It’s not a cliche to say that it’s stressful and daunting to have to shop for the Mother of the Bride or Groom outfit. This will be a very special day and one that you will have the memories and photographs to treasure for years to come.
You’ll want to feel pretty and look your best but not upstage the bride to be! This is a tight-rope walk that needs plenty of planning and careful decisions.
Once you finally have your dress or pant suit, you will need to make sure that your shoes complete your outfit in a harmonious way. We have some tips for how to put your best foot forward and find the perfect shoes for the Mother of the Bride or Groom!
| Tip # 1 Choose a feminine shoe.
A wedding is a gala affair so no heavy clunky shoes that weigh you down and belong at the office. This kind of affair calls for an evening shoe that is lightweight, refined, has a slender heel and is, above all, pretty. (Nordstrom)
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| Tip # 2 Dump the idea of a Dye-able shoe.
Matching your shoes exactly to your dress is not necessary. They are not water resistant and they can bleed if your feet get sweaty or you spill a drink on them. Instead, choose a shoe color that co-ordinates with, not matches, your dress. Don’t worry about perfectly matching your shoes and evening purse to your dress. This was popular 20 years ago but today matching can be very boring and will date your outfit and age you.
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| Tip # 3 Choose a Neutral.
Neutral shades work best with a colorful dress. This includes metallics like gold and silver which are often the perfect choice. (Nordstrom) |
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| Tip # 4 Make sure your shoes are comfortable.
We know that formal shoes are not known for being comfortable but there are some things you can do to keep from limping around by the end of the day. This is an example of a comfortable shoe with a lower heel. Once you decide on the shoe, make sure to break them in before the big day. Wear them around the house a few times and see how they feel. (Nordstrom) |
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| Tip #5 Don’t buy a shoe with too many thin straps.
First of all, be careful about choosing a shoe with too many straps. Thin straps are notorious for digging and cutting into your foot and don’t provide much support and you could end up wobbling around in them. (Nordstrom) |
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| Tip # 6 Try adding a foot pad for added comfort.
It’s a long day and there’s nothing worse than tired, sore feet. A little cushion at the ball of your foot or extra padding at your heel can help you keep your feet feeling much more comfy. You might also want to have your cobbler put some non-slip rubber on the soles of your shoes.
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 Want more tips on how to look Chic for that special occasion? Check out our popular E-book, How to Dress the Mother of the Bride or Groom! |
Style Expert Deborah Boland specializes in helping mature women to Tweak their Chic®!
Hi Ladies. I’m sixty-two and just love wearing heels and high heeled booties. What suggestions do you have for a girl my age? What is appropriate for someone over sixty for daily wear? What would be the tallest heel you would recommend? Thank you so much for such a wonderful site and all of the help you have provided for me.
Fondly,
Nancy Marie
Hi Nancy Marie, We say that age is not a factor when it comes to heels. If you can walk in them, then go for it! We know women in their mid 70′s wearing 4 inch heels. However, they are making heels even taller than that these days, and have seen some extreme shoes that have a platform and heel. Be careful of those…they can be deceiving and dangerous very trendy and made for the younger gals. If you are ever really confused feel about a shoe, please submit a photo of you in the heels you are considering buying to: questions@fabulousafter40.com
Enjoy your heels!
I love this website, you give great tips and style ideas, but can I just say, how disappointing it is that the models are all way younger than 40. Ladies of my age (I’m 56) want to get style ideas from sites like this and to get an accurate picture of how we’d look in a certain style or fashion. Young 20 year olds just don’t do it. Their bodies are totally different, as is the skin tone. Surely there are mature models out there. I have the same problem with fashion magazines. Fashion targeted at mature women but using very young women to show it.
Thanks for the opportunity of having my say.
Hi Diana,
Yes you are so right and WE DO HEAR YOU!!! We agree and are so frustrated not to be able to find stores that hire “real” models so that we can show you the clothes. Most of the time, we use just pictures of the clothes (via Polyvore) but sometimes we like to show you actual items you can purchase from stores. Our hands are tied and we have begged the stores to do a better job of showing the clothes on real models. Thank YOU for letting us explain why and how we do things here at FAF!