10 Types of Shoes To Wear With Short Dresses for a Chic Look
A couple of short dresses are necessary for every vacation/summer wardrobe. But what shoes do you match with them? Here are the 10 best shoes to wear with short dresses.
Short dresses are a super versatile garment for every body type. They are great for keeping cool during the summer months, while they can be layered for the bitter cold winter months. Short, mini dresses often don’t get the credit that they are due and are unfairly dubbed as not being sophisticated – but that just isn’t true.
As with all things, there is a time and a place for everything – and what says ‘summer’ more than a short dress? Even if you feel as though your personal style doesn’t fit this type of dress, it can be adjusted and paired with different shoes to reflect a casual look or a more formal look.
It is important, however, to understand [as a rule of thumb] that some shoe styles just aren’t appropriate for every occasion. For example, heels are always a good option because they elongate your legs and can even make you stand with better posture – and even if high heels aren’t your thing, high-heeled ankle boots or wedges can give you the same look.
Whereas for a more casual look, sneakers or loafers can ground the outfit and make your dress suitable for everyday wear.
If you’re still completely perplexed as to what to wear with a short dress, we’ve put together a comprehensive style guide, including a variety of styles, with outfit tips to help you along the way.
Shoes to Wear With Short Dresses
1. Flat Sandals
Flowy mini-dresses are popular in the summer. Its perfect match is a pair of sandals. It’s a smart idea to wear flats during the summer to ensure your feet don’t overheat, as this can cause painful blisters.
The flat sole is also a good idea if you’re likely to be walking, or going to the beach. For the beach, opt for flats in an easy-to-clean material, and keep the rest of your outfit breezy with a straw bag and tortoise shell sunglasses.
Or, for a day out, a mini bag and cute strappy sandals look feminine and chic.
FLAT SANDALS WE LOVE
Veronica Beard
Maci Flat Ankle-Strap Sandals
At Neiman Marcus
Valentino Garavani
Rockstud Slide Sandals
At Nordstrom
2. Ballet Flats
One of the most practical shoe styles to wear with a short dress is ballet flats [or any flat shoes in general]. These shoes are great for the office and any daily activities that you might find yourself doing, including traveling and sightseeing.
Ballet flats have seen a resurgence in the last year owing to the ballet-core micro-trend taking over TikTok and other social platforms. If you want to fully commit to the trend, keeping your outfit as ballerina-like as possible will serve you well, think pink and frilly.
Otherwise, you can juxtapose the structure of a ballet flat with an easy, flowy type of dress. Ballet flats are still likely to remain a trending style for some time, so look out for plenty of cute styles arriving in the new season!
BALLET FLATS WE LOVE
Valentino Garavani
Rockstud Ankle Strap Ballet Flats
At Nordstrom
Roger Vivier
Metallic Mary Jane Ballerina Flats
At Neiman Marcus
3. Sneakers
White sneakers are a great way to dress down a short dress for a casual day look. Sneakers are now available in just about every style and color you can imagine, with some being more formal and some being sporty.
If you like a classic look, nothing beats a classic white sneaker.
If you have legs for days you can even opt for a pair of high-top sneakers, however, this isn’t recommendable for out petite readers as these are likely to cut your leg off in an awkward place, making your legs appear shorter.
SNEAKERS WE LOVE
Golden Goose
Mid-Star Glitter Wing-Tip Sneakers
At Neiman Marcus
Isabel Marant
Bryce Sneakers
At Revolve
4. Knee High Boots
Knee boots are a good choice for dressing up short dresses for special occasions. They can be dressed up or down for fall and winter looks, while also being appropriate for the transitional seasons; so they’re a great choice when it comes to shoes to wear with mini-dresses.
If you’re going for a relaxed vibe, go for tall boots with a low heel. Otherwise, a higher heel is perfect for a summer night out on the town.
Knee-high boots are a statement piece in itself, so these are great if you have a basic dress to style, while keeping your other accessories minimal.
