Embroidered Pumps: How to Wear Them, Care for Them and the Pairs to Buy

An embroidered pump is a plain court shoe with decoration stitched into the upper, and it is one of the few ways to wear a print at the foot. The best are embroidered by hand, which means every pair is slightly different. This guide explains how they are made, what to wear them with, how to look after them, and the pairs worth buying this season, including the 3 hand-embroidered satin pumps Bernadette has made for Autumn Winter 2026.

Key facts

• What it is: a pump, usually pointed, with thread, beads and sequins worked into a satin upper.
• How it is made: the satin upper is embroidered before it is lasted into a shoe; Bernadette makes its pumps in Italy and embroiders them by hand in India.
• Wear it with: a plain dress, black tailoring and denim; avoid pairing it with a busy print.
• Care: store in a dust bag, keep satin dry, and never rub the embroidery.
• The AW26 pairs: 3 Bernadette embroidered pumps at Coveti, $1,720.

How an embroidered pump is made

A shoe upper starts as flat pieces of fabric. For an embroidered pump, the embroidery is worked onto the flat satin before it is cut and lasted, which is why the motif can run neatly over the toe. Hand embroidery uses thread, small glass beads and sequins sewn one by one, and it leaves a slightly raised surface that machine embroidery does not. Bernadette makes its pumps in Italy on Satin Imperiali, 72% viscose and 28% silk, and has the Lingerie Rose embroidered by hand in India.

What to wear embroidered pumps with

Let the shoe be the only decorated thing in the outfit. With a plain black dress, an embroidered pump does the job of jewellery. With black trousers and a white shirt, it makes tailoring festive. With a long dress, it is the detail that shows at the hem when you walk. Avoid a print on print: if the dress is floral, choose a plain satin pump instead. The Bernadette black dresses are made for this.

Choosing a colour

Tonal embroidery, black on black, reads as texture and goes with everything you would wear with a black shoe. A contrast, pink roses on red, makes the shoe the focal point and works with black, navy and ivory. A pastel embroidery on pink is the most romantic and suits bridal and spring dressing as well as winter.

Caring for embroidered satin

Keep each shoe in its own dust bag so the beads of one do not catch the satin of the other. Satin marks with water, so avoid wet pavements and blot, never rub, any splash. Do not brush the embroidery; lift dust with a soft dry cloth. A cobbler can add a thin rubber sole to protect the leather sole without touching the upper.

Sizing

Embroidery adds no stretch, so an embroidered pump fits exactly like the plain version of the same shoe. Bernadette makes its pumps in whole EU sizes 35 to 41 and says they fit true to size; see the Bernadette shoes guide for the full range and designer bow heels for other decorated heels at Coveti.

The embroidered pumps

1. Classic Satin High Heel Pump Rose Embroidery in Multi Pastel Lingerie Rose Embroidery on Pink, $1,720

The High Classic Heel comes in Pink Satin, embroidered with delicate Lingerie Roses in a mix of pastel shades. A feminine silhouette with a playful floral finish.

2. Classic Satin Pump Rose Embroidered in Pink and Rose Lingerie Rose Embroidery on Red, $1,720

The classic Pump comes in Red Satin, embroidered with delicate lingerie roses. A timeless silhouette, finished with a playful floral detail.

3. Classic Satin Pump Rose Embroidery in Black Lingerie Rose Embroidery on Black, $1,720

The Classic Embroidered Pump comes in Black Satin, embroidered with tonal black Lingerie Roses. A feminine silhouette with a subtle, textured finish.

4. Bowtie Lacquered High Heel Pump in Black, $1,560

The Bowtie Pumps come in Black with a lacquered finish and subtle gloss. A timeless shape designed to pair with any dress, while still standing out on its own. Not embroidered, but the plain lacquered alternative with a bow at the vamp.

Buying Bernadette at Coveti

Every piece is authentic and checked before dispatch, and ships worldwide by insured express courier (DHL Express and FedEx International Priority). Most regions ship Delivered Duty Unpaid, so local duties and taxes are payable on delivery. Sizes on Coveti are shown in UK, converted from the house EU ladder where EU 36 is a UK 8. Full terms are in the logistics and returns protocol.

Frequently asked questions

What are embroidered pumps?

Court shoes whose upper is decorated with stitched thread, beads and sequins. Hand-embroidered pairs are sewn one stitch at a time.

What do you wear embroidered heels with?

A plain dress, black tailoring and denim. Keep the rest of the outfit simple and avoid pairing them with a busy print.

How do you clean embroidered satin shoes?

Lift dust with a soft dry cloth, blot any splash and never rub the embroidery. Store each shoe in its own dust bag.

Are embroidered pumps comfortable?

They fit exactly like the plain version of the same shoe. A lower heel, such as Bernadette’s 4.5 cm Classic Pump, is the most comfortable choice.

Where are Bernadette embroidered pumps made?

They are made in Italy and embroidered by hand in India.

Read next

Bernadette shoes, Designer bow heels, the embroidered pieces, Christmas party dresses.

More Bernadette guides

Who is Bernadette Antwerp, the Bernadette size guide, the Bernadette dresses guide, the Bernadette prints glossary, and the full Bernadette collection at Coveti.

Sources and method

Checked on 12 October 2026 by Gemma Deeks, Fashion Editor at Coveti. Product facts (compositions, fit, model measurements, country of manufacture) are the brand’s own product-page text; prices and counts are the live Coveti catalogue on that date and move with stock. Where a claim could not be checked it was left out.

• bernadetteantwerp.com, Autumn Winter 26 collection: 118 product pages read on 12 October 2026 (descriptions, fit sentence, model line, fabric origin, country of manufacture, composition)
• Coveti, logistics and returns protocol
• Coveti live catalogue, 12 October 2026: prices, sizes and stock

Gemma Deeks is Fashion Editor at Coveti. Prices, stock and counts on this page were checked against coveti.com and bernadetteantwerp.com on 12 October 2026.