How to Coordinate Shoes with Your Outfit: 3 Stylish & Effortless Tips That Look Chic, Not Overdone

(Hint: This is about strategy, not matching.)

You want to look Polished. Strategic. Effortless.
But when it comes to adding color to your wardrobe, you’re stuck somewhere between “I don’t want to stand out too much” and “I want people to feel my presence.”

So you reach for the neutrals. Again.
And that outfit you spent time curating?
It feels… safe.

Not strong.

Here’s the truth: when done right, color isn’t loud—it’s leadership.
And one of the simplest ways to elevate your entire look without buying a new closet?
Letting your shoes and outfit speak to each other.

These are three easy (and powerful) ways to start.

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1. Printed Top + Colorful Shoe

You already own that printed blouse that lights you up—but you always wear it with black pants and flats.

Why? Because it’s safe.

Instead, pull a color from the print and wear a coordinating shoe.

This instantly turns a passive outfit into a power move.
You’ll look like you planned it—not panic shopped it.

Micro-shift challenge: Look at your printed tops.

Which shoe in your closet pulls color from one? Try the pairing this week.

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2. Colorful Topper + Anchoring Shoe

A blazer, cardigan, or structured jacket in a statement color adds presence instantly.
Now—tie that look together with a matching or tonal shoe.

This bookends your outfit—top and bottom—with polish.
Even if the rest is a simple white tee and trousers, this pairing says:
I know what I’m doing.

Quick tip: Stick to one focal color. Keep accessories minimal and let the color do the work.

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3. Statement Shoes + Echoed Top

Have a bold, printed or multi-color shoe you never wear because “nothing matches”?
Flip the script.
Pick one color in the shoe and echo it in your top.

Suddenly, the whole look feels thoughtful—not random.
And that shoe becomes your new signature.

This is how color stops being “extra” and starts feeling like edge.

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FREE Style Masterclass for Mid-Size & Plus-Size Women in Leadership

These aren’t outfit hacks.
They’re strategic shifts that reflect how you want to be seen.

When you stop defaulting to safe basics and start pairing color with intention?
You build a presence that feels aligned—and unforgettable.

👉 Want to go deeper? Catch the Dress for Impact Masterclass to see exactly how to elevate your wardrobe with presence, polish, and strategy.

🚨 IMPORTANT: You MUST register using the link to receive the replay. Don’t miss this opportunity to transform how you show up—without changing your body.

Hello!

I’m Melanie — a personal stylist and confidence coach for high-achieving women who want to stand out through style.

Here, I share style tips, personal branding advice, and outfit strategies to help you get noticed and lead with confidence.

Let me know if there's any way I can help you!

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5 OUTFIT MISTAKES KEEPING YOU FEELING FRUMPY & FRUSTRATED

Discover Outfits On Autopilot

Discover Outfits On Autopilot

How to Find Your Style When Times are Different

We are all in some sort of style rut simply because things are different.  You might have your go-to outfits for the office or when presenting in front of a group of people, but that’s not the case anymore. What’s happening for us and the world right now makes your typical outfit feel different. Your clothing needs to serve a different purpose at this moment and you need it to support you in other ways.

It’s important to still feel confident in your clothes, now more than ever. So how do you get some pep back into  your style step?

Take a look at what’s working in your closet

There are definitely a few items that you own that are in constant rotation to go out, run errands, or go to work. Maybe you’re not allowing yourself to wear them because you’re only at home. Well pull them out and let’s evaluate them!

1.      You have something, right? There is something style-wise that you have going on. You can always wear and trust those go-to items, although you probably say “I don’t have clothes that support me to feel confident in my wardrobe.”

2.     What is working about that those constant items? Is it their comfort level?  That you’re able to wash them and not take them to the cleaners? Are you gravitating towards certain colors right now? 

 Take a look at what’s not working in your closet

1.     What are you not wearing at the moment and why?  Are you not wearing it because it’s not right for this moment (you’re not wearing sheath dresses to your dining room office), or do you actually not like those pieces (if they don’t make you feel good, I give you permission to get rid of them).

2.     What do you not have enough of?  Are you wearing the same two bright-colored tops over and over again, because you are no longer wearing dresses? 

Maybe your wardrobe just needs some revamping to adjust to challenging times…

How to shop for clothing that you actually need and will wear

You should always take a look at your current closet prior to going shopping to get a true understanding of what is working and what isn’t working, so you are not shopping blindly. This will insure that your purchases will have an impact on your wardrobe as opposed to randomly buying the same thing that hasn’t worked in the past.  This will put an end to the clothes that are hanging in your closet with the tags still on them. 

Make a list of the items that you actually need

Let’s say you need a few tops to wear on zoom, a casual summer dress, and a pair of sandals that can be worn to a BBQ (you don’t want to get those heels stuck in the grass!). Write that down!

Figure out how much you are willing to spend before going shopping 

Before you start shopping, decide how much money you are willing to spend on each piece. So, “x” amount for each top, “x” amount for the dress, and “x” amount for the sandals.  

This is the key! As women, when we think of going shopping, we put ourselves in this mindset that we are going to spend too much money., so we start limiting ourselves and holding ourselves back from purchasing something that we truly love! 

Shopping for clothes doesn’t have to be expensive

Shopping can be expensive if you buy a bunch of stuff that you don’t want or need, but If you are investing wisely, it’s never wasteful. 

When you think about shopping this way it will never feel expensive.  

Shopping mindset

It is also important to see what you are willing to spend a little more on and what you’re not willing to splurge for. The items you are willing to spend more on should be the items that will have the most impact on your wardrobe, promise that’s the case! 

It’s so important to think about money when buying something. You can place a value on what each piece will do for you and your wardrobe. So, if you don’t like something that comes in the mail, simply return it instead of holding on to it just because “it’s okay.”  Giving our clothing value gives us more control when we’re buying things, but more importantly it keeps us engaged with our style and makes it purposeful. 

Spending wisely and purposefully makes our style not only look good, but feel good!

Need help shopping online reasonably? 

If this sounds like a great idea and theory but you haven’t been able to do this work on your own, YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!  This is not easy stuff to accomplish by yourself, especially when you have tons of other things going on. I’ve opened a few spots on my calendar next week for you to get on the phone to discuss how you can stop letting your clothing be a sticking point for you.  Click here to get on my calendar. 

Welcome!

I'm Melanie! A personal stylist and confidence coach for high achieving women. 

Here on the blog, I write about style tips, personal branding, outfit creation, and how to use your wardrobe to get noticed. 
Let me know if there's any way I can help you!

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Curious about how a personal stylist can help you? Let's Chat about it. 

On our call we will discuss what's holding you back from being excited about getting dressed and showing up as the leader you were born to be.  We'll discuss your personal challenges and talk about easy solutions.

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