by Kimberley Heit

Created on: May 13, 2008   Last Updated: January 28, 2010

Shoe shopping is typically a task that women gobble up with glee, but when it comes to prom shoe shopping there's an extra degree of pressure involved. The shoes you choose need to help you look stunning on prom night! To acieve this you will require a pair that perfectly compliments your outfit.

Before you embark on the mission to purchase shoes for one of the key events in your life consider the following checklist of tips:

Style

Match your prom shoes to the style of your dress. If your dress is feminine and floaty a delicate, strappy style will be complimentary, if your dress is more modern and structured you may be able to carry off a more structured shoe style. Wedges are typically too casual looking to suit most dresses. Kitten heels tend to suit a lot of styles.

Comfort

If you aren't used to wearing heels, prom night might not be the best occasion to start. You won't enjoy yourself if you feel subconscious stumbling around all night. Instead pick a style with a square heel rather then a stiletto heel. These styles are a lot easier to balance on. Alternatively there are some great decorative flats around. Slingbacks are also a good choice because your feet don't have to grip the shoes with your toes.

When shopping follow all the usual shoe shopping rules to ensure you select a pair you will be comfortable in. For example try shoes on in the afternoon when your feet are at their largest due to swelling and walk around the shoe store to ascertain whether they will be suitable for dancing and mingling for hours.

Color

Choose shoes in a color which will compliment your dress. This doesn't automatically mean you need to find shoes in the same shade as your dress. Black shoes match darker shades like red and black. In contrast if you are wearing a Black dress you could wear a bright colored shoe to inject some color into your outfit. A safe bet for all other colors is to choose a soft metallic gold or silver shade. If you are going to wear gold jewelry wear gold shoes, if you are going to wear silver jewelry wear silver shoes. If you really do want your shoes to match the color of your dress and can't find the right shade have your shoes dyed.

Price

Unless you only intend on buying a cheap throwaway pair of shoes just for prom night consider purchasing a classic style that you can use again. Don't only look to purchase shoes at a specialized prom store; these are likely to be prom price inflated. Look at regular chain stores.

Purchasign order

Purchase your prom shoes after you purchase your dress, but before you purchase your bag and other accessories. It is a good idea to take your dress with you when shoe shopping to make sure that it compliments the shoes you are thinking of buying.

A few extra tips:

Practice walking around the house in your prom shoes before the night. On the night pack a few band aids in your purse, just in case. If you are wearing an open toe style of shoe make sure you look after your feet in the months leading up to your prom. Give yourself regular pedicures and slather on moisturizer under a pair of bed socks each night and consider getting a professional pedicure for the night.

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