KNEE HIGH BOOTS WE LOVE
TORAL
Tall Leather Boots
At Revolve
Paris Texas
Embossed Leather Stiletto Knee Boots
At Neiman Marcus
5. Stiletto Heels
If you’re looking for a party look, strappy heels are always a good option when it comes to shoes to wear with a short formal dress. They add height and make your legs appear longer, which is perfect for showing off a cocktail dress.
Heels come in all shapes and sizes, so you can find the perfect pair to match your dress, whether you go for stiletto pumps or sky-high heels. If you’re going for a formal look, choose a pair of heels with thin straps.
A good idea here is to coordinate your accessories by choosing a statement bag or statement shoes. Because the dress is likely to have embroidery or embellishments of its own, too many statement pieces can create a messy look.
HIGH-HEELED SHOES WE LOVE
Rene Caovilla
Cleo Snake Strass Stiletto Sandals
At Neiman Marcus
Alexandre Birman
Eve Snake Embossed Slide Sandals
At Nordstrom
6. Wedges
Wedges are the best summer shoes, they are lightweight and exude that ultra-chic Riviera vibe; making them the perfect pair of shoes to wear during the warmer months.
Summer means wearing shorter dresses to beat the heat, and what better way to wear a short, flirty, flowy dress with an espadrille? Espadrilles come in a few styles, from a flat style to a wedge pump [known as wedges to you and me].
These are great if you have a garden party this summer as heels are a no-go when it comes to grass. Keep the rest of your outfit easy and clean. Go for metal-toned jewelry and a cute mini bag or raffia bag to match the rope detail of the wedges.
Wedges WE LOVE
ALAÏA
Grommet-Embellished Espadrilles
At Neiman Marcus
Valentino Garavani
Rockstud Espadrille Wedge Sandals
At Nordstrom
7. Ankle Boots
Ankle boots are a good choice paired with dresses with short hemlines!
Boots juxtapose the daintiness of a short dress. Booties like these are the perfect shoes to wear for festival and concert season, as they are closed-toe and mean your feet stay safe and secure.
Ankle boots come in many styles, from funky flat cowboy boots to elegant heeled Chelsea boots, so depending on the occasion – you’ll find something for you.
ANKLE BOOTS WE LOVE
Cult Gaia
Livi Leather Wedge-Heel Booties
At Neiman Marcus
Chloé
Nellie Western Sock Booties
At Nordstrom
8. Slingbacks
Slingback shoes are a stylish way to keep your look comfortable and on-trend. Regardless of heel height, this is a super chic look for any city-hopping fashionista. This shoe style is great if you want an elegant option for work, but aren’t ready to commit to a full stiletto-heeled shoe.
Slingback SHOES WE LOVE
Prada
Patent Logo Slingback Pumps
At Neiman Marcus
Gucci
Tom GG Crystal Embellished Slingback Pump
At Nordstrom
9. Loafers
Speaking of work-appropriate, nothing beats the ultimate preppy shoe; the loafer.
Again this is a great option for office wear or for a more casual look during the day when the day borders on being a night-out dress.
A cute idea could be to pair white ankle socks with black loafers and a black mini dress for an ‘out there’ fashion moment.
LOAFERS WE LOVE
Zimmermann
Backless Boat Loafers
At Revolve
Sebago
Dan Metallic Penny Loafers
At Neiman Marcus
10. Platforms
Platforms are an underrated shoe style. These were once a style only worn by club-goes and the like; however, now, platforms come in all styles and sizes. Platform sneakers, platform wedges, or platform heels.
Platforms are essentially when an average [or expected] sized sole is swapped for a chunky heel or sole.
If you are petite in height, a platform is a great style as it elongates the leg – giving modelesque legs to show off in your short dress, as well as giving you some extra height.
PLATFORM ShoeS WE LOVE
Stuart Weitzman
Miami Sohigh Ombre Platforms
At Neiman Marcus
Christian Louboutin
Amali Alta Ankle Strap Sandals
At Nordstrom
So, did you find your next pair of shoes in this article? We hope you did! Tell us all about it in the comments section. If you’re still looking for more fashion finds and inspiration, check the posts down below.
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