Sympathies Suz. I know this sounds daft & maybe not urchin enough but my silver leather booties worked brilliantly with my inks, blacks & navy

Suz, interesting discussion. Sometimes I do want to lighten up my winter outfits and do the bookending thing with my hair:). I have posted some pics of footwear that I felt worked well for this purpose.

#1 wedge sneakers, black with the white soles provided a subtle bookending.

#2 taupe suede boots work great with black and also with medium wash jeans creating a lower contrast and not stumpifying my legs.

#3 black and white animal print, like the sneaks, subtle bookending.

#4 black and white oxfords.

#5 white booties! I loved wearing these with skinny black jeans and oversized black topper. Nice and clean and simple and the high contrast looked great. Very distinct bookending.

What I notice is that for winter footwear that is black AND white would be my go to for bookending.

Not daft at all, Caro. I admired yours tremendously and I have just put these in my shopping cart.

Mary - meant to say -- YES -- I would like some light grey or houndstooth pants or trousers. Or jeans. Or whatever! Jeans would be best, actually, because washable.

Deborah, your taupe boots are the ones I am dreaming of! In fact, your outfits with those are some of the ones I have in mind in forming this ideal. If only I could find similar here! It's a bear to find reasonably dressy but not too dressy wearable taupe. I don't know why.

I love your other choices, too, and you are right - perhaps more than one colour in the boot helps to make it work. Hmmm. Good point.

Love those Suz - but you probably knew that

Is caramel/tan too warm for you? Seems like that might open more leather options than taupe, but again hard to find in a non-rugged boot.

As to bottoms: Do you wear corduroy? I think J Crew always carries a multitude of colors in winter, but I've never tried them so can't comment re cut, sizing, etc.

Thanks, Donna. I have a slight prejudice against corduroy. Which seriously limits my options, I know. Cords always, always bag out on me in a bad way and end up feeling frumpy. But I'm open to persuasion by the right pair -- they definitely offer the cozy factor.

And caramel/ tan is *okay* in footwear and I don't rule that out when I am looking. It's just...you're right. These tones tend much more to be done in rugged casual footwear.

If you are thinking boots, I can highly recommend the comfort and style of these http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/na.....ot/3289545. They are on deep discount at 6pm shoes, also. The heel is a smidge high for me or I would have them in my closet but they are super comfortable and easily go with skirts pants etc.

Oops, I think I linked to a red pair but they come in grey!

Carole - thank you! Sveta and Ceit each have those boots in a different colour. Hmm. I might have to check them out. Thanks again!

I bought these slate Frye oxfords last year thinking they were black. It turns out they were grey. I was kind of mad, but since then I've gone grey myself. They are really comfortable. In fact the first time I wore them was for a dancing class! I'm thinking of buying them in another color.

I thought you were looking for tall taupe dressy boots, Suz? Taupe booties - casual and dressy - are easy to find at the moment.

The tall taupe booties Zap linked to are beautiful - but still casual. Unless that level of casual is okay.

Thanks for the info, Sarah.

Suz, I was in the Loft today and they have rails of taupe jeans.

Umm, I see. Like Angie, I though you were looking for tall boots. Booties, thay should be much easier to find. I am afraid I got "nothin' else for ya" but I have seen the Cole Haans in person. They are gorgeous and the suede part is elastic. They fit a range of calf sizes. I'm sure you'll get all sorted, as Angie would say.

An interesting question with great responses! The things that popped into my head (some repeats here):

- printed pants that include light color(s)
- taupe, cream, or gray wool trousers
- tall light boots (something flat or baby wedge so there's more urchin-ness)
- create light colored vertical lines (e.g. with long light colored/printed scarves)
- a light colored coat
- darker shoes with light soles
- hats (either light or dark, depending on what the outfit needs)
- head-to-toe light to dark gradient (or the inverse)

Also, you will always be showing some skin, your face

I don't know if you remember but I've got a bit of a personal vendetta against wearing All Black All The Time in the winter. Often I throw bookending out the window entirely, however with very fair skin and very dark hair I can kind of cheat because I always have at least a little light and a little dark in any outfit. I think for incorporating lightness for you it's going to be more a question of OVERALL balance, rather than simple verticality. So it will be more a matter of including enough light elements in an outfit when the footwear is light; or dark if dark. Any way of achieving this while drawing the eye UP vertically is going to help with lengthening, of course.

A few pins for ideas (these would need Suz-ing up, of course!):
- Mostly dark with light shoes and a light printed scarf.
- Gray and black with a light top, dark hose, and light shoes.
- A single black element, and another one of Angie.
- The reverse, a single white element.
- Light shades all around.
- All dark with a POP of light shoes.
- Head-to-toe light-to-dark gradient.

