Whether or not to wear black shoes with an all-white outfit isn’t a rigid fashion rule—it’s an exercise in contrast.
We have long championed this high-impact look, as seen in our features on Kim Kardashian, Megan Fox, and Candice Swanepoel. However, pulling it off successfully requires a careful balance of color and silhouette.
A notable example of this styling challenge occurred in January 2014, when January Jones was seen running errands in Los Angeles, California.
January Jones balances a crisp all-white off-duty look with statement black Chloé “Arce” multi-buckled wedge sandals, finishing the outfit with a burgundy Smythson Eliot Mini Tote while out in West Hollywood on January 15, 2014
Her casual pairing of a breezy white tee and skinny jeans with heavy, multibuckled black wedges created a polarizing visual.
While the “all-white” base is timeless, the specific choice of footwear—the Chloé “Arce” wedge—added significant visual weight, sparking a debate: can a “heavy” shoe work with such an “easy” outfit?
January Jones shows off a neutral pedicure in bold black Chloé “Arce” multi-buckled wedge sandals, their strappy, architectural design adding striking contrast to her white denim
The success of Jones’s ensemble relies heavily on her accessories. By incorporating a dark brown trilby hat and a burgundy purse, she added “mid-tone” anchors that softened the stark transition between the white denim and the black leather. This technique prevents the black shoes from looking like an afterthought and instead makes them a deliberate focal point.
On their own, January’s wedges are fierce, architectural pieces of footwear:
Chloé “Arce” multi-buckled black leather wedge sandals feature a sculptural high wedge and bold gold-tone hardware, combining gladiator-inspired straps with a modern, architectural silhouette
Why Black Wedges Can Make or Break an All-White Outfit
January Jones’ West Hollywood outing highlights just how much visual weight footwear can carry—especially when pairing bold black wedges with a light, monochromatic base. While her Chloé “Arce” sandals add edge and structure, the look ultimately works thanks to the thoughtful use of darker accessories that bridge the contrast.
If you’re drawn to statement wedges, Chloé has long explored this sculptural silhouette across seasons—ranging from classic wooden platforms to more architectural, multi-strap designs.
👠 Explore Chloé Wedge Shoe & Fashion Stories:
- 🌟 From Kiernan Shipka to Sienna Miller, this roundup of Chloé “Maxime” wedges shows how multiple celebrities styled the same carved wooden wedge sandal during Paris Fashion Week.
- 👗 Anna Kendrick’s summer-ready Chloé wooden wedges spotlight the brand’s versatile leather-and-wood platform style, with additional celebrity wedge styling examples folded into the feature.
- ☀️ Jessica Alba’s Soho street style featuring Chloé wedge sandals pairs wide-strap wedges with relaxed daytime dressing for an easy warm-weather celebrity outfit reference.
- 🍊 Victoria Beckham in an orange skirt and Chloé leather and wooden wedge sandals is a useful archive example of the brand’s rich brown wedge silhouette styled for polished daytime wear.
- 👢 Haley Bennett’s Chloé “River” lace-up wedge booties expands the wedge story beyond sandals, showing how the house interpreted the silhouette in a more directional ankle-boot form.