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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Footwear changes the whole vibe

Aziraphale

Veteran

First off, those new Coclico booties I got are a complete success. They are supremely comfortable. When I wear them, I feel modern and chic and somehow French.

Second, these new boots remind me of how much your footwear affects your outfit. My favourite way to wear the new booties is with rolled-up slim boyfriends (i.e. slouchy skinnies) and a black or grey slouchy top. I like it best when there is a sliver of bare skin between the top of the bootie and bottom of the jeans. This is a look I wear with other booties, or shoes in the warmer months, and each type of shoe completely changes the vibe of the outfit. Has anyone else noticed this?

Below are the boots and shoes I wear with rolled-up slim boyfriend jeans:

Pic #1 -- Coclico booties -- make the outfit look French.
Pic #2 -- Fluevog Baroque booties -- give the outfit an arty, steampunk edge
Pic #3 -- Fluevog Swordfish booties -- create a rock n' roll vibe
Pic #4 -- Fluevog Laura Evans t-strap -- create a retro vibe

Other accessories can add to this effect, but am I right in thinking that nothing changes an outfit more than the shoes?

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Dressing

34 replies

Latest reply was from AM

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

That was the very first lesson I leaned on YLF: how important footwear is in the outfit and how it can make or break it completely.
You have a seriously cool footwear collection!

always trying

Veteran

So right, footwear does change an outfit. I also think it is especially true with the type and length of trousers. Sometimes it s just a change of color of footwear that makes a big difference.

Sveta, this too is something I have learned on YLF, but it has taken me a bit longer than you-I am a slow learner..

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Footwear DOES make a big difference, Elisabeth. Almost as much as hair. The two trends go hand in hand - rolled hems (or ankle pants) and statement booties - so that you can see the entire shoe in all its glory. I have no doubt that you looked killer in your favourite Coclico boots outfit. A fab collection of shoes. xo

In the same breath I don't want people, who have a hard time wearing fashionable shoes, to feel bad. I know all too well what it's like to compromise the look of footwear for the sake of happy feet (by helping my clients and dressing my own fussy feet). There are ways to wear comfortable shoes AND look fab. It just takes a little more time and patience. xo

catgirl

Veteran

I totally agree - although I won't sacrifice comfort for style. My Topshop patent booties are my fave way to boost an outfit and they are comfy as can be. Just gotta find the right shoe!

Aziraphale

Veteran

Thanks, Sveta! I am a shoe girl. I like bags too, but somehow only ever have one at a time, because shoes always trump bags. (I actually don't have hundreds of pairs of shoes -- only 25, excluding gear like wellies and trainers -- but each pair is carefully chosen and of good quality).

Always trying, I never thought about it, but I think you are right about the colour of the shoe changing the vibe, too. Red shoes are certainly more playful than black ones, for instance.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Angie and Una, SO TRUE. I won't sacrifice comfort for style, either. ALL of my shoes are comfortable, although I expect a lot more walkability for everyday shoes than fancy dress-up high heels. I have medium-fussy feet. I can get away with a 2.5" heel for all-day wear, provided the shoe is very comfortable, but it takes time and patience to find these. Also, I have a number of pairs of flat boots and shoes which are just as stylish, but give a different look than the heels.

Angie, I think it is possible to find comfortable shoes with low or flat heels that are very stylish and don't look like old lady shoes. The problem is, they are usually not cheap.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

So true, Elisabeth. All things considered, I've been lucky in that regard. I do eventually find fab looking comfy shoes (my clients too). It takes extra time though. And eats up more of your budget. C'est la Vie. I have no trouble finding trousers - and clothing items generally fit me straight off the rack if the fits are narrow and small. But fitting my feet is ANOTHER STORY. We all have a part of our body that is harder to fit than the rest.

In my experience with dressing women for a living, the hardest foot to dress is a double WW or triple WWW in a dressy shoe. Casual is easier, but also NOT easy. Next is finding DRESSY tall boots for very narrow calves.

