The Best Shoes for Long Skirts and Dresses

shoes

shoes_long_narrow_skirts

While there's no doubt that short skirts are sexy, long skirts can be sexy and so much more: romantic, polished, classic, laid-back, or even powerful. But whatever look you're trying to pull together, pairing the wrong shoes with a long skirt can blow the whole effect.
Fortunately, the shoe rules for long skirts are much simpler than you might think. In fact, it's really just a balancing act.
Longer skirts and dresses cover the majority of your body. To create a look that is flowing rather than broken or unbalanced, your footwear will need to accomplish one of the following three things:
1.Visually become a part of the skirt.
Think of tall boots that are covered by the hemline of the skirt
2.Add length or height beneath the hemline of the skirt, so that the skirt will seem shorter, or your legs will seem longer.
High heels that show a lot of skin work well for this.
3.Work with the lines of the skirt to create a look that is balanced.
For example, a chunky wedge heel will work with a fuller skirt, but might be too clunky for a long fitted skirt.

shoes

wedge_shoes_long_skirts

The wedge sandals and flared skirt shown here are a perfect combination, since the casual nature of the sandals are an ideal match for the denim skirt.
Wedges are a great choice for long skirts that have a bit of fullness at the hemline, but they can look too heavy for skirts that are very narrow.

More top shoe styles for long, flared skirts include:

• low cut pumps.
• tall, fitted boots (heeled or flat).
• tall slouch boots (heeled or flat).
• strappy sandals.

Shoe styles that can be problematic with long, flared skirts:

• Ballet flats. They can make your legs seem shorter and heavier.
• Heavy or bulky shoes, as they can often convert to very matronly or clunky look.
• Ankle boots that are short enough to still show some leg. This can make your calves look very thick.

shoes

thongs_long_skirts

Here, thong sandals are used to give this full long skirt a laid-back, casual look that's ideal for warm weather, beach vacations, or events that call for a great look that's neither too casual or too dressy.
Flats paired with long skirts can sometimes be a problematic combination, as they can make your legs appear shorter and heavier. But since the skirt here is very long and full, and the shoes are very skimpy, the look really works.

Other top shoe styles for skirts like this are:

• wedge sandals.
• tall, heeled boots.
• strappy sandals with high heels.

shoes

strappy_sandals_long_skirts

Choosing the right shoes for a long skirt is relatively easy if you keep in mind that you want to either minimize the amount of skin that you show (as you would with tall boots), or maximize the amount of skin you show (as you would with strappy sandals).
The strappy sandals shown here are a great example of the right kind of shoes to wear with a mid-length or long full skirt.

shoes

platforms_long_skirts

Platform shoes work well with long skirts because of the additional height under the front of the shoes. But since platform shoes have an inherent "chunky" look to them, it's important to choose a style that complements the skirt instead of one that will trample on it.
Towards that end, there are two good ways to go.

• Choose a pair of shoes that expose a lot of the foot, like the ones shown here. Other platforms that would work include sandals with thin straps, pumps with a low cut vamp, or other shoes with open toes.
• In cooler weather, choose a pair of boots that is tall enough to leave no leg showing. This will create a long, lean, and very polished look.

shoes

high_heels_long_skirts

As I've discussed on other pages of this gallery, there are some flats that will work with long skirts, but high heels are definitely an easier choice -- especially when it comes to dressier skirts like this one.
In addition to adding overall height and lengthening your profile, high heels also raise the back of your foot, which means more shoe or foot can be seen from the front. As an added bonus, they help to counter the shortening and widening effects of many long skirts.
Your heels don't have to be exceptionally high to work.
Strappy or low cut kitten heels can look smashing with long skirts if you remember the basic rules, and avoid shoes that will create a broken, blocky look.
Women who aren't comfortable in high heels, may want to consider wedge shoes or platform shoes, both of which many women find easier to wear and walk in.

shoes

flat_sandals_long_skirts

Unless you're model-thin or extremely tall, it's difficult to pull off wearing ballet flats or other flat shoes with long skirts.
Heavy, bulky, or closed flats paired with a long skirt can often create a shorter, wider, and overall frumpy appearance -- exactly the look most of us are trying to avoid.
But, if the flats in question happen to be strappy sandals, then it's a completely different story.
Skimpy flat sandals work well with longer skirts because they show a lot of skin beneath the hemline. This actually makes the skirt seem shorter -- or the legs seem longer. But whatever the case, skimpy flat sandals are a winning look with casual long skirts.

shoes

boots_long_skirts

Tall boots and long skirts are a cool weather natural, but there are more options for casual long skirts than there are for dressy ones.
In either case, the safest choice is choosing boots that are tall enough to be covered by the hemline of the skirt. This will keep the lines of your outfit long and lean.
For casual long skirts, let the fullness of the skirt be your guide.
Slouchy, heeled, flat, and even chunky tall boots will work with a fuller skirt like the one shown here, while long narrow skirts work best with heeled and close-fitting boot styles.

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dress_boots_long_skirts

When you're looking for footwear that works well with long skirts, don't forget to consider dress boots.
While the outfit shown here is too dressy for most flat or slouched styles, tall boots with heels lend a look of continuity to the skirt, while still being dressy enough for nearly any occasion.

The Best Shoes for Long Skirts and Dresses