Choosing the right shoes for your wedding day can be as daunting as picking the perfect gown. Most ladies think they can dodge the bullet with a floor-sweeping frock that would conceal any footwear dilemma, but imagine walking down the aisle (let alone dancing with your hubby) in a pair that doesn’t fit you or doesn’t go with your gown.
After all, as fashion stylist Kate Paras puts it, “What’s the use of wearing sky-high heels when you walk like a cripple in them?”
On this spread, models photographed backstage show which styles complemented their designer gowns during Inquirer Lifestyle and Look Magazine’s recent Face-Off bridal fashion show.
The fashionable set also gives tips on solving any bride-to-be’s shoe woes.
Kat Cruz, celebrity stylist and fashion editor, Look magazine
Prioritize function over fashion, so choose shoes you can last in the whole day with a big smile on your face, not a pained, forced smile.
Pick a pair that complements your dress, not one that will overshadow it.
If you are most likely to choose an investment (i.e., expensive) piece, make sure to choose one you can wear again.
Happy Lopez, associate fashion editor, Cosmopolitan magazine
You don’t have to go traditional and pick a white pair. Choose shoes that fit your personality and style, whether that means getting a colored shoe, flats or a wedge.
Be sure to fit and try taking a few steps when shoe shopping.
Anna Canlas, fashion and beauty editor, Preview magazine
Find a heel height that works with the length of your dress. The fabric should just skim the floor and not pool around the feet.
When in doubt, nude or matte-metallic shoes are good alternatives to stark white shoes. Also consider the amount of leg or ankle your shoes show. If you have thicker legs, boot styles that cover the ankle or anything higher can make you look stumpy. For heels, a good arch shows off more of the ankle and makes your figure look longer.
Ria Prieto, editor in chief, Red magazine
It should be something you can wear again to other formal occasions.
Choose a brand you are familiar with, because sizing can be a problem.
Kate Paras, associate fashion editor, Chalk magazine
It doesn’t necessarily have to match the color of your gown. Some like a splash of color underneath all the tulle and the lace.
Try adding gel soles or cork on problem areas in your shoes to make the discomfort bearable. Remember, there can be a balance between stylish and wearable.
Edlene Cabral, style editor, Garage magazine
Break-in your shoes days before your wedding. Consider the heel height of the shoes. You can opt for platforms or wedges, which are more comfortable than stilettos.
If worse comes to worst such that you can barely stand in your shoes anymore, switch to nice flats or, at least, low-heeled shoes (around one to two inches).