Astrid

Veteran

Yes, I totally agree. Different shoes change the vibe so much! I really want my shoes to represent my style, it makes it so much easier when I don't have to dress around them and they help me set the vibe I want. I agree on comfort being most important with shoes. I love my new boots so much, but they are not fashion boots. But I simply don't care. I haven't worn my black ankle booties much since I bought the boots. They weren't inexpensive (Gabor), but when I try to put them on after I have worn the new boots my feet are screaming at me.

Sharon

Veteran

Thanks for the illustration - it is a really good example of the difference shoes make. I like the idea of identifying the vibe conferred by each style. I would think that it would make it easier to decide what to buy if you have a clear idea of the story you are trying to create for an outfit. I must confess a weakness for car-to-bar heels that are not really practical for my real life. I need to follow your lead and find some more low heeled shoes next season.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Does WW mean double wide? I assume wide feet are harder to fit. And narrow calves mean gapping boot shafts, which is also not ideal. I can see how that would be difficult.

The other problem with shoes is that they are much more difficult to alter. I've had my share of clothing items tailored a bit, and it's usually not a big deal. I've never taken in a pair of shoes or boots for altering, although I think that certain things can be done, but I imagine it's quite costly.

I'm lucky that I've got average-width feet in a regular size, and average calves. My only footwear bugaboo is that I have narrow heels, so heel slip can be a problem. In fact, that was my biggest issue in my lengthy search for plain black short boots. Many many styles would slip with every step, aargh.

Eliza

Veteran

Shoes can really make an outfit. Now that I am sailing into a new decade, I am finding that it is footwear that can make an outfit look deliberate and contemporary, rather than dated. My age, combined with the over-sized knitwear trend can make some outfits veer towards Frumpsville, so current accessories set the tone. That group of photographs says it all!

That said, I will not buy shoes I can "almost" wear and this has been the year of the comfort shoe here. I am glad that there have never been more sneaker options and have even found booties I can wear for brief periods now, after my second foot surgery go round.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Eliza, comfort trumps everything. And if you've had foot surgery, you want to do everything in your power to prevent more problems! I wear sneakers a lot too.

Gaylene

Veteran

Actually, I think what you are saying is true for ANY item that could be considered an "accessory"--shoes, bags, hair, eyewear, watches, jewelry, headwear, scarves, belts, and, even in some instances, toppers.

I'm wondering if we all don't need to take some time to figure out our own individual accessorizing style--one which takes into account our personal preferences, needs, and lifestyles? If you can happily wear many styles of shoes and boots, then it makes sense for you to concentrate on footwear. Someone with very strict limitations on footwear might, instead, choose to concentrate on eyewear or bags. Someone with a very active lifestyle who needs to keep her hands free might forgo bags altogether and rely on belts and headwear to change the vibe of an outfit.

Hmm, going to think on this a bit more--maybe that's why so many of my handbags languish in the closet because I always gravitate towards one or two for the entire season. Same goes for scarves. BUT, I always seem to make time to switch up my watches, eyewear, and footwear.

catgirl

Veteran

Gaylene, yes! For me, it's footwear. Was just thinking about how happy I am with my current shoe and boot collection - I am not feeling any need to shop, add or fill any holes. And I am happy to wear everything. Now if I could get the rest of my closet to that state.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Good point, Gaylene. I certainly agree that accessories matter A LOT -- especially eyewear, hairstyle and footwear. (Does hairstyle count as an accessory? I think it should). Glasses are so, so important, although only a percentage of us wear them. Sunglasses count, though! Current, flattering sunglasses are a must for me.

A good belt, pair of shoes and stylish haircut can transform the simple jeans + tee outfit into something fabulous. A great bag is, to me, a bonus. I'm not convinced about the watch, unless it's a big statement piece. I don't notice watches right away.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Great points, Gaylene. (Sounds like you had a little epiphany). For me it's hair, specs, bags, footwear, watches/wedding ring - in that order.

E, YES. Those are very wide sizes. VERY hard to fit those feet into dressy shoes. And tailored boots need to fit on the calf - hard with a 12 to 13 inch calf circumference.

