Nude heels are elegant all year round but are especially great to wear in the summer. Nude heels complement flowy dresses and bright patterns/colors. Throw on a pair of nude heels if you are wearing a patterned dress and want to keep the focus on your dress. Nude heels are also known for elongating legs. Wearing heels makes your calves look longer and more shapely, and nude heels make your legs look like they go on forever.
This spring my long-time, go-to nude heels bit the dust. I miss having a pair of nude heels in my closet because they are the perfect shoe for every summer outfit. Thus began my quest to find the perfect nude heels. When I first started researching nude heels I came across multiple articles raising concerns about a lack of diversity in color options. I was shocked because this issue makes so much sense, yet as a white woman, I had never thought about it before. I recognize that this is a very privileged thing to say. A lack of diversity in the color palette used for nude heels immediately reminded me of when this issue was brought to light in the ballet world. A few years ago the first brown ballet pointe shoes were released, disrupting the ballet industry, and fixing a longtime problem. I remember reading articles about how non-white women had to paint their pointe shoes so that the shoes matched their skin color. When pointe shoes of different shades were first available on the market I remember thinking that it was amazing that nothing had been done sooner. Now I am researching nude heels and discovering the same dilemma was and still is prevalent in the fashion industry. Many brands are addressing the lack of nude shoe color diversity; however, there is still a long way to go until we see different shades of nude heels readily available across the industry. This blog post will cover nude heels created by luxury shoe designers as well as show what is on the market in terms of more affordable heels. I will also highlight some designers that are actively disrupting the industry and revolutionizing the term “nude heels”.
Luxury Heels
The names that pop into my mind when I think of luxury shoes are Christian Louboutin, Manolo Blahnik, Aquazzura, Gianvito Rossi, and Stewart Weitzman. Starting on the left is a Christian Louboutin pump, then on the top left is a Manolo Blahnik, clockwise follows Aquazzura, Stewart Weitzman, and Gianvito Rossi. Out of these five luxury shoe brands, only one (Christian Louboutin) offers nude heels in multiple shades. Many luxury shoe brands only offer the pinkish-toned nude colors featured on the left. This was quite disappointing to discover. This research also made me realize that finding a perfect nude heel that can be worn year-round is a harder feat than I initially suspected. In the winter I prefer wearing pumps that cover the toes; however, in the summer I enjoy an opened-toe shoe. My favorite heel out of the options on the left is the shoe from Aquazzura. Aquazzura has stunning summer shoes in many bold colors which may be why I gravitate towards its shoe the most. In terms of high-end heels, the Aquazzura nude heel is my pick for summer. Overall I was a little disappointed by the options available from these brands.
After feeling discouraged by my initial search, I began to wonder if the perfect nude heel exists and whether one nude heel can be worn year-round. I began wondering if women who own many shoes are on to something I have yet to realize. As someone who prefers minimalism as opposed to maximalism, this is a hard pill to swallow. I decided to push through and continue the search, looking at what affordable shoe companies offer.
Affordable Heels
I began my search at my favorite comfortable shoe website, Clarks. Again, I was disappointed by the color and style selection. None of the shoes caught my eye as something that could be worn to a summer dinner as well as in the winter. Next, I turned to Steve Madden which offers hundreds of shoe styles. After scrolling through many options I was once again left discouraged by the potential choices. In a last-ditch attempt, I turned to Nine West which is another shoe brand known for its endless options. It was at Nine West where I discovered the slingback heel. A typical slingback heel has a closed pointed toe with a skinny strap wrapping around the heel of the foot. This shoe offers the best of both worlds. The closed-toe makes the shoe winter-appropriate while the strap in the back makes it open and airy enough for summer months. Nine West only offers one nude slingback option; however, it got the ball rolling on the idea of the slingback heel.
In conclusion, finding the perfect nude heel that can be worn year-round and in your skin color is a difficult task. When I was researching heels, I found gorgeous colorful heels that seem perfect for summer. Colorful heels are fun, but nude heels are elegant and will never go out of style.
Honorable Mentions
Kahmune, Rebecca Allen, and Jeneba Barrie all specialize in nude heels with multiple color options. These brands are working towards increasing the diversity surrounding the term “nude shoes”. Kahmune and Jeneba Barrie offer leather swatches that you can purchase to make sure you find your exact shoe color before investing in a pair of heels. I especially love Rebecca Allen’s brand because she is a woman in finance who created her own shoe line. Rebecca Allen: “After I couldn’t find the perfect nude shoe for my own skin as a black woman working in finance, I launched my initial collection of five nude shades in a modern, timeless style. Our goal is to help you walk into every situation in life with confidence and make your work easier.”
XO, Alicia
I learned something new about shoes today! The diversity need was an eye opener!
Your comments seem to always have me thinking in new ways. Your ability to see things in a new ‘fashion’ is refreshing.
My skin gets darker in the Summer so I am very interested in the different tones of nude. I love the shoes you showed us.