Prom Shoe Ideas to Take Your Fit from “Wow” to “WOOOW” 

Step 1: Know Your Options 

As always, the first step in finding the perfect-anything is knowing what your options are, and when it comes to prom shoes you have plenty of options. When brainstorming potential prom shoe ideas you’ll primarily want to lean more into the women’s dress spectrum, with things like women’s heels, dress sandals, ballet flats, and the like. 

As far as women’s heels go you have some choices. A block heel is a classic look that, thanks to physically larger heel, gives you a little more stability than your traditional heel (AKA it’s better for busting a move). There’s also the ankle strap heel which usually has a more traditional style heel with, you guessed it, and ankle strap, giving you a more secure fit and a slightly more feminine feel. If you’re really into a more detailed shoe you could also give lace-up and strappy heels a try – they’re especially good options if your dress is more lowkey since they can then act as the focal point of your outfit. Then there’s always the very-on-trend platform heel option that’ll help take your look to new heights (literally). 

If women’s heels aren’t really your thing you might be more inclined to go with a classic ballet flat or a pair of dress sandals. Ballet flats are a good move if you’re looking for something that’s comfortable and simple, with a bit of ornateness depending on which style you choose, whereas dress sandals still give you a similar vibe that a heel would, just with a little more comfort and security. 

If you really want to break the mold and go with a non-traditional option, fashion sneakers, such as Converse All Stars or a good pair of retro sneakers, have been seeing a huge resurgence as prom options over the last decade and can help you inject a little bit of your personal style into an otherwise formal event. You could also go the dress boot or bootie route to change things up, or you could even really shake things up and opt for a pair of combat boots, like the iconic Dr. Marten’s 1460, to give your look a little more of an edge. 

In the end, whether you choose to go for a pair of women’s heels, like block heels, platform heels, or ankle strap heels, or something a little less traditional, like a pair of dress sandals or fashion sneakers, your main goal is to find something that both work with your dress AND gives you enough comfort and support to be on your feet all night. As long as you keep that in mind, you can’t go wrong with whichever style you pick

Step 2: Features & Finishes

Congratulations on deciding what style prom shoes you’re going to go with, but the job isn’t over: you now need to decide on what finishes and features you’re looking for. And if you thought your style options were overwhelming, buckle up because it only gets tougher from here on. 

There are about a billion (maybe a slight exaggeration) different options when have when it comes features and finishes, and there’s no feasible way we could cover them all, so we’re just going to focus on the most popular, trendy styles we’re seeing right now. 

First up we have the shiny women's heels. When you’re thinking shiny, think about metallics and bling shoes that either have reflective finishes or all over rhinestones that catch the light… and the attention of everyone in the room. If you’re looking for something fun and loud that can act as statement shoes, these are the move. If you want something fun, but a little more subdued, you might be a bigger fan of the pretty, feminine details trend. As the name suggests, this trend is all about the details and features adornments like pearls or bows, or even things like satin highlights and finishes. 

Then on the exact opposite end of the spectrum we have the classic black look. Usually, you’d be looking at a pair of black heels, you can wear them with just about any dress color so if you’re attending multiple proms and only want one pair of shoes this is the shoe for you. They’re dressy enough for any formal occasion, and subtle enough that they’ll complement any style – truly a secret weapon in any wardrobe. If you really don’t want to risk drawing any focus away from your dress, then your best bet is to go with a pair of neutrals. Not only do they keep the focus exactly where you want it (your dress), they’re also always in fashion so you can wear them for years to come. 

If you’re really looking to make a statement with your prom shoes then you might want to go with a more unique finish, like spikes or rivets – they still give off dressy vibes, just with a bit of an edge. If you plan on going the fashion sneaker route you probably want to stick to one of these three trends: high tops, platforms, or retros. High top sneakers are probably the more popular pick of the three, with Converse All Stars being THE de facto prom sneaker for most people. Platform sneakers are a newer trend in the prom world over the last decade, and their biggest appeal is combining the extra height from a heel with the comfort of a sneaker. The newest prom sneaker trend, though, has to be women’s retro sneakers. Retro, in general, has seen a big rise in popularity over the last three years, leading women’s retro sneakers to become a new, trendy pick when it comes to formal footwear.

Bonus: What About the Guys? 

Don’t you worry gentlemen, we haven’t forgotten about you! When it comes to men’s prom shoes you’re really looking at two main options: men’s dress shoes, like loafers or classic lace-ups, and then men’s sneakers, most often high tops. Dress shoes are the more classic of the two options, and you’d be looking for a loafer, oxford, lace-up, or hybrid style since they’re the easiest to style, comfortable options. Sneaker wise, a tux with high top sneakers is one of THE most iconic prom looks out there thanks to the juxtaposition of formal with fun and comfortable.

Step 3: Go Out and Slay 

Now that you’ve done all your research, there’s only one thing left to do: make those shoes-of-your-dreams a reality. Whether it’s a block heel, platform heel, dress sandal, fashion sneaker, or anything else there’s just one name to remember: DSW, where we take your prom shoe dreams and make them a reality. And remember that while looking good is a must, so is feeling good – you can’t dance the night away if your feet are in pain. If need extra comfort, just check out our men’s comfort shoes and women’s comfort shoes.