Anonymous

I agree to with the notion that footwear is a look-maker, and game changer. I'm in the same boat as a few of us here who are now having to face the reality of feet punished by years of high heels and pointy toes. I wasn't one of those women who ALWAYS had a heel on, but even so, about the time I turned 50, everything changed quite dramatically. That said, it's interesting to see your photo illustration of how a boot can change the vibe of an outfit. It is something I'm not sure I take advantage of, and perhaps should. My boots tend to all look relatively the same. In other words: there is no doubt which closet they belong in. Experimenting with footwear vibes is an intriguing concept to me. Thanks !

Gaylene

Veteran

I think that's why accessorizing style is so personal, Elisabeth. To me, an outfit FEELS different when I swap out a watch. And, to be honest, not being a bag person makes it hard for me to see the differences between many of the bags that get oohed and aahed over on the forum. My reaction is more "yeh, nice satchel but doesn't look much different than the ones I've already seen in your WIWs". Now, those pictures you posted of your shoes CLEARLY would give a different vibe to an outfit to my eye, but I wonder if someone else might just see "yeh, nice boots but they all kinda look alike..."

catgirl

Veteran

I'm a 5WW. Not sure that size even exists so I'm stuck wearing thicker socks and 6 most of the time.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Una -- ugh, bummer. Although size 5 regular isn't too hard to find. What if you get ones made of soft leather that can be stretched width-wise?

Good thing there are toe box inserts, eh?

jackiec

Veteran

I am so glad that your new booties are working out for you! I love the collection of booties/shoes that you've shown, and totally agree that shoes are a game-changer when it comes to outfits. My feet seem to be getting fussier as I "grow-up", or it could be that the little niggly things never bothered me before. Nonetheless, it always comes down to comfort, and hopefully something fab to boot (pun intended ).

deb

Veteran

I have been wear my pants and jeans rolled also. For me it feels new.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I'm feeling some resistance to this idea, although I'm not sure that I can articulate clearly why. I mean, yes, footwear changes the feel of an outfit, but not completely, I don't think. But I tend to prefer footwear that echoes the dressiness of an outfit, or tones it down, rather than jazzes it up. For example, in the 90s, the last time oxfords were trendy, I used to wear them a lot with skirts or dresses. And of course the combat boots plus skirt look.

Cf the blogger at un-fancy who posts a lot of looks with jogging pants (the sporty luxe sort, I assume) and heels. To me, she just looks silly, not stylish. I barely adjusted my eye to all the jeans & blazer & heels looks that were so popular for a few years and are starting to go out of style. And in my opinion those don't work without the blazer - the shoes look too dressy for jeans and a knit top, just out of place.

I agree that glasses, haircut, etc. change your overall look, but since they don't change across outfits, I don't consider them accessories in the traditional sense like a bag or shoes.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Laura -- who said anything about wearing jogging pants and heels? I wouldn't.

I stand by what I said. Footwear changes the vibe of an outfit. Take your dress + combat boots combination (which I wore too, in the 90s). Don't you think the combat boots change the vibe of the dress? Versus wearing traditional dainty heels?

I can wear my slouchy top and boyfriend skinnies with all the shoes I posted at the start of this thread. I can also wear them with gladiator sandals, flat oxfords and Converse. Each look works, and each lends the outfit a different vibe.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I am a big believer in footwear as an outfit changer for myself. I am not very difficult to fit but I have a very hard time walking in heels over 2 inches and rarely even try. I am most comfortable in flats or near flats. It somehow hasn't stopped me from amassing a very large shoe collection :-)!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I agree; I feel I've made the biggest changes in my style when I've changed my footwear.

NicVine2014

I often build my entire outfit around the shoe I want to wear that day!! So many women I talk to find that footwear can be a real obstacle to creating/finalising an outfit - such an important piece of the puzzle!

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I agree - and at least many flat or low heeled styles and even sneaks have made a comeback recently so the comfort factor isn't *as* hard. I still struggle though finding truly comfortable booties that I can wear all day without complaint if I'm going to be doing much walking.

rachylou

Veteran

Those Fluevog Baroques are way cool. I wish I had the discipline to buy a pair of boots like Coclico's, shoes without a gimmick (!)

Footwear is very defining, but it can be downplayed and forced into the backseat

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