I think Aida is spot on with her ideas about balancing light and dark in an outfit. Angie also suggested a series of ways to repeat colour/bookend in this post:
http://youlookfab.com/2013/10/.....ookending/

If finding the right footwear, or pair of bottoms, proves too difficult right now, why not consider using a light-coloured bag to bookend a dark coat/pants/boots outfit? LIght-coloured accessories are usually much easier to find than the perfect pair of boots. And, to Aida's point about overall light and dark balancing, even wearing a pant, or legging, in a mid-gray tone with a dark colored jacket and boots could still give the illusion of bookending and lightness.

I pinned these this morning after I read your thread. Are the too dark for you?

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/ni.....rt&co

Suz, I'm dark haired but I share the same frustrations as you in trying to "lighten up" the fall and winter wardrobe. I love darks in winter, but I feel like I am wearing *too much* dark! I too have been looking for taupe-colored pants and can't find anything. And I'm sick to death of black boots but can't find much brown (I'm like you and extremely difficult to fit in a boot). And I'm not a big fan of suede boots either, and as another poster pointed out, the lighter-colored boots tend to be suede.

I too have a prejudice against corduroy, but when I went to Gap the other day, I started changing my mind. The SA had on a pair of Gap cords that were an extremely fine corduroy--they looked like velvet. I had to take a close look to see that they were actually corduroy, because I couldn't believe it. So you might want to check out some cords just to verify that you really don't want this look. (I will say that the Gap cords were quite thin, though, so if you're looking for warmth, I wouldn't recommend. And it was only one line of their cords that was like that; the other lines were not so fine.)

As far as the boots go, I wonder if you waited one more year if you could find something. Lower heels are coming back in, and maybe next year there will be something more wearable. I was at White House Black Market today, and I heard the SA saying to someone, "Yes, we have lower heels now," so hopefully that trend will take off.

I wish I had more constructive suggestions for you! I guess all I can say is that I am sorry you are having such a difficult time. It's frustrating.

Hi Suz, so I haven't read all the responses but what about more mid browns and grays instead of super light tans and whites. I have similar coloring as you, natural mid to light blonde hair, blue eyes, fair skin. I had never heard of bookending until I joined this forum. I like to pair my cognac colored booties with dark and black jeans. I never really understood why this seemed to work but maybe it is because the color of the booties is very close to the darkest color in my hair. All dark is very harsh on me too, just stepping it back a bit with shoes that are a mid tone really helps.

PS. Your style is so impeccable, I am sure you will find something that looks stunning.

I have dark hair but I have plenty of light footwear and bottoms for winter;
- taupe Editors (unfortunately for dry fall and spring days only before snow comes because they are wide legs);
- taupe micro-check slouchy trousers
- cream trousers
-now also plaid Martins - they are on the light side too!

I actually struggle to have more dark bottoms but this year I have added black straight leg trousers and black ponte skinnies to my old black cigarette pants so I am all set for that!

I felt so rebellious wearing my winter white trousers last winter, it felt pretty good to defy the norm!

BR has grey jeans and cream jeans and these micro check grey trousers (they are gone in your size but may come back). You can always taper them to straight legs, it is a very simple alteration.

Express Columnist has some selection of lighter pants too. They are in Canada now but even if shipping from US it is fast and not too expensive. This is the style which Angie wears so it should work for you too. Check them out when you are next time in Toronto!

I obviously don't need to worry about light book ending but I have found this post and the responses positively fascinating. FWIW I think Aida has some fantastic info here.

Thank you all so much. Some great ideas and thoughts here.

Thank you, Marin. And yes, I think you are right that I can use some mid-tones to bookend -- they don't have to be super light. So I will definitely consider a mid grey or mid taupe. For pants as well as footwear.

Gigi, I think I saw the cords you mean. I might try them. Thank you.

Deb, alas -- those boots would be too tall and too wide in the shaft for me. I am really hard to fit in tall boots.

Gaylene, thank you; I thought of Angie's great post. I do have a light taupe bag that I can use to bring some harmony in. But I find it doesn't work all that well on its own, i.e. without other taupe or at least lighter elements in the outfit. Or at least it doesn't work when I try to combine colours. It's good with all black or all navy -- that works. Excellent with those and my darker taupe leather jacket. Not so good when I try to wear denim and a coloured top. Plus...my bag isn't always with me. I am in search of a wide taupe belt which could do the trick.

Aida, thank you for those suggestions and the inspirational pins.

