dressing from the shoes up
This article in the New York Times–about how retail staff at some high-end stores have gone from haughty to helpful thanks to the recession–was interesting in itself, but I draw your attention to these two sentences:
A former employee of the Yves Saint Laurent shop on Madison Avenue once confided that it is a common and effective practice to size up a customer by looking at two simple things: his watch and his shoes. If the accessories are not expensive, he is not worth the effort of even a simple hello.
Not that you should care what some snooty clerk thinks, but this highlights the fact that shoes are an important part of an outfit. A lot of people cheap out on shoes, for the simple reason that footwear is expensive. A shoe, when you think about it, is a complicated piece of clothing that has to withstand a lot of abuse. No wonder good ones go for hundreds of dollars.
Even if you aren’t buying Manolo Blahniks and Christian Louboutins, it’s fun to let your shoes take the lead once in a while. This is called “dressing from the shoe up.” That doesn’t mean you have to wear all black. Just start with the shoes and pull clothes that play with their texture, color, and style.
For example, a pair of flat, strappy sandals calls for the sexy, louche Mediterranean look. Think a sexy, beachy, Saint Tropez vibe–a silky halter dress or a simple white cotton tunic and stretchy skirt. Vintagey ankle boots could inspire a 30s look–short, fitted jacket, straight skirt, close-fitting hat. Edgy pumps require an all-out effort–I could see these with one of Phillip Lim’s boundary-pushing designs.
Take a look at your shoes and your clothes and don’t just think about what will “go” together–think about making an impact, telling a story. Stretch your imagination!
