Following a recent reader question, today we will discuss shoe etiquette at a gala. Máxima often wears sandals under her gala dresses and this bothers some people. Therefore the question: as a lady, is it allowed to wear sandals with the dress code black or white tie?
When it comes to etiquette, the Little Blue Book is always a good source to consult, although it may be a bit dated by now. If we look at what is written in the dress codes black and white tie, we see that unfortunately nothing is written about footwear for women:
‘Black tie => Ladies are expected to wear a cocktail or evening dress. The cocktail dress is preferred here. Over the years, ladies have increasingly worn the evening dress, because otherwise it would just hang in the closet. After all, when is white tie still requested?
White tie => Ladies are expected in evening dress (i.e. dress to the ankles)’
Also in the etiquette book by Amy Groskamp-ten Have ‘Hoe komt het eigen’, revised by Reinildis van Ditzhuyzen, there is nothing about which shoes a lady should wear under her evening dress. It does indicate that you may have a large cleavage, but this probably refers to the bosom and not to a toe cleavage 😉 .
If the etiquette books don’t provide clarity, you can always look at people who you know never make a mistake when it comes to etiquette. For example, the late Queen Elizabeth. Now, it’s difficult to share images of Elizabeth in her younger years, but The Queen certainly wore open-toed shoes under her long dresses when she was young. Also under her wedding dress and during the Coronation in 1953.
Beatrix also wore an open shoe under her gala dress:
Princess Margriet ditto.
However, these shoes are all peep toes and not sandals. Is that a faux pas or not?
If you ask Catherine, no.
Letizia also definitely thinks it is possible.
And Madeleine too.
Máxima is certainly not the only royal who wears sandals under her gala dress. It is not that she does not take etiquette very seriously, as Máxima does more often (wearing a watch with a gala dress is actually not allowed either – after all, conviviality knows no time -, but Máxima has done this before).
Why do people still get annoyed by the sandals on Máxima under her gala dress? I think partly because the sandals that Máxima wore during the diplomatic dinner are not festive at all and that is a requirement for an evening shoe.
As Anne-Marie van Leggelo (etiquette and image expert) writes about women’s shoes for the black tie dress code:
“Pumps with a heel are always good. Sling pumps (open heel) or with an open toe too. Small heel is allowed, but higher (e.g. 8-10 cm) looks great of course, if you can walk well on them. No heavy block heels please. You can go all out with the color and wear silver, gold, shine etc. But the best thing is to match the shoes with your clutch.” [of andere accessoires]
Conclusion: if Maxima’s sandals had had a bit of sparkle and a less chunky heel, it probably wouldn’t have bothered anyone. So it wasn’t necessarily the model, but more the execution.
Or do you think differently about this?
About the author: Linda van Deventer is a copywriter and makes shoes and bags as a hobby. Writing about fashion accessories is therefore tailor-made for her. On ModekoninginMáxima she likes to talk about fashion brands and gives tips about fit and production methods.
