As Beauty and Fashion Editor of The Wedding Edition, I’ve spent years thinking about what women wear to the most important moments of their lives. Now, newly engaged, I’m approaching it from the other side. While the dress is a work in progress, my wedding shoes have already started to take shape.
The perfect pair of wedding shoes strikes a balance between comfort, style and sentiment. Comfort comes first – I’ve always been a fan of the kitten heel – and sentiment a close second: my mother had the date of her wedding stitched in blue on the inside of hers and I intend to do the same. Style is where your authentic sense of self takes over, and where an edit from a trusted brand like Harvey Nichols can help with curation.
I want a wedding shoe that earns its keep long after the day itself. A wedding, it turns out, is not one occasion but several: the engagement dinner, civil ceremony, the rehearsal dinner, the hen weekend, the summer party. Each asks something different. Harvey Nichols’ Wedding Shoe Edit is built around that idea: not a single bridal moment, but a full suite of looks.
The Appointment
An appointment at Harvey Nichols is less a shopping trip than a dedicated experience. You have at your disposal a private suite (away from the bustle of the main floor) and the on-hand expertise of a personal shopper whose attention is entirely yours. With a drink in hand, you and your guests can take your time: try things on, walk around, change your mind.
My advice: start browsing three to six months out, even before you’ve found the dress – ideas gathered early are never wasted. Once you have your dress, ideally, confirm the shoes a couple of weeks before the first fitting, so your tailor can get the hem exactly right.
Think carefully about the ground underfoot. Grass, sand and cobblestones make very different demands from a smooth indoor floor – a block heel or lower kitten heel might be the smarter call. And wear them in properly beforehand; walk on similar surfaces at home, and consider a backup pair if you’re not used to a higher heel.
The Edit
Harvey Nichols’ Wedding Shoe Edit spans the entire range of what a full wedding week might ask for: Aquazzura and Paris Texas at the barely-there end; Manolo Blahnik for classic satin pumps; Gianvito Rossi for considered feminine touches in lace, ribbon, a floral tie; Malone Souliers for wearable block heels (and longevity on the dance floor). The collection caters to a range of tastes and wedding settings, think civil celebrations in the city, hen weekends, destination weddings, and everything in between.
The Barely There Heel
Aquazzura’s fine-strapped So Nude kitten heels and Paris Texas’s knife-point Lidia sandals reign here. Best for a minimal, 90s-inspired bride interested in precision and clean lines.
Aquazzura So Nude Kitten Heels
The Classic Pump
For a timeless bridal look, nothing quite rivals Manolo Blahnik’s pointed-toe silk-satin Hangisi, its iconic jewelled clasp making it the undisputed king of this category.
The Modern Mule
For a rehearsal dinner, hen weekend or day-after dressing, look to Malone Souliers’ floral-mesh Maureen mules, with the brand’s signature double straps, or Gianvito Rossi’s pointed slip-on Rania sandals, with statement crystal embellishment for after-hours glamour.
The Case For Lace
From Manolo Blahnik’s 105 pointed-toe classic lace pump to Gianvito Rossi’s Evie sandal – handmade with tie-up lace embroidery and leather accents – or Malone Souliers’ wearable Norah block heel, lace remains the most romantic classic bridal choice.
Malone Souliers Norah Block Heel
The Statement Platform
Architectural platforms, such as Malone Souliers’ 125mm platform peep-toe Keaton sandal, are for the brides who want to maximise height and drama – and can be worn with a suit as readily as a dress.
The Almost-Flats
Manolo Blahnik’s woven block-heeled Martebal pump satisfies both the aesthetic and comfort brief, with shoes that keep you on the dance floor. But for a true flat, ideal for a destination wedding, look to Gianvito Rossi for their coral-inspired handmade Nappa sandal.
The Sleek Slingback
Streamlined and city-ready, the slingback is one of the most versatile shoes in the bridal wardrobe. It works as seamlessly at a town hall ceremony as it does at a candlelit reception – and Paris Texas’s patent Lidia sandal makes the contemporary case.
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