Shortest Distance From Hem to Ground: Vinyl Shoe

“Is a puzzlement,” sang Yul Brynner in “The King and I.” He could have been thinking about today’s multitude of hemlines and shoe styles.

What shoe do you wear with a short skirt, a mini, a maxi? Do you put on clunky heels or pencil-thin ones? Are hiking boots out and stilettos in?

Nancy Brown, owner of A’Marees in Newport Beach for more than 20 years, considers this season’s many fashion choices exciting. Because her store specializes in putting together ensembles from hats to heels, she’s always been aware of the complete look of an outfit.

“You should wear whatever looks best on you according to your shape. For example, people with heavier legs could wear a longer skirt with an ankle boot. If you have great legs, wear a shorter skirt and a thinner-heeled shoe,” Brown says.

Dawn Klohs and Denise Kinne, Brown’s daughters, who work with their mother in the store, agree.

“Stiletto heels look good on the runway for a fashion show,” says Klohs, “but they’re not reality. Higher heels are really only worn now with evening clothes.”

That isn’t a rule though. On the fashion video playing at A’Marees, one designer showed long evening dresses with flats.

“If you had to buy one shoe for spring to update a wardrobe, it should be sandals with three-inch heels, like an Armani shoe made of leather and vinyl. Vinyl is perfect since it goes with everything from a business suit to slacks to a summer dress,” Klohs says.

Because one of the newest looks this spring is patent leather, Klohs suggests updating a classic black suit by adding a white patent leather belt and white patent shoes. Patent loafers in white or black complement some longer-skirted suits and even look good with jeans.

Klohs also says:

* Sandals with two-inch, chunky heels are good for spring/summer because they can be worn with dressy or casual clothes. They look especially good with long, narrow dresses but not with short skirts.

* Short skirts need thinner heels, either mid-size or flat. The army-boot grunge look only works for the very trendy, and even that grunge look is dated.

* Sheer nylons with a clean, natural look are best this spring/summer if you have to wear nylons. For fall, they will still be in style, as will as black opaque hose. Fancy hose with patterns as not as important.

“It really is a season of anything goes.” Klohs says. “There is no one, right spring look. You’ll see just about everything.”