Usually, there aren’t many new items in stores in August in the Northern hemisphere. Retailers are clearing Summer stock with end-of-season sales. But this year, regular Fall stock is trickling in a month early. Maybe retailers know that it’s exciting to see fresh Fall merchandise despite our current hot weather reality. 

I’m looking to add another pair of low-heeled, dressy cream boots to my cold weather footwear capsule because they’ve become a wardrobe essential for my style. Calvin Klein’s Narla Block Heel Booties are strong contenders because they’re comfortable, classic, sleek, simple, have gold hardware, and are not overly wide on my narrow ankle. I’d have preferred a closer fit on the ankle, but these look fine when I wear them with straight or flared cropped jeans or pants. There’s something about the wider hem of the crops that is a little more forgiving of the wider bootie fit around the ankle. It seems to offset the “stem in a flower pot” effect I have become quite intolerant of.

I’m having a good run with Topshop footwear so I also have high hopes for the two pairs of booties below. I’ve had low-heeled gold booties on my shopping list for a year, and the red leopard also looks very interesting. Both pairs of booties are bright (and so are cream booties, for that matter), and just what I need to help me get through our grey and wet Autumn and Winter. I’ll keep you posted on how they fit, look and feel.

In the meantime, here’s a collection of tried-and-tested styles that have recently worked on my clients. Some come in a variety of colours, so be sure to check them out. But most importantly, these styles are comfortable.

  • Earth 'Intrepid' Peep Toe Bootie (Women): Works on low and regular volume feet. A neat and tidy fit around the ankle. Looks better on the foot than in the photo. Both the black and tan are fab. Well made.
  • CLOUD 'Aline' Bootie (Women): Adorable extra casual booties to wear with rolled hem jeans. Good fit on narrow ankles. All the colours are nice.
  • Paul Green 'Willow' Peep Toe Sandal (Women): The sandal bootie looks best in the Earth Metallic colour option. Think sparkly brown and quite unique. Works best on a high volume foot and ankle. Impeccable quality.
  • Topshop 'Aubergine Perspex' Clear Heel Bootie (Women): Buttery soft leather and a good fit on narrow ankles. Fab for low and regular volume feet. Nice rounded square toe box too. The shaft does not dig into you as you stride. The see-through heel is interesting, and showcases the nails that are used to keep the heel in place. I found the effect overly "rough around the edges" for my own style, but clients loved it.
  • Topshop 'Maggie' Flared Heel Bootie (Women): Modern Retro Fabness. Looks like a go-go boot with current sass. So far, the best trendy silver high-shaft bootie of the season. The shaft does not dig into you as you stride. Works on a low and regular volume foot. Good fit on a narrow ankle. NOTE: the colour is off in the photo. They are quite a bit darker, and a blue slate grey. The metallic does not look like it will scuff that easily.
  • Summit 'Galene' Bootie (Women): This one is for Team Casual Glitz with low volume feet and long toes. A fun warm weather bootie. Both colours are nice.
  • Calvin Klein Narla: Sleek, simple, classic and dressy. All the colours are nice, although the navy and cream are the most unique. They'll work for low and regular volume feet. Elegant on the foot. The opening is a little wide for narrow ankles, and becomes wider the larger the size. But wearing them with straight or flared crops offsets the wideness of the opening, somehow.
  • Summit White Mountain Dawson: Versatile, statement flat oxfords that you can wear with just about anything these days to create an interesting outfit juxtaposition. Buttery soft, supportive, and accommodates long toes.
  • Ahnu 'Emery' Oxford (Women): Buttery soft and very casual. Can accommodate a higher volume foot. All the colours are nice, but the grey with red laces is the most unique. Read the rave reviews.

You can see the items alongside my descriptions on the collection page.