How to Tastefully Wear the Highest of Heels

March 25, 2010 Comments (0)

High heels just get higher by the season. For spring, designers showed heels that rivaled sky scraper territory, along with lace-up details and bold platform soles. The problem with these shoes is they can border distasteful if not worn properly. It may take a little styling know-how, but with the right tools, you can wear this crazy trend in a tasteful way that will have everyone staring for the right reasons.

For Day

In the day, we’re used to wearing flats, wedges or any other shoe that’s common for sunlight hours. These days, it seems celebrities waltz to the market in high heels, so why can’t you? You may want to reserve this look for going out with friends for lunch, brunch or boutique shopping, as it’s probably not the right look for the grocery store (unless you’re being photographed by the paparazzi).

Heels can work for day, as long as they’re balanced by your clothing. Stick to casual fabrics even for the highest heels. Sky high platforms are meant to serve as a focal point of whatever outfit you wear them with, so don’t pile on pieces that will compete and make you look over-the-top for day. Try a cotton V-neck T-shirt that loosely skims your figure, and trendy pants like cropped cargos (yes, they’re back!) or skinny jeans with an ankle-length hem. The key is to meet the sultry heels with approachable clothing, which will bring down the ante of the shoes.

Avoid any severe hardware like studs, jewels or grommets on clothing when wearing heels in the day. While an asymmetrical blouse that falls off one shoulder is sassy, a super slinky spaghetti strap top is trashy and will be too much when combined with sky high heels. Save the drama for evening.

For Night

At night, going for an over-the-top look is fine. Again, the key is to keep it tasteful so it’s all about balance. A super high heel means you’re getting the drama for your outfit from the shoes, so keep the rest of the outfit impeccably fitted for a stunning look. A cocktail dress with a fitted bodice and pencil skirt works well with heels that boast a heavy platform. A streamlined silhouette like this also works with the strappy heels that have elasticized or woven straps darting in every direction.

For a dress with a full skirt, show off platform pumps with confidence. There’s nothing wrong with showing serious skin for evening. For a dress or blouse that shows off shoulders and cleavage, stick with a pair of high pumps that cover the entire foot. For an ensemble that covers up, add a dash of sexy with cutout booties or heels that showcase skin on the foot.

Samantha Cabrera