Picking out your shoes is a crucial part of your prom outfit. The shoes you pick out should most definitely complement your dress and match your color scheme. 

Complement, don’t match 

You might be asking yourself, well, how do I even do that in the first place? To complement your shoes with your dress, opt for a neutral or complementary color, match textures or even draw attention to your simple dress with a bold statement shoe. 

Color harmony

If you are looking for heels to match with multiple different colors for a wide range of dresses, seek a neutral shoe. Heel colors like white, black, beige or cream can complement a wide range of outfits or dresses. You can also choose a shoe in a color that harmonizes with your outfit. For example, let’s say your dress is a bold red. Pair it with a metallic or neutral shoe to balance out the boldness of your dress. Accent colors, if your outfit has vibrant or contrasting colors, consider a shoe in the same color to create a cohesive look. While matching can work, aim for complementary shades rather than exact matches to avoid looking too matchy-matchy. 

If your outfit is made of a smooth material, try a shoe with texture or vice versa to add visual interest to the outfit. You could also try a statement shoe. If you have a pair of shoes with a unique pattern, print or embellishments, make them the main focus and match your outfit to the shoe, pulling colors or textures from the shoe into your outfit. 

Simple vs. Bold 

For a simple outfit or dress, your shoes can be a great way to add personality. Maybe a shoe with a fun pop of color, a charm or embellishment, a chunky heel or even a platform. For a bold outfit or dress, aim for a laid-back or simple shoe, maybe a simple sparkly gold or neutral shoe. You don’t want your shoes to compete with the outfit in the case of a bold dress. The key is a simple dress, with bold shoes, and a bold dress, with simple shoes. 

Comfort is key 

Although your prom is the night to go big or go home, you might want to factor in the comfort of your shoes. Do you really want to be dancing the night away in pain? The Naturalizer Joy Sandal is all around the perfect heel for your big night. They are $120 and they come in all different neutral options such as black leather, white leather, light bronze leather, white leather, pearl white leather, gingersnap suede, and nude leather. These heels scored an 8 on the Forbes website and are available in sizes 4 to 12; 6W to 12W. When shopping for a comfortable heel, there are many factors to consider. You want to consider material, height and overall comfort.