Last updated on October 27th, 2022 at 12:11 pm
There are different schools of thought when it comes to ensuring your shoes and bag match. You might have heard that matching your accessories is an outdated look, but the truth is, a well-matched shoe and bag combo is a classic style that oozes class. That said, it’s important to play by the rules when matching your look to ensure all the elements go well together.
Should my shoes and bag match?
It’s a good idea to make sure your shoes and bag go together. However, this depends on your style, the season and the occasion. By following a few rules and style guidelines, you can ensure your shoe and bag combination looks like it came straight from the catwalk.
How to make sure your shoes and bag match
Here are a few things to bear in mind when making sure your shoes and bags go together.
Dos
1.Match primary colours and patterns
Grey Double Zip Cross Body Handbag
If you’re matching your accessories with your shoes, putting the same colours together can work. For example, if you’re sporting a pair of grey heels, pair them with a grey bag. You can extend this to patterns too, but try to stick with matching the base colours or most prominent pigment.
2.Make sure the materials match
Matching your materials is just as important as sticking to the same colours. If you’re wearing leather ankle boots – one of our seven must-have shoes for women – opt for a leather bag. Likewise with other textures and materials.
3.Match understated with overstated
A statement piece can really hold an outfit together. Draw the eye and centre your look with a headline-grabbing bag or stylish shoes. The trick is ensuring they don’t clash – too many statements can make an outfit appear messy and uncoordinated. If you’ve gone with an overstated bag, pair it with understated shoes and vice versa.
4.Colour-code your outfit with neutral tones
You can make sure your shoes and bag go together by sticking to a one-colour palette for your entire look. Different shades of the same colour work – especially if you go for a lighter look with your shoes and accessories, and this contrasts with the rest of your ensemble.
Don’ts
If you want to avoid a fashion faux pas, here are a few things you should steer clear of when aiming for a shoes and bag match.
1.Use the same shade throughout
Lilly & Jane Leather Side Bag
Don’t use the exact same shade of your chosen colour throughout your outfit, otherwise it may end up looking like your dress, bag and shoes are all cut from the same cloth. You can still match different shades of the same tone, or even muted colours such as black and white. Your shoes should always be a few shades lighter or darker than your dress.
2.Match materials to your outfit
Though matching leather bags and shoes can work, avoid going for the same material as the rest of your outfit. Combine different materials and fabrics to bring texture to your look.
3.Avoid different patterns
Make sure your shoes and bag match by partnering a block colour with a pattern, but avoid sporting two examples of the same pattern style. If you’ve gone for floral slip-ons, stick with a primary-coloured bag in a single shade – steer clear of the double trouble of two lots of floral.
4.Never mix seasons
Just as you wouldn’t wear a winter overcoat with a pair of summer shorts, the rules around seasonal wear apply to shoes and accessories too. Winter gear should never meet summer and vice versa. Stick with summer bags and warm weather shoes and keep the heavier stuff for the colder months.
5.Don’t forget the occasion
As with outfits, certain shoes and accessories could appear an odd choice if worn at the wrong event – even if they match perfectly. You’re not going to turn up for a date in your workout clothes, so neither should your sports bag.
Follow these dos and don’ts and make sure your shoes and bags help you steal the spotlight. For more top fashion tips and advice, find more style guides on the blog.
