How to Style Colorful Shoes

Colorful shoes add a pop of color to any outfit, but they’re also more challenging to style than neutral-colored shoes that go with everything. However, when styled correctly, you can overcome this challenge and wear brightly colored footwear that enhances your outfit. 

With the right styling, you can wear colorful shoes to make a bold fashion statement that shows off your unique personality and stand out from the crowd. Having colorful flats, sandals, or sneakers may not seem practical, but if you know how to style them, they can be a staple you wear to own your look.

If you’re wondering how to style colorful shoes, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll go over reasons to wear colorful shoes, styling tips, and the best occasions for showing off your vibrant footwear. 

Why should your outfit include a pair of colorful shoes?

Many people tend to gravitate toward neutral colors, like black, gray, white, brown, and beige, because they’re versatile and go with everything. 

This versatility allows individuals to create capsule wardrobes so they can easily mix and match the garments and accessories in their closets to create new outfits from the same pieces. Don’t get us wrong; capsule wardrobes have several benefits, such as saving money, decreasing the stress of outfit planning, and sustainability. Plus, a capsule wardrobe is perfect for busy mornings when you need to get out of the house as quickly as possible. 

Despite all the advantages of owning a capsule wardrobe, adding a few pairs of colorful shoes can shake things up from time to time and complement your personality. If you’re hesitant about incorporating bright footwear into your closet, here are some benefits to consider:

• Stand out from the crowd
• Make any outfit more exciting
• Have more fun while getting dressed
• Show off your unique personality
• Keep your closet fresh
• Make your outfit memorable and ensure a lasting impression

Whether it’s summer or winter, a pair of colorful shoes are just what you need to make a statement. Remember that pop-of-color shoes can be tricky to style since not every color combination will look good, so it’s important to know what hues work the best for your personal sense of fashion. After all, you don't want to let your shoes collect dust in the back of your closet after spending money on them. 

Certain color combinations work exceptionally well, but others don't. Often the key to wearing colorful shoes is knowing which shades match. So, before diving into our styling tips in the next section, here are a few popular combinations you can wear:

• Navy and orange 
• Green and yellow 
• Red and fuchsia 
• Purple and orange
• Pink and blue 
• Gray and yellow 
• Red and green

You can also create your own combos by understanding how color theory works. Ultimately, color theory is a collection of principles used for mixing colors to create aesthetically pleasing or harmonious combinations. 

So, if you want to see what tones work with your shoes, simply look at the shade on the opposite side of the color wheel. For example, if you’re wearing The Flat in Bright Red, a complementary hue would be green since it’s directly across from red on the color wheel. 

Tips for styling colorful shoes

Styling colorful shoes may seem overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. If you’re ready to step out of your comfort zone, take a look at the following tips to learn how to style colorful shoes. 

Matching colors

As mentioned, selecting matching colors is essential if you want to build an outfit that looks amazing. Ideally, you want to wear tones that are similar but still complement the overall outfit. This may look like wearing fuchsia-colored shoes with different shades of pink that match. 

Prints and patterns

Go bold and pair your colorful shoes with a nice dress that has a print or pants featuring a trendy pattern. Oftentimes, garments that have a print or pattern are easier to style because they contain more than one color. So, if you’re unsure of what to wear with your footwear, look for a print or pattern that has the same color or a similar shade in it. This will not only create an outfit that matches but will accentuate the color you are matching to in the pattern.

Wear denim

Combining denim with bright shoes is often the most straightforward way to enrich an outfit. Not only is it easy to do, but the shoes will add a nice touch of color that isn’t too distracting. For example, you may wear denim overalls with a pair of colorful sneakers to make a casually fun outfit. 

If you’re wearing jeans as your choice of denim, we recommend styling them with a simple top rather than an intricate blouse with a lot of embellishments. 

Start with neutrals

If you’re not ready to be the center of attention just yet, but you still want to elevate your outfit, wearing colorful footwear with neutral-colored clothing is a great way to do that. For instance, you can pair a black dress with your choice of bright flats or strappy sandals. Or, you can wear a white blouse and white pants with Deep Ocean pointed flats.

Monochromatic outfit

A monochromatic outfit is an outfit that only uses one color, allowing you to wear your favorite color or a complementary hue from head to toe. For example, you can pair a pink blazer, blouse, and bottoms with The Point in Dragon Fruit, Desert Rose, or Blush, depending on whether you’re going for a vibrant or pastel aesthetic. These types of outfits are popular, chic, and easy to pull off once you know what color you want to slip on. 

Colorful accessories

If you’re not afraid to accessorize, complete your look with accessories that are the same color as your footwear. You can also opt for a different tone that's complementary if you prefer. Accessories, including jewelry, sunglasses, scarves, and women’s handbags, can be a great addition to your closet. Don’t worry if you’re not into wearing accessories; you can substitute them with makeup, like lipstick or eyeshadow. 

What occasions should you wear colorful shoes for?

Now that you know how to style colorful sneakers and other types of footwear, you may wonder what occasions you can wear your shoes. The great thing about adding colorful footwear to your wardrobe is that they’re suitable for any occasion. Since they’re appropriate for casual and formal affairs, you can easily keep your outfit simple or elevate it by wearing shoes with color.

Let’s take a look at a few examples below to help you get an idea of where you can wear your shoes. 

Going out with friends 

Whether you’re going to brunch with your friends or hitting the town at night, you can never go wrong with a pair of colorful shoes. Ultimately, the type of shoes you wear depends on where you and your friends are going, but adding a pop of color can definitely help you stand out. 

In the workplace

Workplace outfits can be somewhat bland, but they don’t have to be. With a pair of colorful shoes for work, you can look professional and stylish at the same time. At Rothy’s, we carry a diverse assortment of shoes that are great for casual office and corporate looks. This includes women’s flats, loafers, sneakers, and boots. 

On a date 

If you’re going on a first date with someone, you want to make a positive and memorable impression. By wearing colorful shoes, you can elevate your date night look and help create a lasting impression. From casual movie nights to elegant dinners, vibrant footwear is perfect for any type of date since it can be found in styles that complement the date type.

At a music festival or concert

What better way to show off your colorful shoes than at a music festival or concert? People often wear outfits that reflect their personality at music events, so don’t be afraid to let your truest self shine and wear the brightest women’s sneakers you own. 

Find colorful and bright shoes at Rothy’s

If you’ve ever considered a bright pair of shoes, don’t hesitate to buy them! Colorful shoes can take your outfit to the next level, allowing you to stand out from the crowd. While styling shoes with a vibrant hue can be challenging, doing so can add character to any boring outfit. 

Whether you’re looking for colorful flats, women’s loafers, or other types of footwear, Rothy’s has a wide selection of shoes in various colors to choose from. We also carry an array of shoes with unique patterns. You're sure to look stylish and feel comfortable regardless of which color you choose for your next pair of Rothy’s.