The shoe show

This year the fashion talk is all about color, and it is coming inloud and clear through the season's bold shoes. Electric hues, bold graphics, pop art and architectural shapes are all big trends saturating the shoe market. You'll definitely want at least one pair of these new style-makers.
"The explosion of color and styles is like no other century before us," says Michelle Scobie of ShoeMall.com, an online retailer. "And women seem more ready than ever for their footwear to take center stage."

But while these new expressive shoes can make us drool at the cash register, when it comes to accessorizing an outfit with them, we can walk right into trouble. Just what do you wear with those peep-toe pumps painted in a pop art print?

Celebrity fashion stylist, Gina LaMorte of TheStyleDoctor.com, has some advice on how to wear spring's dramatic new footwear:

- Shoes with color make their best pop when paired with this season's neutrals like beige, taupe and gray.

- Minimalism rules. A clean silhouette lends itself best to this season's bold brights.

- A solid-colored shoe grounds bold print dresses and skirts.

- White denim is the pant of choice to complement the more saturated neon shoe shades.

- As an accent to the season's feminine, layered chiffons and floaty dresses, bold footwear styles balance out the look.

- Color-blocked shoes that combine two or more distinct colors are best when worn monochromatically and not too "matchy-matchy."

- Choose a top in a color that's pulled out from one of the shades of your shoes and pair with a neutral bottom.

- Feel free to mix fun retro-inspired patterns. Keep one color consistent to hold the look together.

- Play off the artistic feel of shoes with your other accessories, maintaining a whimsical, playful mood.

- Update any suit instantly with bold colored or printed patterned shoes.

- Wear strong silhouettes like gladiator sandals with African, Indian or Eastern tribal looks.

- A biker jacket and femininely, soft peasant blouse with skinny jeans looks very updated paired with gladiator sandals.

- Architectural-inspired heels with a handcrafted look, featuring natural materials and colors like rich caramel leathers and woods, work well with earthy florals or the new lighter denims.

- Metallics are ideal for any special evening; the perfect way to give your gown the vintage goddess look of Elizabeth Taylor, like a peep-toe pump in silver. Now that's the way to twinkle your toes.

Sharon Mosley is a former fashion editor of the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock and executive director of the Fashion Editors and Reporters Association.

© Copley News Service

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