You’ve got a lovely floral dress but aren’t sure what shoes to wear with it? Are you looking for ideas on bohemian outfits to wear in summer, winter, or during the transitional seasons?
I'm here to help you.
As a fashion enthusiast, I have to admit that I have a soft spot for floral patterns. Both feminine and vibrant, they can brighten up an outfit no matter the season.
Today, I'm going to share some ideas on what shoes to wear with a floral dress, depending on the season and the style you want to achieve.
Because floral prints usually feature a lot of detail, I recommend pairing them with solid-coloured shoes that have no patterns to create a visual balance. For a bohemian look, leather and natural materials such as jute, straw, linen, or cotton are perfect choices. The colour of your shoes should complement your dress: it can be a natural colour (from the material) or a shade that echoes the floral details of your dress. Lastly, your shoes should be suitable for the season: in summer, opt for sandals or heels for a dressy event. In winter, a floral dress pairs well with ankle boots, knee-high boots, or over-the-knee boots in solid colours that complement the colour of your tights.
Want to know more details? Keep reading to find out:
- Summer floral outfit ideas for the beach and holidays
- Shoes to wear with a floral dress in winter
- What materials to pair with a floral print
- Whether you can wear sneakers with floral patterns
- Inspiring suggestions to complete your bohemian wardrobe
Summer Shoes to Match Your Floral Dress 🌞
The ideal time for floral patterned dresses is, of course, the summer season! To kick off this article, I’m sharing some great shoe ideas to pair perfectly with a floral dress.
For a more chic style or an evening outfit 👠
Are you planning to wear a floral dress to a wedding, a party, or a cocktail event? If so, you'll need the right pair of shoes for the occasion. Depending on your style, you might consider:
- Heels, either closed-toe or open-toe, like stilettos,
➡ Stilettos are stylish high-heeled shoes that are perfect for enhancing your silhouette at a festive event.
- Some heeled sandals with a slim strap, perfect for a lovely summer day, in a style reminiscent of Salomé,
➡ The Salomé sandals feature a vertical strap over the top of the foot that connects to a horizontal link that wraps around your ankle, allowing you to adjust the fit of the shoe. These shoes appear lighter than heels but provide the same elongated silhouette!
👉 To give your outfit a bohemian touch, you can wear ankle-strapped sandals. This elegant detail will elongate your legs and create a slimmer silhouette. It's also ideal if you're not a fan of high heels but still want a feminine and stylish look.
What to Wear on Holiday 👡
To stay stylish even when coming back from the beach, there's nothing better than wearing lovely sandals that match a flowing dress. Natural materials pair beautifully with floral prints and this kind of vibe. For example, you might consider:
- wedge sandals with a jute sole,
- woven straw effect mules,
- lightweight sandals with thin leather straps, such as gladiators
➡ Spartan sandals are stylish footwear featuring multiple straps that crisscross over the foot. They remind us of the shoes worn by gladiators in ancient times.
- sandals with straps in cream, brick, or ochre fabric…
👉 Here’s a handy tip to enhance your complexion: the more tanned your feet are, the more vibrant light colours will appear. The opposite is true as well! Feel free to match your dress and shoes with your tan to highlight that holiday vibe!
Shoes to Match Your Everyday Outfit
Are you looking for shoes that you can wear on sunny days, for work, or for everyday outings? If so, you might want to opt for some nice leather sandals, which are quite simple.
⚠️ For an ethnic look, you might choose sandals with patterns, fringes, and so on... but be careful not to overdo your outfit! Floral prints are stunning, but they come with many shapes and colours: simple shoes will elegantly highlight your dress and any jewellery or accessories you may have.
Footwear for Mid-Season with a Bohemian Dress 🌷🍂
Spring and autumn can be tricky seasons for choosing the right outfit and footwear. In fact, it can be quite chilly in the morning when you leave home, but warm up in the afternoon. The ideal shoes for these seasons are therefore generally closed (or semi-closed) footwear, such as:
- ballet flats 🥿, type “babies”, with or without a heel,
➡ Ballerina flats are small, comfortable shoes that can be crafted with or without ventilation.
- sneakers,
- ankle boots,
- cut-out boots,
- Western boots,
➡ While reminiscent of cowboy boots, these shoes are more understated and lower in profile. Their toes are usually rounded.
- derby shoes or richelieu shoes,
➡ These are low-cut dress shoes that fasten with laces. The two types of shoes are very similar and can easily be mistaken for one another.
As bohemian fashion reflects a natural and rustic style, in the following lines, I'll share with you what shoe colours are ideal for spring, and which ones are more suited to the autumn season.
🎨 In any case, to match the colours, ensure that the colour of your chosen shoes is a reflection of the patterns in your floral dress. For a more understated look, you can opt for a colour that is subtle in your dress. On the other hand, for a bolder style, don't hesitate to highlight a colour that suits your complexion and is prominently featured in your dress, shoes, and accessories!
In spring, pair your floral dress with bright and pastel colours
On lovely days, I recommend wearing light and bright shades - of course, matched with your floral dress - such as:
- white,
- lemon yellow,
- pastel pink,
- light leather tones,
- subtle nude colour,
- apple green,
- sky blue,
- water green,
- light orange shades…
In autumn, embrace autumn colours for a seasonal floral look
As the days start to get shorter, you can match your outfit to the autumn tones by wearing natural fabrics and colours that reflect the season, such as:
- brick red,
- burgundy,
- brown leather,
- black,
- mustard yellow,
- ochre,
- shades of khaki green…
Can you wear sneakers with a floral dress? 👟
Although it's relatively new in the context of fashion history, it’s entirely possible to wear sneakers with a dress. In fact, it's quite trendy!
They are perfect for creating a casual and trendy look with a floral dress.
However, to elevate your outfit, I recommend going for low-top sneakers or wedge sneakers. In fact, high-top sneakers might look too bulky, especially when paired with a long dress.
👉 Want to know more about what shoes to wear with a long dress? Check out our comprehensive article dedicated to the topic!
Shoes to Keep You Warm This Winter with a Floral Dress ❄️
To wrap up this article, here are some shoe ideas that go well with a floral dress in winter:
- riding boots 👢,
- thigh-high boots,
- knee-high boots,
- ankle boots…
🧦 🧤 Whether you're wearing tights or stockings, make sure to match them with your shoes and dress. I also recommend opting for solid-coloured shoes—whether they're bright or neutral—this season, which you can coordinate with accessories like gloves, a beanie, or a scarf.
I hope this article has helped you to find the perfect pair of shoes to wear with a floral dress, for any occasion and in any weather. For more information, feel free to check out this video dedicated to the topic of dresses and shoes, where you can find lots of helpful tips:
Are you looking for a floral dress to wear with one of your pairs of shoes? Check out our wide range of floral print dresses on our dedicated bohemian fashion website!