by There’s no getting around it: red shoes have a lot of significance this festive season. This weekend it was revealed that the world’s most famous shoes – Dorothy Gale’s ruby red slippers from 1939 Wizard of Oz film – had fetched a record-breaking $28m (£22m) at auction, while the franchise’s prequel, Evilis currently defying gravity (pardon the pun) at the top of the box office. Powell and Pressburger The red shoes will now appear on iPlayer while The devil wears Prada The stage show poster has a pointed red stiletto front and center.
This was clearly noticed by those attending the Princess of Wales’s annual carol concert: many guests wore a splash of red on their feet to comply with the general festive dress code. Her sister, Pippa Matthews, paired her black wool midi dress with sheer tights and a pair of red velvet heels with a matching clutch, while Kate and Pippa’s sister-in-law, Alizee Thevenet, opted for oxblood red patent low heels with her black velvet trouser suit . Other red-shoed concertgoers included Princess Beatrice in burgundy velvet heels, Strictly Professional dancer Amy Dowden in scarlet satin pumps and singer Paloma Faith in crimson high heels with bow detail.
As guests at the Christmas carol concert see, there are two ways to take advantage of this trend. The first is to take a cue from Pippa Matthews and Alizee Thevenet by making the shoes the focal point of the look and pairing them with an otherwise monochromatic color palette. Matthews softens them even further by adding sheer tights, which softens the effect a bit, making them less invasive. The other option is to color coordinate your look and add either matching or complementary red shoes that match your dress color, like Princess Beatrice, Amy Dowden and Paloma Faith.
“When it comes to brighter reds this season, it’s all about pops of red to add oomph to outfits,” agrees stylist Corina Gaffey. “A styling trick is to wear a touch of red to add interest to a more minimalist outfit; It is perfect for those who may have a color phobia. At the other end of the spectrum, head-to-toe tone-on-tone looks are also trending: whether burgundy or cherry red, mixing textures and tones of a hue is a fashion-approved way to wear red.”
What’s good to know is that, unlike your red lipstick, you don’t have to choose your red shoes to match your skin tone. “Colors are often difficult to wear on the face because they don’t match our skin tone well,” says stylist Alexandra Fullerton. “But because you’re wearing a shoe, you have more leeway to experiment with the shade.”
Of course, if you’re worried about choosing a red shoe, you can start small – literally with a low heel. Another option is to look for something in a bolder, darker color like oxblood or burgundy, which is less flashy but still remains festive. “Burgundy is one of the most striking colors of the season, and for good reason,” says Gaffey. “The deep shade is super luxe, wearable and versatile. More understated than a fire engine or cherry red, it leans towards a neutral color and pairs beautifully with a variety of hues. From khaki to brown, cream, pastel, gray to even brighter reds, burgundy can be combined with everything.”
Conversely, those who are a little more adventurous when it comes to fashion should consider brighter hues, glitter, and metallic colors. “You could also opt for a pant length that hits your ankle so your entire shoe is visible,” says Fullerton. “The more shoes there are to see, the more joyful I always find it. Ankle-length, slim-fitting cigarette trousers are perfect for this, whether in heels or flats.”
Even when it comes to combining red with other bright colors, you can throw the rules out the window. “Red can definitely be worn with prints or different shades,” says Gaffey. “Pink and red is a sweet, classic combination when you want to make a statement – a cherry red and a bright pink will do the trick, while a blush pink and a burgundy red are more of a subtle option. Red and leopard print are also a contemporary combination, and that goes for any shade of red.”
As for the rest of your look, please don’t pair your sparkly red shoes with a sparkly red bag, says Fullerton. “Something like that would make Anna Wintour pale. It always looks a little smarter when you can choose something that makes a difference but is still in the same story. So, for example, choose a red sequin shoe and a gold sequin clutch or a red satin shoe and a red leather bag. As a comparison, they are more like cousins than twins.”
As for which red shoe to buy and wear right now, there’s a clear contender for shoe of the season. “It’s a flat-toned red Mary Jane that you see everywhere from Le Monde Beryl to Office,” says Fullerton. “They are good for everyday wear and are also cute for the evening. The nice thing is that you can also get them with a low heel, so they’re great for dancing and comfortable to wear all night long.”
