Ask the Shoe Fairy

Dear Shoe Fairy,
Help!  I've just been invited to a January wedding, and I have no idea what shoes to wear!  The wedding is at the Thatched Cottage on Long Island, and I'm planning to wear this dress:

However, I've only ever worn it in the summer, with strappy heels.  Do you have any recommendations for close-toed shoes that would match?

Here are my specifications: 

I'm a size 10, and my feet are kind of wide - depending on the style, lots of shoes squish my toes, but wide shoes are sometimes slightly too wide. Heels or flats worlds be fine, but I'll probably fall over if they're backless or taller than 1.5 - 2 inches!  Also, I'd like to spend around $50 ($75 at most), since I'm a poor starving grad student.

Thanks!
Kristin

Dear Kristin,

Ah, a winter wedding!  There are so many types of shoes that you can wear with a black dress: it truly is the blank canvas of the fashion world.  A black shoe has the most rewearability potential, but I’d be careful to make it a fun black shoe lest all the black look too funereal!  Something like this, maybe:

A little subtle sparkle!  Love it.  The Barbie Glitter Pump by Mix No. 6 has a 2.5-inch heel—a little over your requested height, but still very sensible, I promise.  It also comes in gold if you don’t like the black; find them at DSW for $40.

Want to be a little festive, but not sold on the glitter?  How about these:

The Change by Christin Michaels is a shiny patent leather number that comes in (get this) ten different colors!  I love the stone pearlized metallic (shown here), but the burgundy or pewter metallic would be beautiful also.  It has a 2.75-inch heel and is on sale for $35 from Zappos.

A satin shoe would also be festive but still rewearable:

The Angel Pump by Jellypop has a 2.5-inch heel (and in a cute little kitten heel shape!), layers of satin, and a bow.  I love the idea of a red shoe with your black dress, but it also comes in black, charcoal, brown, and champagne.  Find them at DSW for $40.

Whichever shoes you pick, have a fabulous time and dance the night away!

~The Shoe Fairy

Update from Kristin:

I really like the burgundy patent heels, but they're sold out in size 10 - and so is every similar shoe from both Zappos and DSW!  However, yesterday I was walking around Manhattan with my boyfriend, and we happened to pass by a DSW.  I dragged him inside ("I promise I'll be quick - I'm only trying on shoes that were pre-approved by the Shoe Fairy!"). 

They were sold out of both the gold Mix No. 6 and red Jellypop, but I was able to try on both styles in black.  Mix No. 6 was cute, but squished my toes.  When I put on the Jellypop, I was immediately struck by how comfortable they are - and that in addition to looking great with my dress, in black they would also be really cute for work.  They also earned an immediate "I like those better" from my boyfriend.  Sold!

Thank you, Shoe Fairy!

You’re welcome!  There’s nothing I love better than bringing together people and shoes.