White dresses aren’t reserved only for weddings. They’re a perfect option for a soft, summer look. Depending on which look you want to achieve, they go well with pretty much any kind of footwear. So, what shoes to wear with a white dress?
Well, that depends on where you plan on going and what kind of dress it is. One thing is for sure, however – you can’t go wrong here. White dresses are one of the easiest pieces to style, and you can have a lot of fun with them, too! This is a perfect opportunity for you to explore your style.
Whether you want to go for a formal or a casual style, to keep it light or fun, there’s the right pair of shoes that will help you achieve your fashion goal. Even if you decide to go for that Ice Princess look and wear a white dress in winter, a nice little pair of boots will make it happen!
The opportunities are endless, you just have to learn how to style it and what shoes to wear with a white dress. We’ll cover the most common choices, as well as what are some of the best ways you can style them. Let’s get right into it!
What kind of dress are you wearing and where?
First of all, it’s important to consider which event you plan on wearing your dress to and what look you’re going for. Whether it’s smart casual, formal, cocktail, or bohemian, the right pair of shoes can make all the difference.
You can wear a white dress to almost any occasion. You can go for a structured, flowy, or cocktail dress, and there are different ways how you can style them.
For example, for a laid-back bohemian event, a flowy dress is an ideal choice. Now, if you’d like to turn it into a smart-casual look, you can change it with the right shoes and accessories.
If you style your casual dress with the right purse and heels, you can even turn it into a cute cocktail outfit! Play around with your jewelry, shoes, and purses. One dress can make a dozen of looks!
Dress type also plays a major role when thinking of what shoes to wear with a white dress. For example, if you’re wearing a lace dress, go for a minimal pair of shoes that won’t make your look overwhelming. The color of your footwear can change the whole outfit, so let’s see what you should go for.
Neutral shoes to wear with a white dress
Because white is plain and a non-color, almost all neutral shoe colors go perfectly with it. It’s really hard to go wrong here. However, it’s still good to know what shoe color looks best if you’re looking for a specific look you’d like to create.
1. Black and white combo
Although they’re a complete contrast, pairing black shoes with a white dress is always a good idea. Don’t worry about how white your dress is, pair it with black shoes and you’ve got a classic look.
This combination keeps things simple, with a perfect dose of style and class. It’s a great way to let both your shoes and dress be the stars of your outfit, without outshining each other. When it comes to what shoes to wear, there are a number of options to choose from.
To elevate your outfit, you can go for a pointed-toe pump or a strappy stiletto. If you’re in a cozy mood and you decide to wear a white sweater dress, a pair of black boots will complete your look.
If you’re going for a party look, try pairing your black shoes and a white dress with a gold clutch. It will give you a spark you need to have all eyes on you. In case you’re going for a more laid-back look, a leather brown crossbody or tote will complete it.
2. Choose nude or beige and let your dress stand out
Going all the way to the complete opposite of black, a white dress and nude shoes are always a safe choice. It’s a perfect way to create a subtle yet elegant look.
If you’re lucky enough to find nude shoes that match your skin tone, wearing them with a white dress is a great way to make your dress stand out. On top of that, it’s a great trick to make your legs appear longer!
As long as you keep your shoes minimal, the footwear won’t have as much impact, making your dress the star of your outfit. If you’re not sure what purse to choose, you should keep it simple and natural.
A white, tan, or beige purse, as well as a clear clutch, are all great options if you’d like to keep it minimal. Bringing a pink, purple, or blue purse with you will add a pop of color to your outfit, while an animal print will make it a bit more stylish.
3. Feel like royalty with gold shoes
Every girl deserves to feel like royalty, and what better way to achieve that than by wearing some gold?! Metallic shoes, such as golden ones, are an ideal choice when looking for shoes you can wear with a white dress for a formal occasion.
Even a basic white dress can become fabulous and trendy if you add a pair of strappy gold sandals or pumps to it. Golden footwear goes wonderfully with white, especially if your dress is creamy and has warm undertones. The gold in your shoes will bring it out even more.
Whether you opt for bronze or copper, they’re both amazing to wear with white and creamy white dresses.
When it comes to purses, it’s always a good idea to match them with your golden shoes or create a contrast with black ones. For a more casual look, a tan or brown purse paired with gold shoes is an ideal combo.
4. Compliment your dress with silver shoes
Another great metallic option to wear with your white dress is silver shoes. However, while gold works best with warm undertones, silver shoes will look best when paired with a bright white dress with cool undertones. You should avoid pairing silver heels with a creamy white dress.
