Can a young teen wear sneakers to a formal wedding? Ankle support?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As long as her dress is black tie appropriate, yes, sneakers are fine. This is within current style and is age appropriate. Just like if Great Grandma wore a long dress with orthotic shoes instead of stilettos. No one is going to care what shoes she is wearing. You want her to feel good about what she is wearing, be comfortable, and enjoy herself

Had the same thought about great grandma in orthopedic shoes. Would the etiquette police still tell her to stay home?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course, after looking at some of the comments/links, I went down the rabbit hole of blinged out and custom canvas shoes. Wow! I'm inspired! I've got a black tie wedding to go to in October and I'm totally doing it! I need to figure out the laces because I don't like the jarring contrast on some of them, but, WOW!

Unless it's a halloween black tie affair, please don't.

[Anonymous]

I really had to think about where I land on this question! I think it's important to teach teens about dressing appropriately for a given situation as a life skill. It's one event, she can conform to black tie standards.

This reminds me of my young cousin just out of college who recently texted me "can I wear jeans to a job interview?" (it was definitely not a casual office). I think we owe it to the younger generation to teach them social norms.

[Anonymous]

It's fine. Buy her black shoes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really had to think about where I land on this question! I think it's important to teach teens about dressing appropriately for a given situation as a life skill. It's one event, she can conform to black tie standards.

This reminds me of my young cousin just out of college who recently texted me "can I wear jeans to a job interview?" (it was definitely not a casual office). I think we owe it to the younger generation to teach them social norms.

True, but we need to understand the complexities of what we’re teaching them. Those might include valuing presentation over personal comfort, or even health; and someone else’s values and preferences over your own — and possibly over your budget.

I’m not supporting flouting a dress code for the fun of it. I am saying that I like the example of great grandma and her orthopedic shoes — where she values her health and comfort, comes as close as she can get to meeting the dress code, no one looks at her feet, and everyone is glad that she’s able to be there to celebrate.

I get that it’s not an issue for the OP, but I think it’s more important to be as respectful as you can of the occasion and the dress code without blowing your budget for something few people would notice or care about, especially for something that will only be worn once. I also think that a job interview is different from being a guest at a wedding, and I’d hope that interview clothes would be pieces that are likely to get worn again, vs shoes that probably won’t— especially given the kid’s foot and ankle issues.

[Anonymous]

omg the blinged out Keds are so cringe

Just let her wear converse