Booties make the “must have” list
September 16th, 2008Booties were fringe fashion two seasons ago but are completely mainstream today. I’m thrilled. Good looking, comfortable bootie styles with lower heels are available and there’s loads of design and fabric variation. Lace-ups, wing-tips, pointy-toes, round toes, snip-toes, buckle-straps, cuffs, kilty details, buttons, bows, patent, stretch suede and mock croc are to name but a few of the details that caught my eye.
I am a fan of the ankle bootie for three reasons:
- The best of both worlds: booties allow for comfy, warm socks. You can’t wear socks with pumps and nylon knee-highs aren’t as cozy. A bootie offers the look and warmth of an ankle boot, but feels as light and unrestrictive as a pump. A perfect combination.
- No shin rubbing: ankle boots that come up higher can rub against your legs as you walk. Booties are cut off at the ankle so no chance of shin blisters. Get yourself a stretch suede pair and it’s like walking in slippers all day.
- A modern interpretation of a retro look: I enjoy trends that re-invent old fashion statements. Some of the bootie styles look as though they’re from another era. Such fun!
This type of half-shoe-half-boot footwear concept seems to go in and out of fashion. I remember having a pair of brown cowboy booties in the late 80’s. The style made a swift comeback in the 90’s, disappeared, and is back again a decade later.
I expect the bootie to be around for a while this time. Booties are therefore a “must have” and YLF’s shoe of the season. I purchased my “first” pair of booties last year (cream patent wing-tip lace-ups with a chunky heel). I’m also delighted with my new black Franco Sartos. This leaves two-toned spectator booties left on my list.
There’s a super assortment of comfortable bootie options in stores like Aerosoles at the moment. Be sure to give booties a bash.
An assortment of bootie styles. I rather fancy the spectator with the kilty detail, but my fussy feet won’t hear of it.
A selection of tried and tested comfy bootie styles from Easy Sprit and Aerosoles. Don’t judge these too harshly by the pictures. They look better first hand and with a pair of pants or jeans at the right length. One of my clients bought the teal suede pair in olive green and they looked sensational with her bootcut jeans and biker jacket.
September 16th, 2008 at 6:39 am
As I was looking at the pictures, I remembered I had purchased a pair similar to the Aerosoles (top right) some years ago to wear with winter pants. I think I gave them away. They’re really not practical in Florida, so I guess it’s a good thing that I don’t find them that attractive.
September 16th, 2008 at 6:53 am
Rather drawn to the brown Aerosoles British Isles style… though they look the least bootie-ish of any booties I’ve seen.
September 16th, 2008 at 7:04 am
I too had a pair cowboy style booties (mine were black)….I loved those and wore them with straight leg, dark wash denim every chance I got. I also liked to compliment the outfit with a hip length white oxford and my dad’s black wool suit jacket–with the sleeves rolled up so the burgundy paisly liner showed as my cuff. Of course, this was in the 80’s and I was a sassy little teenager!
September 16th, 2008 at 8:05 am
This a first ever bootie season for me and I am so excited. I liked the look last season too but all i saw were crazy heels and it was not for me. I had a bad experience with ankle boots rubbing just like you describe Angie, and as a result only have knee-high boots, even to wear under pants.
I got those black FS ones, and I also have a grey oxford pair that I am not sure if it qualifies as a bootie or as a pump, but close enough. Now I really like that light-brown Michael Kors wedge pair you have posted.
September 16th, 2008 at 8:15 am
I’m with Tanya: A bootie newbie! Bought my first pair a few weeks back and am yet to incorporate them into daily wear, but am excited to do so. Grey suede from Nine West and comfy as can be. Looking forward to pairing them with tights and miniskirts.
September 16th, 2008 at 8:22 am
Angie, thank you so much for this post and explaining the advantages of the bootie style. Now I’ve got to have some. I was just wondering this morning what I was going to do for shoes as it gets colder. Ankle boots were a consideration, but, as you said, they can tend to rub and be uncomfortable.
I will definitely try booties.
September 16th, 2008 at 8:26 am
I am really looking forward to wearing these. I have the Franco Sar to in black.
I am searching for black and white oxford type/wing tip booties. So stylish and also practical!
Thank you Angie!
September 16th, 2008 at 8:30 am
I love the spectators on the second row! It will be on my list for sure. Also I have a similar pair to the middle one on the first row for two years. I’m glad that they are still in this season.
