Color blocking seems to be a trend with some staying power, but for many of us it’s a hard trend to wear. Perhaps it’s worth trying in smaller doses, as with shoes and other accessories.
I’d pair the brighter options below with lighter neutrals, white jeans, or even with colored jeans of a complementary color. Or they’d be great to balance out a bright print dress or pick up colors in a floral top. (I’ve focused mostly on flats here, as so many of you have commented that you can no longer wear heels.)
Quel fun! What a lively, colorful collection! I suspect most would complement denim/navy blue/black/beige clothing quite nicely. Love the JCrew’s and Leombruni’s. Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)
Some of the lighter flats or sandals with a summer outfit would be fun, they wouldn’t overwhelm but compliment an outfit. However, that first pair the – Anyi Lu “Athena” – so clunky and ugly! I just threw away several pair similar to that from the 70’s that my 80+ year old mother had gathering dust in her closet.
I like the J Crew and Angliolini ones – I’d wear those in the height of summer to brighten up a colourful outfit even further. I’ve been finding that when i wear a lot of colour I feel like wearing a colourful shoe rather than something black or nuetral.
I am on a continual hunt for flats that are not cut as low as most ballet flats. For a full day of wear such a “no support” shoe is not comfortable. Also a low cut shoe tends to make my foot look wide. I want something more choked, with more coverage.
Paul Mayer Attitudes has lovely ballet flats . THey come toe capped Chanel style as well as plain ballet style.They are cut higher and even offer a discrete rubber sole to make them comfortable for walking. You can find them in a range of colors and color combos.
I’m not a fan of color blocking. I do have a pair of Chanel ballet flats, beige with a black toe cap, that I’ve had for years and years. Although I guess technically “color-blocked” I consider them a total neutral. I do like spectators though – are those considered color blocked?
The women I know over here ( including myself ), don´t wear colorful shoes/ or color blocking – excluding those who have Chanel ballerinas, or younger women , who have original / similar to Chanels. Maybe it has to do with the differences of colors in the nature.
I really like several of these and wish I had the money to order…one or two or three. I think colorful shoes are fun and in Texas we love them. They can really pop a great look!
Contrasting neutrals I can see, but the colorblock selections here make me tired just looking at them. Too much work trying to fit them into an outfit.
I love the fresh colours you’ve shown and I rather enjoy colour blocking. I walk a lot, especially in the good weather and unfortunately, ballet flats don’t seem to give me enough support as well as feeling hot on my feet. City sidewalks and streets are not the cleanest and I strongly prefer not to expose my toes to that dirt, so I try to find closed-toe sandals. This has proven to be a challenge as open-toe seems to rule the sandal world right now. Would love to know if you have any ideas to share.
I always wear colourful shoes here in OZ even in the winter I will be clad in a red pair of flats with a suitable outfit. Or a lovely coloured bag to brighten up my attire. We don’t get really severe winters so some colour is acceptable. I get so tired of dull colours in the winter.
I’m not a fan of the strict interpretation of color-blocking, but honestly I think it’s mostly used as a buzzy-sounding catchall for wearing solid brights in combination, which I do like. I have a pair of vivid coral Bloch ballerinas with a black cap toe that I like quite a lot with jeans, but I find them a little loud with dresses. I’m not at my best in flats, and although I love them on other people, colorblocked flats make me look like my feet are two vividly hallucinating hams.
I’d suggest wearing them with neutrals or denim. Colour on bottom half plus colourblocked shoes reminds me of kids’ outfits. And I’d admire them on someone else, because with a size 10 foot, they’d look like clown shoes. A low-key two-tone like a spectator is about the limit, for me.
I don’t really care for color blocking; I’m a big fan of neutrals….but the last pair of shoes; they have me swooning. I ADORE them. I would wear them in the spring with all kinds of skirts and dresses and in the fall as well. Gorgeous.
I love those first color block sandals–perfect for the spring, I think. It’s easy to envision them with black, green or brown pieces. But I could easily see mixing in orange and navy–solids, prints, polka dots. In other words, lots of choices. What fun!
I just left a post about being frugal about 15 seconds ago on your newest post, and now I find myself “needing” those Enzo sandals. I do love me a colourful sandal. Hows that for falling off the wagon…..15 seconds!
Quel fun! What a lively, colorful collection! I suspect most would complement denim/navy blue/black/beige clothing quite nicely. Love the JCrew’s and Leombruni’s. Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)
Some of the lighter flats or sandals with a summer outfit would be fun, they wouldn’t overwhelm but compliment an outfit. However, that first pair the – Anyi Lu “Athena” – so clunky and ugly! I just threw away several pair similar to that from the 70’s that my 80+ year old mother had gathering dust in her closet.