Whether you opt for bright metallics, glitter silver shoes, or hologram hues, you won’t be making a mistake. They’re all good options to wear with a white dress because they complement it without being too big of a distraction.
For a purse, go for a white, beige, or matching silver to create a neutral look. For a bit of contrast, pair your white dress and silver shoes with a pink purse, or reach for a black one.
5. Go casual and wear brown
If you’re looking for a casual outfit, brown shoes are an ideal choice for you. It’s a great neutral color that compliments the white and creates a perfect office look.
If you’re in the mood to wear a boho outfit today, go for brown clogs or strappy brown sandals paired with your flowy white dress. If you’d like to add a bit of an earthy vibe to your look, try putting on caramel boots and watch your outfit transform.
When deciding on what purse to wear with this combination, match it with a similar brown if possible, or go for a beige. To create some contrast, choose a darker brown, black, or blush handbag.
6. Make your look fun and add an animal print!
If you’ve had a pair of shoes with an animal print in your closet for ages now because you don’t know how to style them – a little white dress is your solution! Because they’re eye-catching, they’re best paired with neutrals and plain dresses, such as a white ones.
A classic cheetah or leopard print should be reserved for a more casual outfit, especially if you’re wearing pumps or boots, and the print covers a larger surface. For a summer look, we recommend going for strappy shoes or sleek slides.
Your handbag should match any shade that you can find in your shoes. If that’s not possible, for a white or a black one. If you’re feeling especially bold, contrast your shoes with a hot pink or a bright green bag.
7. White on white
Although matching your white shoes with more white is usually a big fashion no-no, you can make an exception when it comes to white dresses. However, if you’re not careful, you can easily look like a bride… Unless you’re going for that look. In that case – congratulations!
For those of you who are looking for an everyday outfit, here are some tips you should follow if you plan on wearing white shoes with your white dress:
- Avoid dresses that are made of lace or tulle. You should also stay away from silky slip ones or the ones that are ruffled. Simply avoid everything that may look like a wedding dress…
- Go for a pair of contrasting white shoes. Consider pairing your bright white dress with creamy or almost-grey footwear.
- An ideal choice would be casual shoes, such as chunky slides, boots, sneakers, or pumps.
Accessorize this combination with laid-back or contrasting accessories, such as black or brown leather handbag.
8. Clear heels for a trendy look
If you’re not sure what shoes to wear with a white dress, but you’d like to look trendy – go for a pair of clear heels. With this, you’ll make your dress the center of attention. Clear shoes are a perfect way to highlight your dress or create a minimalist outfit.
If you’ve always dreamed of having longer legs, wearing a little white dress with clear heels is a perfect way to achieve that. When it comes to picking out the right purse – anything goes with a white dress! Let your creativity shine and accessorize this look however you’d like.
Add some color to your look
Yes, neutral colors are always a good idea, but what shoes to wear with a white dress if you’d like to add a bit of color to it? The good news is – white goes well with a lot of colors, you just have to consider the shade of your dress and its style. Here are some of our favorite colors and how you can style them.
1. Go for a classic look with red shoes
It’s no secret that white and red go well together. Pairing your white dress with red shoes will create a fabulous look that might become your favorite. And the best part is – red goes with pretty much all shades of white!
It’s really hard to go wrong here, so don’t worry. When it comes to picking out the right purse, matching it with your shoes is always a safe option. For days when you feel bold and colorful – go for a bright blue, or hot pink handbag. It’ll make you the most stylish person in the room.
2. Pink shoes for a candy-like look
If you’re feeling sweet as candy today, pair your white dress with pink shoes for an additional dose of sweetness. They’re a perfect way to add a bit of contrast when you don’t know what shoes to wear with a white dress.
Don’t worry, any shade of pink will work. Whether you have a hot pink pair, metallic, or blush heels, the choice is yours! If you’d like to go for a bolder look, we’d opt for hot pink heels, while we’ll keep a lighter pink pair for a fancier outfit.
If you’d like to keep things subtle, we recommend pairing this outfit with a white or silver purse, or going simple and matching it with your heels. For a bolder look, contrast your heels with a colorful or black purse.
3. Feel energized with a pair of yellow shoes
If you’d like to feel like a walking ray of sunshine, wearing yellow shoes with a white dress will make you feel that way. It’s a perfect energetic and bright combination that will make you stand out as the most cheerful person in the room.