September 16th, 2008 at 8:46 am
Quite the sassy teen, Nicole. I remember doing a similar thing with my brother’s blazer which had silver paisley lining. I seem to have a love-hate relationship with ‘80’s fashion. It was awful, but wonderful at the same time because we wholeheartedly thought we looked fabulous.
Tanya, your grey lace-ups are “oxford booties”, which are booties in my book. They’ll look smashing with hose and skirts. The MK wedges are comfy. I’ve tried them and could actually prance around in them. I wish they were a little lower though. They are precisely that rich chestnut brown I fancy.
Joy, I hope you find booties. They could be your prefect answer to closed shoes.
Julia and Debbie, I’m all over the black and white kilty booties too, but I do not prefer that type of heel. I hope you have better luck!
I have a hunch booties are going to stick around for a while. All watershed fashion changes over the last two years have stuck around. I think it’s the look of the decade.
September 16th, 2008 at 8:52 am
I have black and brown ankle boots with a pointy toe and kitten heel that I wear all the time in the winter. I was considering getting another pair so I don’t wear them out, but I may try on some booties instead to give a little variety to my shoe collection. Are there any guidelines on what types of socks to wear with booties?
September 16th, 2008 at 9:04 am
I once had a pair of Aerosoles booties in black suede, very similar to those navy blue ones, only mine had an elastic panel instead of a zipper. They were among the most comfortable, versatile shoes I have ever had and I wore them almost every day in cold weather for a year or two until the soles were so worn out they were slippery. Finding shoes that are both dressy and comfortable is always a challenge. If I didn’t already have a pair of black suede ankle boots I’d be looking around for another pair of Aerosoles booties.
September 16th, 2008 at 9:11 am
I’m a little confused as to what the difference between an ankle boot and booties are. Are booties just shorter?
September 16th, 2008 at 9:37 am
Bootie newbie asks: What do you do for socks? Do you match close to the shoe color? pants color? What happens when you sit down or cross you legs and the top or your shoe can be seen?
September 16th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Hmm, I could swear I’ve been wearing booties for much longer than 2 years! I am surprised to hear they come in and out of fashion. Living in Boston, booties are a given. They’re quite practical, can be worn with socks, etc.
And I’m talking about dressy looking booties you can wear to work and with dress slacks - not just booties for schlepping around in the snow.
September 16th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Love these, although I think my shoe quota is filled for the next year.
I have a question about the FS bootie you have, Angie, as well as several other members here. I’ve seen a few people sport them with skinnies where you can acutally see the stretchy fabric/zipper part. This may sound silly, but are you supposed to see that part? It just seems that that bootie in particular would work better with bootcuts, but I could be wrong. I can certainly see most of the booties shown above work well with skinnies, but it just seems that the ones with front upper zippers would look best covered with a pant leg. Any thoughts?
September 16th, 2008 at 10:36 am
I have never had a problem with ankle boots rubbing. I always wear mine with socks that are slightly higher than the edge of the boot opening. It doesn’t show since I only wear ankle boots with pants anyway.
I’m still not really sold. The heels on almost all of these are too high and and/or too skinny for my taste (and the pointy toe on the top middle pair is obscene). The only ones that look like they might be comfy are the brown Aerosoles with the chunky heels, but they look dull and frumpy to me, especially in contrast to the more fun and funky styles above. First thing I thought of was that they reminded me of my high school librarian. Somehow with this style, the more practical it becomes, the less good it looks to me.
September 16th, 2008 at 11:06 am
Some are cute, but they look like they can be used as a weapon
September 16th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Ohhhhh! I bought those Aerosoles Egg Roll Booties (the gray pair in the bottom center) about a month ago and LOVE THEM!!!!!! It is amazing how many things I can find to wear them with. And oh so comfy. Like walking on a cloud.
I am a total ankle boot convert. I am sure by the end of winter I will have a whole closet full.
