What Shoes To Wear With Red Dress (for Every Occasion)

There’s something about a red dress that always makes a statement. It’s bold, feminine, and instantly eye-catching. The kind of piece that doesn’t need much to stand out. But knowing what shoes to wear with a red dress can feel tricky. The wrong shoe color can easily compete with red, while the right one enhances it beautifully.

Whether you’re dressing up for the holidays, attending a wedding, or planning a chic daytime look, choosing the right pair of shoes can completely change the mood of your outfit. Below, I’m sharing my favorite shoe colors and styles to wear with a red dress, from timeless neutrals to modern metallics, plus easy outfit ideas you can recreate for any occasion.

If you love posts like this, be sure to check out my boots to wear with dresses guide  that’s full of ideas that transition perfectly into fall and winter.

What Shoes to Wear With Red Dress

Red is already a bold color, so your shoes should complement it rather than compete with it. The best pair depends on the shade of red, the fabric of your dress, and where you’re headed. Let’s look at a few classic options that always work.

Gold Shoes

Gold and red are a timeless combination, and a little bit glamorous. It’s perfect for formal events or evening weddings where you want a touch of shine without going overboard. Opt for soft champagne gold heels if you want a subtle look, or a deeper gold like these block heels, if your dress has warm undertones. Metallic gold sandals or heels instantly dress up even a simple red dress.

Shop My Favorite Gold Shoes for a Red Dress:

• My go-to gold strappy heels– Understated and elegant. I reach for mine all the time! Use TARA15 for 15% off.
• Embellished gold heels– Stunning for formal events and weddings!
• Minimal Kitten heel– Beautiful for day or night.
• Chic gold flats– These dressy flats prove that not every occasion needs a heel.

 

Silver Shoes

Silver shoes add a festive touch to a red dress. It’s perfect for holidays, evening events, or even brunch when styled simply. The cool tone balances the warmth of red, creating a modern, elevated look. For dressy occasions, go for silver strappy heels or classic metallic pumps; for daytime, silver flats keep things chic and comfortable.

Shop my favorite silver shoes (take 15% off each of these styles with TARA15):

• Strappy silver heels– The subtle crystals make these the only special occasion shoes you need.
• Classic closed toe pump – The woven gunmetal feels more neutral than shiny.
• Block heel pump– Minimal, elegant, and versatile.
• Slingbacks– Classic meets modern in a chic woven texture.
• Silver Flats– Polished comfort you’ll wear often.

Nude Shoes with Red Dress

Everyone’s shade of nude is different, but guess what? They all go beautifully with red. In fact, nude shoes are my favorite pairing with red, especially when the dress has a print. Since red is such a bold color, shoes that blend with your skin tone keep the focus on the dress while elongating the leg.

Choose a nude tone that matches your skin tone for the most seamless look. This pair of classic nude pumps is an almost perfect match to my skin tone, and while these toffee heels are a bit darker on me, they are truly elegant when paired with a red dress, no matter your skin color. Take 15% off both with TARA15.

 

Espadrilles

Espadrilles are the quintessential summer shoe. They instantly make me think of warm afternoons in the south of France. Espadrilles like these strike that perfect balance between classic and casual, with the mix of canvas and jute. I especially love them with a red dress since the relaxed texture tones down the boldness of red, creating an effortless look that feels more wearable. I also love this open-toe espadrille for showing off freshly polished toe nails.

Red Shoes with Red Dress

A monochrome red-on-red look feels so elevated. Wearing a red dress with red shoes takes the guess work out of how to match colors with red. But to keep it from feeling too matchy, I recommend breaking up the red with a metallic or neutral clutch. It just makes the outfit more interesting.

My favorite red suede heels are just the right height (2.8 inches) and have a plush insole with arch support (take 15% off with TARA15). If you prefer flats, these red velvet flats are stunning, as are these satin flats for the holiday season.

 

White Shoes with a Red Dress

You can wear white shoes with a red dress. But here’s the thing, I would keep it strappy or sandal style to avoid the harsh contrast of colors. The combination of red with white feels very nautical and summer inspired. White shoes also look great with a red dress if there is white somewhere in the print, like if you’re wearing a floral or striped dress. These low block heels are minimal, simple, and so chic for daytime. For little more lift, try these mid block heels that are so comfortable (I have them in several colors)!

 

Pink Shoes

A complimentary color combination, I especially love for Valentines day. Choose soft pink shoes for a more elegant look against the bold red. This color combination has me thinking back to an earlier blog post I did back in 2019 where we went bold with “Sex in the City” vibes. You can read the Galentine’s day post here (my style has definitely evolved over the years!).

