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The question

My son is getting married and the dress I'll be wearing, which is cocktail-length, features two layers of material: a medium-blue charmeuse topped with a mirage of blue, purple and green chiffon. My satin purse is blue. Do the shoes have to match the purse?

The answer

No, shoes don't have to match purses any more. And I think that a blue dress, a blue bag and blue shoes might be overdoing it a bit – you might be mistaken for a swimming pool. I think an ivory shoe would make a nice match, but Toronto fashion designer Sara Duke cautions, "I would double check with the bride about ivory shoes (brides may be wearing white or ivory, too); you might try something unexpected: mint, silver, lavender, light grey." Here's a thing about wearing light-coloured shoes, though: Don't wear dark hose with them. The shoe should always be lighter than the stocking. I don't know why this is, but pale shoes and black nylons always make the nylons look cheap. As this is a summer wedding, however, you're in luck: You don't have to worry about hose, as it's perfectly acceptable to wear bare legs to a wedding, even in a church.

Russell Smith is a novelist. His recent memoir, Blindsided , is available as a Kobo e-book. Have a fashion question? E-mail style@globeandmail.com .

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