Tips for Ordering Dyeable Shoes

The perfect drop-dead bridesmaid dress deserves the perfect accessories to showcase it. Shoes are often one of the most difficult parts of the wedding party attire to coordinate – but the right shoe can be the final touch that makes your bridal party a total standout. One of the best ways to make sure that your shoes are the perfect accent for your bridesmaid’s dresses is to choose dyeable shoes and dye them to match the dresses you have chosen.

If you do decide to choose dyeable shoes for your bridal party – or if your bridesmaids decide on a pair of dyeable shoes to finish off their outfit – there are some tips that can help make sure your wedding party gets shoes that fit, and gets them on time for the wedding.

Choose shoes that are dyeable

Not all white shoes can be successfully dyed. In fact, there are only a handful of manufacturers that make shoes that can absorb dyes evenly and successfully. While most shoe retailers carry one or two dyeable styles, you may find a far wider variety of dyeable shoe styles if you shop for your shoes through a bridal shop.

Match the fabric to the dress if possible

There is more to matching your shoe to your dress than just the color. The fabric texture can also make a big difference in how closely your shoes match your dress. If you are wearing a dress that has a satiny sheen to it, or has a satin hem detail, then try to choose satin-textured fabric for your shoes. If the dress has a matte finish, like tulle or silk, then choose a shoe in peau de soie or matte finish satin. The dyed shoes will then have the same sheen as the dress, and reflect light in the same way.

Choose a color that matches your dress closely

There are literally millions of different shades of colors, so dyeing shoes to exactly match your dress can be a tricky process. One way to make it easier for your bridesmaids to get shoes that exactly match the color of their dresses is to order them from a company that works with a specified color palette. For instance, dresses, shoes, purses and other accessories (all in a specific color palette) may be available from the same company. If you order a satin strapless dress in Mermaid – a lovely teal blue – from them, then you can be sure that the strappy, high-heeled Kelly shoes that you order can be dyed exactly to match if you ask for them to be dyed Mermaid.

Order shoes early enough to have them dyed in time

Make sure that you have your shoes at least three to four weeks before the wedding date so that you’ll have time to have them dyed. Depending on the season of the year, it may take as much as three weeks to get your shoes back from the dyer. Spring – with prom season and wedding season – is the busiest time of year, so be sure to allow extra time if you are having shoes dyed for a spring or early summer wedding. May and June may be the busiest time of year for shoe dyers, thanks to proms, dance recitals and weddings.

Be kind to your bridesmaids, too. Remember that they should have a week or two between getting their shoes and the wedding so that they can try them on and break them in a bit so they will be comfortable on your wedding day.

Try shoes on in store, order online

While you may find a larger variety of dyeable shoes at a bridal store than at most shoe retailers, many bridal stores only keep a few dozen pairs of their most popular shoes in stock in the store. If possible, try shoes on in the exact style you plan to order. If the store does not have that style in stock, try on a shoe made by the same manufacturer in a similar style to get the closest approximation of the fit. Before ordering from the store, however, go online and see if you can find the style through an online retailer or bridal shop. You can often get a better deal that way.

Bring a fabric swatch with you to the shoe dyer

When you take your shoes to be dyed, be sure to bring a swatch of fabric from your dress so that the dyer has a sample to match. Most bridal shops will supply a swatch specifically for this purpose.

Dyeable shoes can add the perfect finishing touch for your wedding day or prom day attire. Choosing just the right shoes and getting them in just the right color is easy if you follow these few tips.