For a soft pink shoe to pair with red, try these low heel sandals or these gorgeous pink velvet flats.

 

Animal Print

What I love about pairing animal print shoes with a red dress is how playful yet elegant it feels. A bold color and a fun print can actually look surprisingly sophisticated together. Animal print really acts as a neutral, making it the perfect way to elevate an otherwise simple outfit.

These animal print shoes make an elegant statement when worn with a red dress:

• Cute kitten heels– Just the right amount of playful and elegant.
• Leopard Slingbacks– Modern but timeless. Love these styled with jeans too!
• Chic flats– A shoe option for everyday, not just with a dress.

 

Can I Wear Black Shoes with a Red Dress?

You can absolutely wear black shoes with a red dress, the key is making it look intentional. Make sure you have black somewhere else in your outfit. It can be a black clutch, a black wrap, or onyx jewelry like these earrings. This will keep the black looking styled, and not just thrown on. Open-toe or strappy styles also help soften the contrast.

Try these chic black styles:

• Strappy heels– A classic heel style that goes with everything from dresses to jeans!
• Elegant Block Heels– The multi-strap design subtly breaks up the black.
• 90’s inspired heels– These are buttery soft and effortlessly modern. I have them in black, gold, and tan.

If you’re still unsure about what shoes to wear with a red dress, start with neutrals (nude, beige, or metallic). They work with every shade of red and every occasion, from casual brunches to evening weddings.

 

How to Style a Red Dress

Here are a few outfit ideas to make styling a red dress effortless.

Red Dress Outfit for Holiday Parties

A red dress with silver heels and a faux-fur jacket is always timeless. Add a metallic clutch and minimal jewelry for a look that’s festive but elegant.

The shoes featured above are made from a woven gunmetal fabric. It adds incredible dimension, and leans more neutral than shiny metallic shoes. I love the closed toe option for winter. They are even great styled with simple jeans and a sweater! Take 15% off with TARA15.

Red Dress for Wedding Guest

There’s few things more timeless than red and gold. For weddings or dinners, pair a red dress with gold strappy heels and a gold bag. It’s simple, classic, and feels instantly elevated. Finish it off with simple but elegant gold jewelry (take 20% off the jewelry I listed below with TARATMV).

Red Dress with Animal Print

For a casual chic date night look, pair a red dress with animal-print heels, a red bag, and a classic denim jacket. It’s the perfect mix of casual and chic. The denim keeps it easy, while the heels add a fun, feminine touch. It’s one of those outfits that feels relaxed but still put-together.

Daytime Chic

For a chic daytime look, try a red midi dress with neutral flats and a raffia bag. The softer tones balance out the bold color, creating a look that feels refined but relaxed. This outfit is perfect for brunch, showers, or any daytime event. It’s classy and so comfortable.

Casual Daytime Look

If you prefer something a little more tailored, try pairing your red dress with classic loafers. A soft cream or tan pair keeps the outfit feeling light, while brown suede adds texture. It’s an unexpected but timeless pairing that works beautifully for city days, lunch dates, or a casual office setting.

Red Dress for Summer Events

If your red dress has a floral print, espadrilles are the perfect finishing touch. The woven texture softens the boldness of red while adding that effortless, feminine charm. Finish with a straw clutch or raffia tote to complete the look. It’s easy, timeless, and feels very French-inspired. For more French style inspiration, you may love my post on approachable Paris street style.

Monochrome Red Look (Wedding Guest)

Pairing a red dress with red heels creates a really feminine monochrome look. Keep your bag and coat (if wearing one) neutral to soften the boldness of the red. This pairing works beautifully for evening dinners, date nights, or any occasion where you want an elegant look without overthinking your shoes. My suede shoes are gorgeous and are 15% off with TARA15.

Final Tips for Choosing What Shoes to Wear with a Red Dress

Choosing what shoes to wear with a red dress doesn’t have to be complicated. Nude and metallics are the most versatile options for any occasion. If you want to make a bolder statement, animal print or red-on-red shoes feel confident and sophisticated.

The key is matching your shoes to the occasion and coordinating your accessories. Gold jewelry always adds warmth to red, while pearls or minimal gold hoops keep things soft and timeless.

And if you’re still wondering what shoes to wear with a red dress, start with neutrals like nude, beige, or gold. They work beautifully with every shade of red.

Ready to complete your red dress outfit? Shop my favorite shoes below, these are the styles I reach for most often, from holiday parties to summer weddings. And don’t forget to use TARA15 for 15% off select styles.

Shop My Red Dress Shoe Essentials:

For more inspiration, check out my post on chic ways to style black to master another timeless statement color!