Recreation
It’s taking me a hot minute to find shoes for my mother-of-the-bride outfit. As I’m not posting images of the dress until the wedding itself, I wasn’t sure you’d be interested in the shoe process but but I asked myself, “Would you like to see a stream of fancy metallic shoes scroll by on a Saturday morning?” and answered, “Why the heck not?”
So before the footwear cascade begins, a thought. I also asked myself, “Why is it so hard to know what will work?” and I think it’s because the dress silhouette is not my usual. I tend to wear clothes that could be, if you squint, with a little imagination, t-shirts. The exceptions being this Prada piece, and my wedding dress. My MOB dress has a slip under and a silk organza over, blouson sleeves, and a slightly full skirt. Completely unfamiliar geometry.
But I’m getting closer to understanding what I need.
Parameters:
- Dress is forest green with a slight sheen; I don’t want black. Too heavy, and I keep Sue’s color consultation in mind.
- Dinner is on grass; ceremony “aisle” is brick: I need a sturdy heel or flat.
At first I thought “Bronze!” but bronze is a rare commodity and these were out in my size.
So then I ordered three, count ’em, three gold pairs of pumps and sandals, and one pair of slingbacks deemed, “Alabaster.” We’ll start there. From Cult Gaia, spectacular, but not standard and I wasn’t sure that their non-standardness fit the already non-standardness of my dress. Nothing worse for a High WASP than going out on a fashion limb but doing it wrong.
Would be so perfect with an antique linen or silk-cotton dress. Delicious. Like full-fat milk in morning tea.
Tried these, from Margaux,(no longer available) thinking that the volume of the dress needed balancing with a bow. Great to wear with pants, or a full skirt. My dress, however, I now understand, requires a heel.
Below, from Aquazurra, absolutely beautiful shoes. However, again, I need a heel. But do I in fact need a bow at the toe? Maybe not. Again, unfamiliar geometry.
These, from Loeffler Randall, came so close. But now I’m thinking that the necessary higher heel (trust me, it’s needed) obviates the bow-at-the-toe concept. Obviates. Don’t you love a good big word in the morning? Like the smell of perfectly browned toast.
So on we go. I will be ordering three more pair. First, on the premise that if the dress is complex, the shoes should be as simple as possible, these from LK Bennett. Not quite sure I want anything described as court shoes, consorting with royalty isn’t my thing, but nonetheless.
Second, in case what I need is more foot, less shoe, from Anonymous Copenhagen, a brand I’d never heard of. It’s amazing what’s out there for the obsessive. Might order these in silver, just to test my assumption that I can no more wear silver on my feet than I can in my ears.
Third, ceasing to think and simply falling for a perhaps wholly impractical design, from Malone Souliers. Yet another brand I’d never heard of. What does that signify?
We shall see. I will of course report back. Recreation is valuable.
Inspiration
Finally, just in case you haven’t seen it, the video of Janet Trafton Mills, the Governor of Maine speaking her mind, apparently unafraid.
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone. Spring is out there somewhere, as are those you love.
No links in this post will generate commissions. Not doing any monetization at the moment.
17 Responses
Chilling – not the open back/vamp nature of the shoes. The video – chilling.
I suggest a back strap. I was worried about falling, or maybe wobbling, at my son’s wedding where we walked on both grass and a sandy walkway during the entrance. Margaux does have a gold box heel with a back /ankle strap. That’s what I wore. Good luck! The search is fun, I found.
I think the scrappy gold sandals are actually “more” shoe than the others, both because of the brightness of the gold, and they’re busier. I love the Souliers, but as Maryellen said, it’s very important you feel very stable in them, because you will be much more nervous that day than you’re expecting. I love the court shoe as well, love its softness – but again, comfort is so important.
I’ve seen that video and didn’t want to watch it again – the shoe post is fun and I didn’t want to ruin my moment of lightness!
Kathy, you and I seem to share shoe taste. The shoes that appeal to me are the Soulliers and the court shoes. Given the description of the dress, I think the shoe should have simple, classic lines. I also agree that a comfortable, stable shoe is key so that Lisa can float about the wedding without giving a thought to what anchors her to the earth.
Very sensible advice about the importance of comfort and stability!
The first ones are dazzling. Not that my opinion matters.
Will their be dancing at the reception?
It’s easier to look joyous at the happy event when you’re on the dance floor in a shoe that’s securely strapped to your foot with a leather sole.
Absolutely right!
The last pair, simple, a heel, fabulous.
Absolutely, agree comfort and safety are paramount (see true story below). Surprising sources I found during my own search as mother of the bride: Stuart Weitzman, not the vertiginous heel height, but more reasonable heights in the Nudist and the Nudist Wrap. Also their Mary Jane… ignore the other “hump me” Weitzman pumps. You could also look at the shoes designed by a woman orthopedic surgeon, Taryn Rose, I don’t know if she still designs shoes, but they used to be sold at Nordstrom’s in Canada.
Have a wonderful wedding, have a terrific time, and we look forward to seeing the pictures of your outfit and shoes!
I was at a family wedding where one of the bridesmaids at ANOTHER wedding got very drunk after the ceremony, and proceeded to totter down the incline of the hill (it was held at a ski resort in the summer). She was wearing vertiginous shoes, and tripped on the cobblestone walkway. She fell, was lifted up by her (equally drunk) friends and tried to hobble on. I ran over immediately (I’m an MD), checked her out, and diagnosed a mild (stable, undisplaced) fracture, told her to sit and ABSOLUTELY stay put (to prevent the injury from becoming worse) and that I would call for an ambulance right away. By the time I summoned help and came back, this inebriated stranger and her friends had disappeared – I guess they somehow manage to hobble/bunny hop her back into her room. I had no idea where her room was, or how she even got there. The next day I heard that sadly, she’d been airlifted out for orthopedic surgery at the University hospital. I think there are 2 salutary lessons: when in doubt, wear the more sensible shoes (people generally look at the top, not the profile of the shoe); if you trip and fall, and it hurts at a very specific point, Google “fracture with point tenderness” = stress fracture. Don’t make it worse by putting your weight on it!
On the subject of shoes and weddings – for both my daughter’s and stepson’s weddings, I ordered many pairs of gold/rose gold flip-flops from Old Navy. I think they were $5 a pair or less. I put them in a basket by the dance floor, and most women kicked off their shoes, and wore the flip flops.
This is exactly what I think will happen, and I love this idea!
It’s hard to believe the shiny metallic “court shoe” is suede!
If the idea of a bronze shoe was your first choice [and I can see why], I do see the LK Bennett bronze courts available in places other than NM [which was sold out in your size].
The LK Bennetts and the gorgeous Malone Souliers , IMHO, will give a beautiful barefoot impression and
keep you comfortable the entire time.
I like them all, and especially the Aquazurrra. Might I suggest that you get some gold, flat, ballet-type shoes in case you want to change into them for dancing? I was very happy to have mine at our son’s wedding.
Here is a consideration I didn’t think of until my daughter put her gorgeous high heels on a week before the wedding and I stood next to her in the low heeled shoes I had picked out for my dress. Reality check ensued: I am slightly taller than she but she towered over me! I realized our family photos and my pics with her alone were going to be uncomfortably (for me) off. I found some fantastic comfortable sandals with a better heel height. I felt great and stable on my feet all day and switched into a lower heel later for dancing.
Wow all of these shoes are really beautiful! I love the LK Bennett regardless of what they’re called, so sleek! The Malone Souliers are exceptional though! Like sculpture. I can’t wait to see what you end up with!
What about platform sandals, not too high and not too chunky, offering comfort and elevation, and perhaps velvet instead of leather?