Nothing helps to add more sophistication to an outfit than finishing it off by matching your shoes with your bag. A classic look that always wins, this trend originated in the late 1950s and has been a real focus for some of the most affluent fashion houses throughout 2023.
But looking forward to 2024, is this trend still relevant and are there certain rules to follow when it comes to curating the perfect shoes and bag combination?
In this blog, we’re giving you our top styling tips for pairing your shoes and handbags. From busting the myths behind whether you should pair your shoes with your bag to how to modernise this trend for your casual and formal outfits, you’ll be stepping out in style whatever the occasion!
Table of contents:
Should you match your shoes and handbag?
What colours go well together for a bag and shoes?
How to match your bag and shoes
Do shoes and bags have to match for a wedding?
Should you match your shoes and handbag?
Whilst a matching handbag and shoes can help pull an outfit together, no set fashion rules suggest this should always be the case. The role of the handbag has continued to change throughout history and the trend of pairing shoes and handbags is certainly becoming more popular .
Read on to discover how the trend first emerged and how it has developed.
Handbags throughout history
The role of the handbag has changed throughout history. Originally used by women and men for practical reasons, it wasn’t until the 16th and 17th centuries that small handbags became status symbols for women, who carried spices and herbs to cover up the smell of their body odour.
But it wasn’t until the post-war era of the 1950s that handbags became a highly sought-after fashion accessory. After years of rationing and austerity, women were ready for a change, which meant that sales of clothes and accessories began to increase rapidly at the start of the decade.
Matching shoes and handbags: A trend
After the initial rush of the post-war era, handbag sales began to decline, leaving manufacturers looking for ways to give them a boost. Advertisers came up with the idea of matching shoes and handbags, and soon fashion magazines, billboards, and newspaper adverts were all profiling women adorned with fully matching outfits and accessories.
The trend exploded and women in Europe and the USA soon started to match their accessories to their outfits.
To capitalise on this demand, department stores began to position their handbags next to their shoes on the ground floor so that it would be the first thing women would see when they entered. The trend for this layout lasted for years, solidifying the demand for matching accessories.
Whilst today, there are no set rules as to whether it’s necessary to match shoes and handbags, the practice of doing so, although a manufactured trend, has continued to be relevant throughout the last seventy years.
Although the trend has recently become more relaxed, throughout 2023, some top luxury fashion houses, including Dior and Bottega Venetta, kick-started it again by introducing handbags and accessories that could easily be matched.
There’s no doubt that matching shoes and accessories is a trend that is easy to replicate and one that fashion lovers continue to return to, particularly for more formal occasions and events.
What colours go well together for a bag and shoes?
As a general rule of thumb, if the shade of your shoes and bag are perfectly matched, then any colour can work in a matching shoe and bag combination.
Pairing your shoes with your handbag becomes more difficult when working with patterns or a partial colour match. Here are some colour rules to follow to ensure that your pairing is a huge success:
Matching with a black dress
If you’re heading out on a dinner date or to a black-tie event where a black dress is essential, a black bag with matching shoes can add a tasteful finish to your outfit. Choose a bag with embellishments to add some sparkle to your look (these details can also come in handy for festive events, such as your work’s Christmas party or a New Year’s Eve ball).
Another great way to add some tasteful coordination is to pair your dress with matching shoes but add a different colour handbag to break up the look. For best results, choose an on-trend colour for the current season or one that matches your accessories if you’re wearing statement jewellery.
Be daring with red
Like you would pair black shoes with a black bag at a formal event, red can have the same striking impact. A red dress with red shoes and a red bag can leave a lasting statement; just make sure your reds are all the same shade.
If you want to break up the shade, light blush pink shoes and a matching bag can also complement red for a contrasting look.
Pairing brown and black
If you prefer your bag and shoes not to match, mixing brown and black can be great, but you must ensure you do it right. The best way to make this look work is to choose shoes or a bag in a dark brown hue.
Knee-high boots in a dark brown shade and an oversized handbag are a successful way to pull off this look.
A partial colour match
If your shoes and bag have a mixture of colours, a partial colour match can work as perfectly as a full-colour match. For example, if your shoes are green with pink details, you could match these to a pink bag for a chic look. Just be sure to pair the same shades.
If you have floral shoes, this is a great example of where this can work. If your shoes have a range of colour shades, pick a prominent shade and pair your bag with that.
Colour-blocking for success
A colour-blocked bag or shoes can provide many options if you want to try out the trend of matching shoes and bags.
If you have a bag that’s colour-blocked in red, white and blue, choose one of those colours for your shoes. The beauty of colour-blocking is that it gives you different colours to pair with your shoes for multiple dressing options.
How to match your bag and shoes
Aside from colour, other factors are worth considering regarding matching your shoes with your bag. Follow these fail-safe tips to curate several looks with your current shoe and handbag collection (and take some inspiration before investing in new matching shoe and handbag styles).
Brighten up earthy tones
If you love neutral dressing, then a matching shoe and handbag in a bold colour can help make your outfit pop. Take this as an opportunity to go bold with your accessories to balance an otherwise neutral outfit.
Make bold, elaborate outfits look pulled together
For fans of a bold striking outfit, matching shoes and handbags can neaten up the look, tie everything together and draw attention to the accessories. Choose a colour from your outfit to pair with your bag and shoes and make sure the shades of your accessories are a perfect match.
Don’t mix and match the seasons
While matching your handbag with shoes is a great go-to for several occasions, avoiding mixing seasons is important. For example, summer sandals with a heavy winter tote coat can confuse an outfit, just as winter boots and a basket bag can create the same effect.
Take care with patterns
If your bag and shoes have two differing patterns, make sure the base colour is the same to balance your look. Avoid mixing patterns with clashing colour palettes, as this will break your outfit’s consistency.
Coordinated shoes and bags can help to draw the eye towards your accessories, making them the centre of attention, so use this method to show off yours!
Take care when matching casual and formal looks
Whatever the occasion, whether casual or formal, your bag and shoes should match the tone of your look. For example, a sporty athleisure outfit requires a relaxed style handbag such as a small rucksack or a crossbody half-moon bag.
Always choose a handbag that matches the occasion you’re dressing for to pull your look together.
Do shoes and bags have to match for a wedding?
Formal events are when a perfectly matched pair of shoes and a handbag can work best, and weddings certainly fall under this category.
At a formal event, matching bags and handbags can tie a look together and make it more sophisticated. However, there isn’t a rule to say this has to be done. You can still achieve an effortlessly put-together look by following our tips, such as partially matching, colour-blocking and playing it safe with patterns.
Shop matching shoes and bags at Lotus
Take the stress out of finding the perfect matching shoes and bag combination by shopping from our selection at Lotus. Find all the essentials you need before your next special event, from classic black and navy shoes and bags to bold colour pops of pink and green. Or, if you already have your handbag picked out, why not browse our women’s courts for the perfect coordinating pair?
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5 Ways To Style Knee-High Boots This Winter
