How Dyeable Shoes Can Help You Create The Perfect Look

Fashion trends are a funny thing. Designers like to claim credit for them, but the truth is that it often takes a celebrity to bring them to the public's attention. Such was the case with the traditional white wedding. When Queen Victoria wore a white gown in her 1840 marriage to Prince Albert, she started one of the most enduring fashion trends. Before that time, royal brides rarely wore all-white dresses. Red and silver were particularly popular, as was yellow, brown and gray. But when the world's most powerful woman wore a stunning white gown, the trend quickly caught on with the elite. Because of their storybook romance, white wedding dresses were also invested with symbolic meaning. White became the color of purity and sexual innocence. But it was not until after World War Two that the trend became popular with middle-class Western brides. More than any other tradition, the white wedding is responsible for the growth of the bridal industry in the United States. With an average cost of around 20 thousand dollars, couples spend over 40 billion dollars on weddings each year. Just as Queen Victoria did, most modern brides-to-be spend a considerable amount of time searching for the perfect dress. While white is not the only permissible color, it remains the most popular. Shades of White When engaged women go shopping for a dress at their local bridal boutique or salon, they are often amazed by just how many shades of white there actually are. No, white is not white. Most experts recognize five major shades of the color. They include the classic bright white, ivory, candle light, ecru, and champagne. There are scores of distinct shades of white, either darker or lighter, for each of the five major shades. All told, there are hundreds of shades of white a bride can wear on her wedding day. But even when she finds a flattering shade, she still has to match with her accessories. Dresses may come in hundreds of shades, but shoes do not. Finding a pair of shoes that matches the bridal gown exactly can be challenging. Some settle for a close match that does not standout. But more meticulous brides-to-be buy dyeable footwear. Dyeable Shoes When you're spending twenty thousand dollars on a single day, it makes sense that everything should be perfect, or as close to perfect as possible. Dyeable shoes are a simple and affordable solution for mismatched wedding ensembles. Dyeable footwear is made from a special type of fabric, often white satin that is designed to accept dye. These dyes can be matched to just about any shade of white. The dye will not alter the look or the feel of the fabric. As you might expect, there is a charge for this special service. It is important to note that not all shoes are dyeable. Simply ask the salesperson at the wedding salon or boutique which pairs can be dyed. Most stores have a wide selection of these shoes.Because they are quite common, dyeable shoes are only slightly more expensive than other pairs. Most stores will only dye shoes that are bought from them. The service is often quite affordable. Dye jobs start at around ten dollar per pair. But what is more important than the price is the time it takes to do the job. Depending on the store, it often takes around two weeks to have bridal shoes custom dyed. Remember to bring a fabric swatch of your dress if you are buying the shoes at a different store. Because dyeable shoes typically match certain dress lines or collections, many smaller bridal salons and boutiques do not offer dyeing services. Dyeable Shoe Care When stores send shoes out to be dyed, they sometimes neglect to mention that the dyes these professionals use are water soluble. That means that they must be kept away from moisture at all costs. If a pair of dyed shoes comes into contact with water, either from wet grass or an unexpected shower, there is a very good chance the colors will run. Therefore, if you are planning an outdoor ceremony, it is probably best to avoid dyeable shoes. Returns When a pair of shoes is dyed, they are typically considered a personal item, which means that they cannot be returned. If you are historically a bit fickle when it comes to shoes and you sometimes change your mind, dyeable footwear may not be for you. Bad dye jobs are also not unheard of. If the color does not match exactly, you may have to pay to have them dyed again. Dyeable shoes are an easy and affordable way to match the many shades of white.