Author: Rachel Clinkard from shoe retailer Charles Clinkard
When it comes to a first date, your initial impressions are important, and shoes are a great way to find out a lot about someone. To help you pick out the perfect shoes, Rachel Clinkard from shoe retailer Charles Clinkard has given us her top tips for choosing the right footwear for a first date.
Shoes can say a lot about your personality, so you want to give a lot of thought to your choice of footwear for a first date. To help make that decision a little easier, I’ll be giving you my top tips for choosing the right shoes for the occasion.
Choose a style for the occasion
When picking out your shoes, you should consider what you’ll be doing on the date. You want to be comfortable, but you don’t want to be underdressed either. For men, it’s always best to stick to smart footwear, like leather Oxfords, brogues, loafers or some nice boots, as these will show you’ve made an effort and are more likely to impress. Try to stay away from trainers if you can, as these can be too casual for a date.
For women, you’re even more spoiled for choice when it comes to shoes. For a formal event like a sit-down dinner, heels are perfect for dressing up your look and can give you a bit of extra height that can boost your confidence. If you want to wear heels but worry about being uncomfortable when walking, opt for a block heel or wedges, which will provide more support and comfort than a stiletto. For more casual dates, like the cinema, consider a flat shoe like a ballet pump in the summer, or a pair of long flat boots in the winter. Again, try to stay away from trainers, if you can.
Consider the rest of your outfit
You should also consider the rest of your outfit when picking out your footwear. For men, if you’re wearing light colours, a brown leather shoe can look great. Alternatively, if you’re wearing black, try to stick to a pair of black shoes, if you can. If you’re accessorising with a belt, match the colour and material to your shoes to tie the whole outfit together.
For women, heels and ballet pumps can look great with any outfit, from jeans and trousers to dresses and skirts. If you’re wearing long trousers, the only think I would avoid are ankle boots, which can cause your trousers to bunch up at the bottom and can look unflattering.
Of course, the colour of your shoes should match your clothing, but if you’ve opted for an outfit with a lot of neutral tones, black or white, a pair of statement shoes in a contrasting colour can really help to get your personality across.
Don’t forget those finishing touches
No pair of shoes can look their best without being cleaned and polished beforehand. You can clean leather shoes with a specialty shoe polish or cream. For suede, brush off any dried mud from the surface with a suede cleaning brush. Ladies, if you’ve opted for open toed heels or sandals, don’t forget that lovely pedicure!
When it comes to first dates, you really want to impress, but by following these easy tips, you can make sure that your shoe choice is perfect. The most important thing to remember is to wear something you feel great in, because if you feel good, your confidence and personality will shine.