September 16th, 2008 at 11:29 am
I love them! Last year I bought two pairs of Liz Claiborne booties, they are similar to the bottom right Aerosole pair in the photo Angie showed, and I only wish our weather in Chicago enabled me to wear them more. They have a pointy toe which according to Angie is great for pretty pears … very elongating …
September 16th, 2008 at 11:31 am
I’m on my 4th pair of booties. My experience is the same as Shiny’s . I’ve been wearing them for 4-5 years. I usually have two pairs going each season. One that’s more casual for day to day jeans outfits and one pair with a slimmer, dressier look for wearing out at night. Love them and I’m happy to see the selection has exploded. A couple of years ago I used to have to run to the get a pair early in the season because they didn’t restock and the sizes ran out.
September 16th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
LOL, Maya… you should see the pointy toe on one pair of beloved brown booties I wore for a few seasons… finally retired them because the leather cracked. They were so pointy, they could poke an eye out. But comfy as can be!!! Because the pointy part was extra, no toes squished inside.
I replaced them with a brown pair similar to top middle photo, but with suede detailing. I have a similarly shaped black pair with no-nonsense, minimalist detailing; these are pleather so they wear very well in the weather. And comfy as can be.
And you know my newest addition… the silver stuart weisman spectators…
I used to own a pair similar to third row, far right, in black. Nine West. Same chunky heel. I wore those for years and years…. but retired them a few years back, thinking the heel looked dated. And now, maybe I shouldn’t have let them go!!
September 16th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
I am going to look for some of the Aerosoles this weekend. How cute!
September 16th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
I never feel good about myself in booties in ankle boots, as I have really chunky calves and think I look quite silly.
Maybe with pants is the way to rock the booties?
September 16th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Booties are my go-to footwear for winter. I have some that are dressy; others that are casual. Have been wearing them for years, but they are much easier to find now! Love the low heel, pointy-toe styles. I’ll be wearing them forever.
September 16th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
All right Angie, you’ve swayed me! I bought the first pair (The BC Footwear Mic Check). I really hope I like them because I’ve never worn any before. But I have a new dress and a new dress requires new footwear, right?
September 16th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Melissa, ankle boots and booties are different. Ankle boots come up higher over the ankle and are usually zipped at the side (or soft and stretchy pull-ons). Booties stop just below, or in the ankle bone. Check out these links of ankle boots :
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/29.....93&P=1
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/29.....93&P=2
Traci, trouser socks, hose or dressier socks work with booties. If you can’t stick to the colour of the bootie, black is a default.
Shiny, you might be confusing this look with ankle boots or heeled loafers. Ankle boots are in every season, but I’m under the impression booties waft in and out. And this season’s bootie look has completely evolved. Definitively a new look in my book.
Shell, you are supposed to see the stretchy-zipper part of the FS bootie. BUT, the bootie looks great with bootcuts too.
Maya, not all ankle boots rub. The stretchy pull-on styles don’t rub your shins at all. Rubbing is at a minimum if the shaft is low and sleek. The librarian shoes you’re referring to look really sweet with skinnies and a funky top. I had a client in them last week and she pulled it off so well. I’m also sticking up for the so called obscene pointy toed pair. They look fabulous with boot cut jeans. Very chic!
Unfortunately, you’ve got to have the gams to wear booties with frocks and skirts. It’s a specific body type thing. But booties with skinnies and bootcuts are virtually flop-proof.
September 17th, 2008 at 4:33 am
I thought I just got my brain wrapped around shoe vamp and skirt requirements, now you are telling me that booties, tights and skirts are acceptable???
Maya, I wear ankle boots in the winter (with pants) and have no problem with the top of the boot rubbing on my leg either.
September 17th, 2008 at 7:21 am
Quite right Nicole. If you have the body type, the right bootie and the look is one colour (booties and hose) – the look can work. Lower vamps still look better to me even in this scenario, but take a look:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/29.....07&P=1
A picture with a lower vamp:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/29.....07&P=1
September 17th, 2008 at 8:09 am
I like the Donald Pliner and Nanette Lepore styles but not enough to justify the price. I’ve been browsing a lot of booties and have one pair but I just haven’t found that special pair. A lot of the styles I’ve tried are actually fairly uncomfortable. I hope to add a few pairs this season but don’t have any particular pair on my list. I can’t do the stilletto heels either.
September 17th, 2008 at 8:11 am
Oops I meant Aquatalia, not DP.
September 21st, 2008 at 11:08 pm
I’ve been sporting Booties for two seasons, and I am so glad they have mantained thier style-quotient for yet another one!
Viva La Bootie!!
September 23rd, 2008 at 7:20 am
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