Get a Leg Up for the Holidays

Ah, the holiday season is in full swing and parties abound. Chances are this means you're uncovering those dresses you've had stored away in the back of your closet or shopping for new ones. While the search for the perfect dress that fits well, is flattering and appropriate can be quite an undertaking, what can be even more nerve-wracking is deciding what shoes to wear and how to handle the issue of hose.

Here are some important points to ponder when making your footwear selection. After all, you don't want to ruin a gorgeous dress with the wrong choice!

1/ While black is the obvious choice and the perennial classic, wearing black shoes are not always the best choice. This is where your personal coloring comes into play. Your haircolor dictates what is necessary color-wise to create balance, so take note. If your hair is quite dark, black shoes will fit the bill. If your hair is medium opt for a medium shade such as gunmetal or a vibrant bright. If your hair is light, opt for nude shoes or a lighter metallic, which can lend an air of holiday sparkle to even your most basic little black dress.

2/ Opt for shoes that won't visually weigh you down in terms of color or chunkiness. Opt for sleek, elegant heels, strappy sandals and feminine wedges. Skip the big, heavy heels and the clunky clodhoppers which will just look out of place and work against you.

3/ If you're wearing open-toe shoes, do NOT wear pantyhose. This look is just awkward and can rarely be pulled off with sophistication and ease. Perhaps Kate and Pippa can do it, but I don't advise others to try it.

4/ Ordinarily I would recommend wearing black hose with black shoes. However, if your coloring is more fair, this will visually weigh you down. If you have to wear black shoes AND pantyhose, opt for nude hose. Preferably, though, you'd do better to skip the hose altogether. Never wear cream or white hose. NEVER.

5/ Elongate your legs and look thinner by wearing shoes in a color close to your skintone. Bonus - they go with everything! Black heels and hose will also do the trick but this can be slightly harder to pull off with light coloring.

If you're of the mindset that hose are a must, by all means find a pair that is the closest match to your personal skintone and you can't go wrong!