Question Why You Should Own A Pair Of Red Shoes

I wear a whole lot of black. And gray. And white. And brown. And basically, every other shade of neutral you can imagine. These colors are universally flattering and so easy to add accessories to. So when it comes time to buy a new item to replace the old, I naturally think, “the more neutral, the better.” It’s like my instinctual motto.
I decided to invest in some wonderful, classic ballet flats from J.Crew. And among the colors at the outlet store, I had to choose between nude, black and red. Since spring is quickly approaching, I tried on the nude flats first. And they were pretty friggin’ cute. I totally imagined wearing them with my skinny jeans and my white blazer, and with some of my short, flirty pastel dresses. I was kind of sold.
But then, just to be thorough, I wanted to try on the fire-engine red pair of flats. I probably wasn’t going to buy them, but they were adorable and I’m a sucker. So, I slid them on and…
…I ended up taking them to the register! Here’s why I decided that buying the red shoes was actually the right investment for a neutral-wearing girl like moi.
1. Red, in particular, adds personality. Red is one of those colors that can be a lot of things: sassy, fun, sexy, chic. But more than anything, it just says, “This girl has major flare.” And that is never bad.
2. You own enough neutrals. I have to keep repeating that to myself. It’s not that neutrals are problematic. In fact, they’re really sophisticated and lovely. But don’t we all want to be a little bit more than that? If you only invest in neutral items, and don’t occasionally put down money for items in color, your wardrobe will simply read: Pretty, but BLAH.
3. A pop of color is so on-trend. Color in spades is all the rage this season. But if neon color-blocking freaks you out, opt for a simple dash. Shoes are perfect — heels, flats, wedges… they all work! — because they’re not in your face, but still very noticeable. I wore my red flats yesterday, during a rare 65-degree March day in Michigan, with a black dress, leggings and a utility coat. And I received compliments (wink, wink).