For a more casual look, we recommend wearing your white dress with yellow sneakers or slides. For evening cocktails, go for strappy yellow heels like these ones from Allegra K. A charming yellow pair of shoes is a perfect wedding option, too while neon will make a loud statement in the club!
For a purse, we recommend matching it with your shoes or keeping it neutral with a white, beige, or black one. For an extra pop of color, go for a light pastel handbag.
4. Make your outfit pop with green
Speaking of green, it’s a great color of shoes to pair with a white dress when you want to have fun with your outfit. Strappy stilettos, sandals, clogs, or sneakers – they’ll all add some funk to your white dress.
Who would’ve thought that you can further brighten your look when wearing a white dress, but a pair of green footwear can help you achieve exactly that! For a purse, keep things simple. Add a black or beige bag, or have even more fun and go for a hot pink, yellow, or turquoise purse.
5. Dress down with a splash of blue
If you’re looking for a cool look, then wearing blue shoes with your white dress is a way to go. While navy blue is the safest shade you can style, you can consider wearing other shades of blue, too. They’re a great option for a cool-tone white.
For a fancier outfit, go for blue satin or jewel pumps. To dress down, denim shoes or baby blue ones are a great choice. Our personal fave is this heeled sandal from Steve Madden in a shade of sky blue. These shoes will add that pop of color to every white dress and are perfect for more casual occasions.
6. Add a bit of contrast with orange shoes
If you’d like to add contrast to your white dress, another great option is bright orange and coral shoes. They go especially well with pure white dresses and create a perfect casual summer outfit.
But, don’t limit yourself to just summer. Wearing orange ankle boots or pumps is a great way to brighten up a white cozy dress, even in winter.
You can keep it simple when it comes to the color of your purse and go for a white, brown, or black one. However, for an additional pop of color, we recommend styling your white dress and orange shoes with a bright yellow, blue, or purple handbag.
What type of shoes to wear with a white dress?
Now that we know what color shoes to wear with a white dress, it’s important to know some types that go well with it, too. Some are perfect for summer, while others are ideal for winter, and some you can wear all year round! Here are our top picks.
1. Strappy sandals
Strappy sandals will compliment your white dress in the best way possible. They come in a number of colors, and most of them go well with this type of outfit. Whether you go for bright colors or try to keep it neutral, they’ll add their own twist to your look.
If you’d like to make your dress the star of your outfit and you’d rather keep your shoes understated, minimal sandals are a great way to achieve that. Consider wearing tan, nude, or gold ones, paired with a clutch or a dainty handbag.
2. Pumps
If you’re wondering what shoes to wear with a white dress yet you have a perfectly fine pair of pumps in your closet – put your mind to rest. They’re an ideal combo with which you can’t go wrong!
It’s a go-to shoe for every season for many reasons, but one of them is that it goes well with pretty much any outfit. Whether you’re going for a simple or not-so-simple dress, your pumps have your back.
Pointed-toe pumps with a nice, fine heel will elevate your outfit in the best way possible. Dust off your pumps, put your little white dress on, and seize the day!
3. Clogs
Clogs aren’t only comfy, but they’re becoming more and more trendy over the years – and we’re loving this trend. They go perfectly well with white dresses, no matter what type of clogs we’re talking about.
Whether you’re thinking of closed-toe ones (like these from Coutgo), or high-heel slides you can style all of them with a perfect little white dress. If you’re going for a boho look, wooden sole clogs will definitely make your outfit!
Although open-toe clogs are a perfect choice of footwear for summer, you can wear clogs all year long. Clog mules paired with thighs or socks create a perfect look when combined with a cozy white sweater dress. And the best part is – it’s super comfortable.
4. Gladiator sandals and strappy flats
Wearing gladiator sandals or strappy flats with a white dress will make you feel like a Roman princess. And who doesn’t want to feel that way?!
This is a perfect casual outfit that will make you the center of attention wherever you go. Straps will add a whole new dimension to your outfit and make it super fun and stylish. Whether your dress is simple or adorned, strappy shoes will add a bit of spice to it.
5. Ankle boots
If you’re looking to create that perfect fall outfit, consider pairing it with any kind of ankle boots you may have in your closet. It’s a perfect way to style a sweater dress and create that cozy look that could easily turn you into a Pinterest star.
For chilly days, you can always wear a pair of leggings or tights to stay warm. You’ll still stay stylish, while also not freezing just for the sake of being cute. It’s our favorite combo!
