November 19, 2009 - 1:00am

How to pick the right shoes for your outfit

Balance it out. Unless you want to be mistaken for Mariah Carey on a bad day, avoid wearing vertigo-inducing stilettos with your mini. The rule of thumb: Combine shorts and miniskirts with flats, and save your heels for less revealing pieces – like a pencil skirt or tweed pants. Let your feet do the talking. Certain designs can make a look all by themselves. Kick your basic jeans-and-tee combo up a notch with a spectacular pair of shoes or boots to give yourself a dose of cool even on those I-don’t-know-what-to-wear days. Master the mix ’n’ match. Don’t kill yourself trying to find something that matches each and every one of your outfits. The trend now is coordinating colours and textures. Winning choices: shoes that pick up on one detail of your ensemble (the trim on a jacket, for instance), or that contrast with your clothes. Blue ankle boots with a raspberry sweater would make for a lively combination. Patent leather and metallic designs are also hot. But avoid patterned shoes with flowery or checked clothing. Got a fab night out coming up? Think satin, rhinestones and sequins – pretty much anything goes!