If the Shoe Fits

With the recent announcement of not one, but two upcoming movies about Cinderella's stepsisters, I thought it would be fun to make a post about princess footwear. This was also suggested by a reader some time ago, but I put it on the back burner because I hardly consider myself an expert on shoes. Still, no princess outfit is complete without the perfect pair of shoes, and no princess knows her shoes better than Cinderella. It's thanks to her famous glass slippers that I decided to wear clear rhinestone-encrusted shoes to my prom. To me, shoes don't look good unless they have something extra on them, like bows, gems, or silk rosettes.

When it comes to princess-inspired shoes, there is a fine line between fashion and comfort. Most royal shoes that accompany ballgowns don't look authentic without a heel, but large heels can be uncomfortable, especially for cosplayers who are walking all day around convention halls. I like to find a happy compromise by wearing flats with sparkly accents to combine comfort with style. My current choice of everyday footwear is the Cleo 2.0 Glitzy Daze from Skechers, which is a flat made from soft, stretchy fabric that is bedazzled in rhinestones and pearls.

Another style of shoes that matches the princess aesthetic but is still comfortable to walk in is Lolita, a popular Japanese street fashion inspired by fancy dresses worn by little girls. These princess-inspired fashions are frequently covered in lace, bows, and ribbons, and the companies that make the dresses design shoes to match. Lolita shoes typically have low chunky heels that are comfortable to walk in, but still make a statement with feminine accents like buckles, bows, and ruffled edges. Lolita fashion is a great way for princess fans to express themselves without donning full cosplay.

However, f you are willing to sacrifice comfort, the most famous brand of high-end princess-inspired shoes is Christian Louboutin, known for his signature red soles and ultra-high heels. Back in 2012, Louboutin was hired by Disney to reimagine Cinderella's slippers. He came up with a stunning lace and crystal creation with butterfly accents that were reminiscent of the later remake. The famous designer also had a tongue-in-cheek reference in Cinderella's Revenge, the princess horror movie, when he was magicked in by the Fairy Godmother to design a pair of pumps for Cinderella to wear to the ball.

Everyone deserves a chance to feel like a princess, and I don't think it's necessary to settle for tight, uncomfortable heels to do so. There are many options to turn a pair of comfortable flats into princess shoes, from bedazzling them with gems to clipping on accents like bows or rosettes. Of course, when attending a formal affair, sometimes it's unavoidable to have to wobble around in a pair of sparkly heels. What's your go-to shoe style for channeling your inner princess? Let me know in the comments!