I love hoe fresh those colour combinations are. I must get out of my rut and buy a fun pair for spring!
The JCrews look like my kind of ballet flat.
I like the J Crew and Angliolini ones – I’d wear those in the height of summer to brighten up a colourful outfit even further. I’ve been finding that when i wear a lot of colour I feel like wearing a colourful shoe rather than something black or nuetral.
Currently I’m still loving the Fluevog loafers you and I both own, although they’re contrasting neutrals so not strictly colour blocked. . .
I am on a continual hunt for flats that are not cut as low as most ballet flats. For a full day of wear such a “no support” shoe is not comfortable. Also a low cut shoe tends to make my foot look wide. I want something more choked, with more coverage.
Anyone have any suggestions>
Paul Mayer Attitudes has lovely ballet flats . THey come toe capped Chanel style as well as plain ballet style.They are cut higher and even offer a discrete rubber sole to make them comfortable for walking. You can find them in a range of colors and color combos.
I’m not a fan of color blocking. I do have a pair of Chanel ballet flats, beige with a black toe cap, that I’ve had for years and years. Although I guess technically “color-blocked” I consider them a total neutral. I do like spectators though – are those considered color blocked?
I really like the first pair of shoes- Anyi Lu “Athena”. Other than that, I usually don’t like color blocking on shoes.
I especially love the J Crew flats because they are quite dainty so they allow you to be on trend without overwhelming any outfit.
The women I know over here ( including myself ), don´t wear colorful shoes/ or color blocking – excluding those who have Chanel ballerinas, or younger women , who have original / similar to Chanels.
Maybe it has to do with the differences of colors in the nature.
I do love this idea, and look for colorful, fun shoes in the warmer months. Love the JCrews and (sigh) Lanvins.
I really like several of these and wish I had the money to order…one or two or three. I think colorful shoes are fun and in Texas we love them. They can really pop a great look!
This is so funny because my biggest obsession for 2013 is color-blocked shoes. I want a pair of color-blocked, menswear inspired pumps so badly.
Contrasting neutrals I can see, but the colorblock selections here make me tired just looking at them. Too much work trying to fit them into an outfit.
I love the fresh colours you’ve shown and I rather enjoy colour blocking. I walk a lot, especially in the good weather and unfortunately, ballet flats don’t seem to give me enough support as well as feeling hot on my feet. City sidewalks and streets are not the cleanest and I strongly prefer not to expose my toes to that dirt, so I try to find closed-toe sandals. This has proven to be a challenge as open-toe seems to rule the sandal world right now. Would love to know if you have any ideas to share.
BTW Love your blog!
I always wear colourful shoes here in OZ even in the winter I will be clad in a red pair of flats with a suitable outfit. Or a lovely coloured bag to brighten up my attire. We don’t get really severe winters so some colour is acceptable. I get so tired of dull colours in the winter.
I’m not a fan of the strict interpretation of color-blocking, but honestly I think it’s mostly used as a buzzy-sounding catchall for wearing solid brights in combination, which I do like. I have a pair of vivid coral Bloch ballerinas with a black cap toe that I like quite a lot with jeans, but I find them a little loud with dresses. I’m not at my best in flats, and although I love them on other people, colorblocked flats make me look like my feet are two vividly hallucinating hams.
I’d suggest wearing them with neutrals or denim. Colour on bottom half plus colourblocked shoes reminds me of kids’ outfits. And I’d admire them on someone else, because with a size 10 foot, they’d look like clown shoes. A low-key two-tone like a spectator is about the limit, for me.
The ballet flat style definitely… and they look great with jeans or neutrals as you suggest… the others, not so much… Happy weekend Susan… xv
The colorful flats are making me think that spring is near. Fun and interesting!
I like the final pair: the tri-colored oxfords. They’d look snappy with a summer linen pant and a simple pastel silk blouse.
I don’t really care for color blocking; I’m a big fan of neutrals….but the last pair of shoes; they have me swooning. I ADORE them. I would wear them in the spring with all kinds of skirts and dresses and in the fall as well. Gorgeous.
Love, love the red shoes, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Happy Sunday, dear friend.
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I’d wear the J Crew and the Lanvin with jeans. I wear everything with jeans!
I love those first color block sandals–perfect for the spring, I think. It’s easy to envision them with black, green or brown pieces. But I could easily see mixing in orange and navy–solids, prints, polka dots. In other words, lots of choices. What fun!
For a Pisces, a shoe post is heaven. If I had to choose one, it would be the ballet flat, but they’re all gorgeous.
I just left a post about being frugal about 15 seconds ago on your newest post, and now I find myself “needing” those Enzo sandals. I do love me a colourful sandal. Hows that for falling off the wagon…..15 seconds!