About Dress Shoes

Women's dress shoes are an essential style accessory for the modern wardrobe. Worn for special occasions and formal events, dress shoes are the high-heeled glamorous cousins of the casual athletic and work shoe. As the sparkling accessory to the little black party dress or the elegant ball gown, a dress shoe is not unlike a diamond; it is also the well-dressed girl's best friend.

History

Throughout history, shoes have been an intricate fashion element for costumes and formal occasions. In ancient Egypt, ornate sandals were worn by nobility during special ceremonies. According to FashionEncyclopedia.com the 1940s "New Look Era" of women's fashion created an emphasis on elegant and dressy shoes. With the introduction of the stiletto in 1950, pumps were the leading dress shoe for women worldwide. Power office dressing in the 1980s created a need for dress shoes that suited a professional woman's need to transition from day to evening effortlessly.

Function

Dress shoes are evening or special occasion shoes. In 16th century France, monarchs and women of the aristocracy wore elaborate dress shoes to court. In modern times, dress shoes are worn not only by kings and queens for royal duties, but also by women attending weddings, dinner parties, debutante balls and religious ceremonies. A few dress shoe styles---velvet slippers, leather loafers and Italian driving shoes---are unisex styles worn by both males and females.

Types

Fancy footwear is usually high-heeled, but flats and ballet slippers made of satin, silk and animal skins are also included in the dressy category. Types of dress shoes include pumps, stilettos, slingbacks, mules, ballet flats, platforms and boots. Dress shoes can be made of leather, suede or exotic animal skins. Special occasion shoes range in color from blacks, browns, silver and gold to every color and shade imagined by shoe designers.

Considerations

Dress shoes are a special wardrobe investment item. To prevent buyer's remorse, before purchasing an expensive designer creation, determine if the shoe matches your lifestyle and existing wardrobe items. Shoe knockoffs and shoe replicas are available for shoppers who desire a designer dress shoe, but can only afford a leather substitutes and synthetic soles.

Expert Insight

Prices for dress shoes range from $40 to $850 or more for designer shoes made by legendary shoe gurus: Jimmy Choo, Christian LaCroix, Giuseppe Zanotti and Manolo Blahnik. Stella McCartney and velebrity shoe designer Natalie Portman created animal-free dress shoes for vegans and animal rights activists who refuse to wear animal skins or fur.

Resources

• Wikipedia - Dress Shoe
• How to Buy Women's Dress Shoes
• FashionEncyclopedia- Footwear and Dress Shoes