I’m going to a formal dinner tonight and a dance ball next Friday. The strap for the left shoe of my black heels broke. I need to get it fixed or buy new shoes. In the mean time, can I wear (light) brown leather boots (they go up to my thigh just below my knee) with a black skirt?

Edit on 12 March 2007: Based on your feedback and an email from my personal fashion consultant (mum), brown boots with black skirt was a dangerous proposition. I ended up wearing the boots with black pants, which means that the brown space on my outfit was smaller and less distracting.

I asked a few people how it looked and they said that it was fine. Regardless, I made it through last night with my self-esteem intact. I will try and get my shoe strap fixed today.