If you want your shoes to match your dress, dyeable shoes are one option. Dyeable shoes are made of fabric that can be dyed after the shoes are made. That fabric is usually satin or crepe that has been treated so that it accepts dye more easily. If you are planning on wearing dyeable shoes for your wedding or special event, though, there are some things you should know. Here are some suggestions to help you choose and buy dyeable shoes.

Choose the right fabric to get the right color for your dyeable shoes.

Colors look different on different kinds of fabric. Since it is very unlikely that your shoes will be made of the exact same fabric as your dress, even the best dyer will not be able to make an exact match for the color of your dress. However, choosing the right kind of fabric for your shoes can make it far easier to match your color more closely. If your dress is made from satin or another shiny fabric, choose satin shoes, which will have the same reflective quality as the color of the dress. If your dress is made from a matte fabric, choose shoes made from crepe or another non-shiny fabric. That will ensure that your shoes absorb more light than they reflect, resulting in a color that is closer to the color of your dress.

Order your shoes early if you plan to have them dyed

It can take between 8-14 days to get your shoes back from a dyer, so be sure that you order or buy them well in advance of your big date. If you are buying your shoes online, take shipping time into account and be sure to build in time for a return if the shoes do not fit properly. Since you will want to have your shoes ready to wear for the final fittings on your dress, you should have them ordered at least three months before the special day.

Bring a swatch of dress fabric

Be sure to take a swatch of the exact dress fabric with you when you bring your shoes to be dyed so that your shoe dyer has a good sized sample for comparison. Don’t rely on memory to help you choose the right color for your shoes. Ask your dressmaker for a fabric swatch that you can take with you to a shoe shop when having your shoes dyed to match your gown.

Remember that colors look different in different light

Make sure that you check the shoe color match under the right light. Natural and artificial light have completely different effects on color. This might not matter in some things, but if you are trying to get an exact match in color for your shoes, you will want to see the color of your shoes and dress under the same kind of light that you will be wearing them under. In other words, if your wedding will be held outdoors, make sure that you see your shoes and dress in natural outdoor lighting. If it will be indoors, check the color out under the same kind of lights as the lights at your wedding venue.

Minimize slight color differenced between shoes and dress by picking the right style of shoe.

Choose shoes with embellishments or with little fabric to dye in order to minimize the impact of any color differences between your dress and your shoes. Color differences will be far less obvious if you choose a high heeled strappy sandal with rhinestone trim than they would be if you were wearing pumps or slides with far more colored surface area.

Be sure to apply a waterproofing coating to your shoes before wearing them

Dyed shoes are not weatherproof. They may run or stain if the weather does not cooperate. To reduce the chance that your shoes will run if it rains, apply a coat of water repellant, but don’t expect them to be completely waterproof. If your shoes get wet, reapply the water repellant.

If you are dyeing shoes, choose a shoe that is ecru or “bridal white” for dyeing

Bright white shoes have a blue undertone that can add a hint of blue to your dyed color, turning gold to green under some lights. Many shoe manufacturers combat this by making dyeable shoes in a warmer white that takes dye more truly. If you can’t get the right white, there are products on the market that will tone down the white before dyeing.

Choose factory-dyed shoes that are matched to your dress color

If you order your dress and shoes from the same bridal salon, you may get a match that is as close to an exact color match as humanly possible. That’s because the color dyes are created to match colors that are being used in the bridal and prom fashion industry that season. It’s an easy way to get shoes that match your dress without going through the hassle of having them dyed yourself.

Dyeable shoes can be a godsend if you want your bridesmaids to wear shoes and dresses that match. Once upon a time, dyeable shoes all came in a basic style, mid-heel pumps that were practical and fairly plain, so that the only embellishment was the color. These days, there are literally hundreds of styles in dyeable shoes. For this reason, you can choose shoes that are as fancy or as plain as you like, in just about any heel height or style that suits your fancy.

There are, however, a few drawbacks to ordering dyeable shoes. The biggest of these is the difficulty, or near impossibility, of getting an exact color match. The fact is that you will not get an exact match no matter what you do. That’s partly because the shoes and dress are made in different fabrics, and partly because it’s nearly impossible to get the exact same color from one dye lot to another.

One thing that is important to keep in mind when approving the color of your shoes is that lighting can affect the dyed color. Natural, outdoor lighting is full-spectrum light with ultra-violet light ranges that will affect the color that you see. Natural sunlight will add pink tones to the color of your shoes, and your handbag if you choose to carry a dyeable purse as well. You may even see a difference in color between direct sunlight and shaded light outdoors.

Make a point to always compare fabric swatches for your shoe color in an environment that is close to the environment of your wedding day. A similar environment is important because the lighting should be similar in both areas. In other words, if your wedding will be mostly outdoors, you should check the color of your shoes and how they match to your dress in natural daylight. If the event is indoors, try to find out what kind of light the hall uses. Fluorescent lights are different from others, and some halls may be using full-spectrum lighting. Check the match for your shoes and dress under that light.

Other things to keep in mind when ordering dyeable shoes include these tips:

Most online shoe shops will sell dyeable shoes, but you’ll need to find someone local to actually do the dye job for you. Some online bridal shops allow you to select dyeable shoes online, but many only sell dyeable shoes through offline outlets so that they can control the dyeing properly. The style of the shoe that you choose can minimize any color match problems. For instance, a strappy sandal with rhinestone trim won’t show a color difference anywhere near as clearly as a shoe with more fabric surface. If you’re planning to dye your shoes, choose a shoe that starts out in ecru or off-white rather than one in pure white. Pure white has a blue undertone that will change the color of the final dyed shoe by adding a hint of blue to it. Ecru fabric tends to dye more true to color. Dyed shoes will not be waterproof. In order to prevent staining or running, it’s important that you spray your shoes with a water repellant spray. Be sure to check an inconspicuous area of the shoe to be sure that it won’t change the shoe color. Avoid the problems with dyeable shoes by buying factory-dyed shoes made by manufacturers that tie their shoe colors to colors being used each season in the bridal and prom industry. If you shop at a wedding site online, you’ll often find shoes and gowns in the same color name; especially popular this season are colors like “Watermelon” and “Truffle”. These shoes have been dyed to match colors in the fashion industry as closely as possible, more closely than most custom dyers will be able to match. In fact, many custom dyers recommend that option if you’re choosing shoes that come in a pre-dyed option. If all of your bridesmaids are wearing the same color dyeable shoes, try to have them all dyed at the same time to get the best possible match. Even the most skilled dyer may not be able to exactly duplicate the color from one shoe to the next if they are dyed at different times. If your dress is a print, choose one color to match. An inexact color match won’t be as obvious when you dye shoes to match a single color in a print fabric. Choose shoes made from a fabric that is closest to the dress fabric. If your dress is silk or another shiny material, choose satin shoes to more closely replicate the light reflective properties of the fabric. If your dress is matte, choose a shoe made of crepe or another matte fabric.