"Often I throw bookending out the window entirely, however with very fair skin and very dark hair I can kind of cheat because I always have at least a little light and a little dark in any outfit. I think for incorporating lightness for you it's going to be more a question of OVERALL balance, rather than simple verticality."

This is the issue, exactly. Aiming to find that balance, still....

Angie, Zap - I'm actually looking for both. I think the tall boots will be a HEWI and that is okay. For now I would settle for some booties -- not super dressy, not super casual -- the kind I can wear in my daily life. Not rugged. Not "urchin" (not sure how that word crept in, but it's not part of my style description.) Refined and simple. Low heeled but not completely flat -- that doesn't work for me.

Suz, this is a fascinating thread, and I have been reading it with great interest. I have extremely similar coloring to you so all this would apply to me as well. My brain is pretty fuzzy these days so i can not offer any useful advice but I have spied a few potentially interesting items for you:

1. These boots!!! I am in love, but they are oh-so-pricey. The look more light grey on my screen, but the description says taupe. Check out their measurements:
http://www.saksfifthavenue.com.....38;PRODUCT

2.These jeans ( I believe Angie has them in white).. they look more grey on this site but more taupe on the other:
http://www.agjeans.com/the-sat.....;utm_campa
http://www.zappos.com/ag-adria.....cigarette-pant-sateen-gosling

3.These are more caramel, but they look like a cool, rosy caramel to me if that is not an oxymoron. I have them on order and they should arrive tomorrow:
http://www.amazon.com/Habitual.....id=1385003

Oh the links on this thread are killing me! Nothing else to add since you are already in good hands!

(Oh Tanya, those caramel jeans look awesome! I'd love to hear how you like them and the sizing runs, I've been wanting camel jeans forever now.)

Oh, Tanya. You NEED those boots! Those are gorgeous and wow, what a beautiful elegant wedge style. I think we both should have a pair. Hmm. I might have to stalk them. They might be a bit too narrow in the shaft for me -- my calf is about 13.5...but it depends on how much give the leather has. The shaft height would be ideal. And what a great combination. Elegant, textural, yet super comfortable with a wedge. Probably worth every penny. I would love to try them on.

I adore the AG jeans, too. Those look wonderful. I think I am going to go on a hunt for them. The colour (actually, several of the colours shown) would be just right.

And now I'm off to chase down the Amazon link. Rosy beige is good!

Thank you! It is so sweet of you to stop in when I know your poor brain must be exhausted and you have much more important things to be thinking about.

Oh, I could never afford those boots Suz, not in a million years. Especially now that I am super broke with all the medical bills. I would need to rob a bank or something. ( and my calves are 12.5"). In my experience, calf circumferences are always a little bigger than stated for very narrow boots.

You know, at this point, I do not want to think and worry about those more important things. I need a distraction, and fashion/YLF looks like a perfect one.

Here are the AG jeans in another potential color:
http://www.agjeans.com/store/p.....orid=10237

(Aida, will report on those jeans tomorrow/over the weekend).

More taupe options:
http://www1.bloomingdales.com/.....inny-in-ta
http://www1.bloomingdales.com/.....lfur-mocha?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DE.....n&cre

And just because I couldn't resist:

Blush dressy pants:
http://www.barneys.com/on/dema.....38;utm_sou

Suz, I haven't had time to read through this whole thread but I have been solving bookending issues with hats I just bought a light one as I have the opposite issue from you.

Also, remember that bookending doesn't have to occur. It was so brilliant and eye-opening when I first learned of the whole concept here, and still helps me with dressing every day - but sometimes it's not possible and that is okay too.

Fascinating thread Suz, thanks for asking the question. I'm settling down now with a pot of Lady Grey to follow the links.

I hear you! That's why I love my taupe wedge oxfords from DV (a few years old) and my grey Rag & Bone Newburys. I have a variety of grey jeans in different shades, I'm on my last leg of acquiring quite a collection. It's been hardest to find a lighter grey pair. I think I found a pair from Elizabeth and James, but am not 100% sure yet. Maybe I should post a k/r? Anyway I've noticed a lot of grey jeans at retail and on the internet. True it's harder, much harder to find a matching pair of grey ankle boots for the leg lengthening approach but that is what I have persevered with, almost successfully. Now the only thing I'm missing is a pair of grey low heeled booties, I found a taupe pair and hung onto them for way too long but the color was ultimately warmer than what I wanted. So I returned them.

ETA -- I think you know what side I lean on, I go for leg lengthening over bookending. Because I think you can bookend with other things than hair -- a bag, belt, jewelry.