Prom, Prom Party, Prom Parties, After Prom Party

Prom Prep

Best Shoe Forward

Your prom night is the most important formal date you've had in your life to this point. One major piece of your prom dressing puzzle is getting shoes to match you dress. One quick word of advice: bring your shoes to a reputable shop to get it done. Don't take a chance by going the cheapest route.

The first step, obviously, is having your dress purchased and if possible get a swatch from it to take to your shoe dyer. Prom shoe manufacturers use factory dye colors that closely match the prom dress industry for that specific reason. While mismatching does occur on occasion, make you and your service provider agree on the color so there isn't any finger pointing after the job is complete. The cost of dyeing a pair of shoes is generally from $5 to $15.

A few things to keep in mind:

Lighting effects
Ultra violet light is found in the "natural" light spectrum and will cause the color of your shoes to change slightly in different light settings. This is a natural phenomenon and can't be avoided. For example, prom shoes dyed beige, peach or taupe may have a pinkish hue in outdoor light. Grey and blue tones may have a purple hue to them in outside light. In fact, your prom shoe color will appear different between shaded and direct sun light conditions. If possible ask you person doing the dyeing to keep in mind the type of light you will be exposed to.

A Material Thing
The only possible way to ensure a perfect color match is to have your prom shoes made from the same fabric material as your prom dress. The textural differences between your 2007 prom gown material and your shoes could prevent a perfect match. If properly dyed however, the color of your shoes will blend well with your prom dress ensemble, coming as close as possible to the hue and depth of color found in your prom gown.

Not Water Resistant
Dyeing prom shoes is master craft and when done properly your shoes and dress will look like they were made of the same material. The dyes, though, are water-soluble and dyed items that are exposed to water or heavy moisture may bleed or stain. You can protect your shoes with a water repellent spray. Be sure to check the spray application instructions to ensure that it won't alter the dyed color and will work on your prom shoe fabric. While spraying your prom shoes will not render them waterproof, it will prevent most staining and secure the dye a little better. Also, once your shoes are sprayed with a water repellent, you will not be able to dye them in the future.