Nude Shoes

The number one way to make your legs look longer is to trick the eye into seeing your foot as being a continuation of its length.  Conversely, a bold colour difference between leg and footwear leads to a shortening effect.  In summer, when bare legs are much more the order of the day, then, it makes sense to banish winter black and opt for skintone shades as the go-to neutral.  Obviously skin colour is a varied palette - I apologise that the shoes I've selected for this post are caucasian in hue - clearly summer shoes are available to suit all shades of skin from ivory to ebony - but buying shoes in brown tones is somehow less of a departure, less radical - it's beiges and peaches that I think often go ignored on the shoeshop shelves, and so I'm featuring them here.

My first selection are these peep-toe, ankle strap wedges from Apepazza at Yoox. (£69)  What's great about these shoes, other than that gentle, wearable wedge heel, is the way they marry smart, durable leather with a summery espadrille sole.  Normally an ankle strap is a no-no for elongating the look of your legs, but because this one is skin-toned, from a distance, it won't be obvious.  Lovely, too is the peep-toe styling.  Perfect for a glimpse of polished toenail, and because it allows a certain degree of vertical movement for the toes, it's actually more comfortable too.
 

Does it have to be plain beige? Yes and no.  Lots of beige shoes have a darker strap, heel, sole, or even toe section - and while these might be stylish in their own way, they won't have the effect of elongating the leg because they create a horizontal line on the foot.  The shoes above, however (Vic Mattie at Yoox - £98), use colour as an accent - a splash that enlivens but doesn't break up the flattering monochromatic line. Another open toe, too - these shoes are unashamedly dressy and quite grown up. Imagine them with an iris coloured dress for a special occasion.  Love the sexy curve of that heel, too.

Can beige be young and sexy? Absolutely.  Look at these fabulously eighties-vixen stilettos from Love Label at Very.  They're a steal at £32, and beautifully detailed with tiny gold studs and a chunky concealed platform to make that heel more wearable.  These are enough of a statement to hold their own against a sexy short skirt, but are the right tone to flatter this season's fashionably pale pins.  (No really, tans are 'out' - you can thank the vampires all over our screens).

 

Lastly, not really leg-lengtheners, but something more casual-glam? These jewel-encrusted sandals from Boden are steep at £59 if you think of them as flip-flops, but would be perfect and flattering for a more bohemian look at a summer wedding, or if you're lucky enough to be going somewhere luxurious this year - comfortable too, having no toe-post.  The colours here are key: that metallic strap and footbed is subtle, but the warm peachy crystals add glamour without contrasting with your skin - call it 'sophisticated glitz'.

Oh - and if you're Friday Frocking tomorrow, don't forget to let the swelegencia know - and let the compliments flow.