by Paula Rosenberg

Created on: May 07, 2009   Last Updated: May 08, 2009

Looking for the perfect pair of evening shoes can sometimes be a challenge. In order to make the best selection you need to keep the following in mind:

The Occasion: There will be a huge difference in what would be a great pair of shoes for an evening at the symphony as apposed to an evening BBQ dinner at Uncle Barney's house. In addition to thinking about the occasion you should also keep in mind logistics. If you are able to valet park then by all means wear your highest heals. If you are going to be on your feet all night then lower heels, wedges, or flats will save you from discomfort.

Think about the activities you will be partaking in during the evening. If there will be dancing you not only want comfortable shoes but ones that won't slip and slide on the dance floor. Shoes with ankle straps work best for dancing; there is less of a risk that they will fall off mid tango.

The occasion also impacts the material and style of the shoes that you choose. Patent leather heels are great for an 80s night party but will look cheep at a sophisticated event. If you are going to a charity event for PETA then wearing leather or fur shoes is defiantly out.

What You Are Wearing: Coordinating with your outfit is a no brainer but the length of what you are wearing can have a great impact on heel height. Just remember, the shorter the skirt or dress/the lower the heel. A mini skirt or dress that falls above the knee is great paired with a cute set of ballet flats. For dresses at the knee a wedge heel or 3 inch heel is perfect. For tea length or floor length dresses and skirts higher heals are better. Otherwise it looks like you are drowning in fabric.

If you are opting to wear pants then the style and material of the pants impact the shoe you choose. Depending on the season and event jeans and kakis work well beautiful boots, espadrilles, wedges, ballet flats, or loafers. If you are wearing more tailored pants then it is hard to beat a pair of classic pumps.

If you are wearing solid colors then it is fine to experiment with prints on your shoes. If you are wearing a printed dress or skirt then solid shoes are the way to go. Contrasting prints rarely work well together and if the print of your dress and shoes match perfectly you can end up looking like you have just been upholstered. When wearing solid colors too much matching can be overwhelming in bright colors. A little black dress and black stilettos are fine but a red or hot pink gown with matching shoes is too over the top and will look cheap.

The Weather: You want to make sure your shoes can handle the elements. If there is a chance of precipitation then suede and satin are out. Make sure that you have a back up shoe in a material that won't be ruined by the slighted bit of moisture. Think about the season too. Tweed pumps would look all wrong at a summer cocktail party. You will look out of place if you are wearing open toe shoes in chillier weather.

There are so many evening shoe options. It can be overwhelming. Just try to keep the occasion, what you are wearing, and the weather in the back of your mind when selecting shoes. If possible bring the outfit you will be wearing to the shoe store so you can get the full effect before committing to a purchase. Be comfortable, daring and love the shoes that you're in.

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