green-with-envy dress. There’s also a chance everyone will be green with envy when you show up sporting the season’s favorite hue from head to toe.
Oh and, take a page from Gigi Hadid’s book and go all out with an eye-catching shade such as lime green, avocado green, or mint green. Need we argue anything other than the fact that Giuseppe Zanotti Platform Pumps (in Lime, of course) would make you look like a modern-day Tinkerbell?!
7. “Pop of color,” a daring diva of footwear
We’re passionate advocates for matching the unmatchable, and that’s why we strongly believe that being fashionable and being on-trend requires a little more effort than “never wear black and navy together.”
When we suggest you add a pop of color to your green dress, we suggest wearing fuchsia, mustard, or bright red shoes tied together with appropriate accessories and accents.
However, not every style of dress can be styled with contrasting shoes – solid green dresses made with high-quality, luxurious-looking fabrics such as silk, velvet, or cashmere combined with contrasting accessories and accents work wonders without giving off the “cheap vibe.”
Paris Texas Wanda Patent Leather Wedge Sandals, The Attico Devon Patent Leather Mules, and The Attico Perine satin pumps are our favorites for that signature “pop of color” moment. But, you can shop similar styles at Zara, Mango, and H&M, too!