Inspiration Board: Maryse - All About Those Shoes, 2.0

So..this fierce-shoe-makes-the-outfit thing: it doesn't have to be all about black. It can, as demo'd by Maryse, be a much lighter proposition. The blonde beauty blended (alliteration pointsssss! ;)) almond and taupe-gray for a cool-meets warm effect. If you have several coordinating neutrals that walk that line of cool milky-brown and warmed cloud, you may want to experiment with that complexity. I've envisioned this look done with all warm tones: beige, caramel and tan. Ivory would be stellar here as well. Dusty gold could even work. Now that we've got the colors sorted out, let's get on to elements. Denim shorts t if you do with the latter, do do with a strapless bra or bandeau underneath. Showing lingerie straps is hot, but it will also make this look more casual and less classy, and those are both crucial concerns when utilizing shorts, which are generally super informal anyway. To elevate this look, it takes a shoe that really has presence. This high lace-up gladiator of Maryse's is spot on: it's bold, daring and trendy. If you have a lace-up that goes this high (or even to mid-calf)  in a flat shoe, you can def do that here! Anything lower will mostly likely need some kind of a heel to be dramatic enough to give this outfit some panache (unless you own some strappy, fringed, beaded confection that a goddess accidentally dropped to earth. If you do, by all means, go with that ;)). If gladiators aren't your glass of wine, a mega-strappy sandal will do nicely. Peeptoe booties would be another fabulous choice. Even an ankle boot will work, but you're looking for something a bit formal and not minimal. "Statement bootie" is the key term. (PS if you have one of those, but only in black, go ahead and use it; just swap your top to a medium to light gray to keep the softness of the look.) Other shoe options are a lace-up wedge sandal or pretty much anything laser-cut, multi-studded (don't be seduced by crystals; they're a bit too formal for this look (omg did I really just say that?)) or tasseled. As with Dana's look, choose fierce over delicate, romantic or classic. Grab a bag of a hue that's in between that of your top and shoes, add a bold pair of earrings - in gold if your ensemble is warm, or silver if it's cool -,  throw on a pair of sunnies and go slay your day! Happy styling!