Know anything about KORS? ETA: bought them! - YouLookFab Forum

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Know anything about KORS? ETA: bought them!

Anonymous

Hi my friends!

I need your help. I was at a consignment store this evening and fell in love with a pair of KORS Michael Kors taupe suede booties. The shop was closing just as I tried them on, and I nearly bought them on the spot, but I was texting Vicki and her DH about them and the voice(s) of reason said to sleep on it, as there are no returns or refunds at that store.

They are real leather with a leather sole, but there is no information printed inside the boot about the lining. It looks like it could be leather, but then again so did the lining on my last pair of booties. It cracked and started flaking off last year. Ideally, I would really like to know something about the particular diffusion line, so I can guess about the quality of the boots and the origin of the lining. The fact that they have leather soles makes them look expensive and like they should have leather lining, but then why didn't they advertise that by listing it with the other information?

My research online tells me that Michael Kors has 2 diffusion lines, KORS Michael Kors (which one source said was footwear) and the more widespread MICHAEL Michael Kors (which also includes some footwear). Is one diffusion line more expensive or better quality than the other? I know they are both much less expensive than the original, unadulterated Michael Kors designer brand, but I need help distinguishing between the two diffusion brands.

In other words, I don't want to pay too much for these boots, especially if there's a chance they are lined with pleather (which won't breathe and won't hold up over time)

Thank you so much if you can help!
Claire
xoxoxo

ETA: I'd like to be there when the doors open in the morning to buy these booties unless I find out something disappointing...

ETA: A lot of you know I am "bootie impaired". Can you tell me if these look right at the ankle, etc? I will likely only be able to get one pair of booties and I want them to be as stylish and well-fitting as possible (and I won't be able to return these). I covet your opinions, and thank you! I'm heading back to the consignment store now, but I'll check back on my phone.

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45 replies

Latest reply was from

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Claire, I don't know about the line, but there is usually a notation showing what is genuine leather on a shoe. If the lining wasn't indicated as leather, I'd be skeptical, as you are. that said, I just bought shoes that had a sticker inside with the leather symbol, and I removed the stickers immediately. So that could be the case with a consignment item.
Another thought: if the lining weren't leather, it might already be showing signs of cracking, since these boots presumably have been around at least a little while, yes?

Anonymous

Hi Sharan, thank you!
The boots look maybe a season or two old and the lining is in good shape. . Inside stamped on the lining it says "Leather Upper Leather Sole", and on the sole, there is that little hide picture with the Italian words "vero cuoio". Hmmm maybe I should ask Google translate what that means exactly.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

It just means real leather.

You know, I can't imagine that they'd be fake on the inside, with a leather sole and "upper." It seems to me that there would be some additional note if "upper" didn't include the lining.

P.S. hoping someone who knows something will chime in, too! LOL

Sarah A

Veteran

I have found imitation leather lining in lots of shoes/boots with leather uppers and leather soles so I would be skeptical. That said -- you have thrifted enough I think you probably have the feel test for real leather. Use you fingers there is a certain softness that doesn't grab in real leather than use your eyes... if it is perfectly regular it is artificial. Look for varying pores/creases in the skin of the animal. No real leather will be perfectly regular there will be small variation in the texture where the pores/wrinkles are slightly farther apart and closer together (you may need bright light and or magnification... I have more than one mistake I purchased in a poorly lit thrift shop....) Needless to say I think you can figure it out. The one pair of Micheal Kors flats I had (don't remember which diffusion line) did have leather linings (but were terribly uncomfortable and passed on from my closet.)

Also see if a small drop of water soaks in or beads up, it still might be real leather if it beads up depending on coatings but its another tool you can use.

Anonymous

Thank you again Sharan, you are enabling me!

Sarah, you are absolutely brilliant! I'll go back this morning with my 3X magnifying sewing glasses, lol! And I never in a million years would have thought of the drop of water test. I was planning to just wear them in the store for, like, an hour or something to see what they felt like (or until they kicked me out). This will be much easier. I can't thank you enough!

Anonymous

Bumping (selfishly, sorry)!

ironkurtin

Veteran

If it says vero cuoio, it's leather all the way through. Kors does not make crap in my experience, even in diffusion lines. I doubt it's pleather.

If you have doubts, you will need to look at it close up. I tend to look where there's an edge. If it's leather, it will have a rough-edged interior.

But really, I'd think it's a pretty safe bet if you love them.

labelzilla

I'm having difficulty digging up info on the KORS MK line. I've seen plenty of MICHAEL MK around. The most I could find was this blurb from Wikipedia:

"...the MICHAEL Michael Kors and KORS Michael Kors lines were launched in 2004. The MICHAEL line includes women's handbags and shoes as well as women's ready-to-wear apparel. The KORS line contains footwear and Jeans."

My gut says that if K MK is specific to denim and footwear it's slightly "lower" than M MK (thinking about DKNY vs DKNYJeans), BUT I don't see as how that'd be much of a problem.

Net-a-Porter of all places has a decent selection of M MK if you want to get a feel for retail pricing:

http://www.net-a-porter.com/Sh.....;dScroll=0

lyn67

Veteran

I know nothing about speciffic brand other than it has to be good, as all Michal Korses:-), but they look great on your feet! Hope they will be yours in the orning, keep my fingers crossed:-)

Anonymous

Thanks IK and labelzilla! Bad news. They *don't* say vero cuoio on the sole; they say "leather sole". The lining has a grain that is very uniform and a drop of water stayed beaded up on it, even when it sat there for several minutes. You guys don't know how close to buying these I came last night! I'm so glad I asked for advice here.
I may still get them, but I think I'll go have a coffee and think about it. o

Sarah A

Veteran

The look quite nice on you!

I know for my feet the lining would be a no-go but each person is different. Many people do just find with the synthetic linings. Hope you are enjoying your coffee

ironkurtin

Veteran

Why not call Kors customer service and ask?
http://www.michaelkors.com/bro.....act_us.jsp

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

Is there a number stamped inside the shoe, where the size and/or fabrication is stamped? You may be able to look it up online that way. I just tried Google, and then I went through eBay and couldn't find them. (YES. My alter ego is Nancy Drew, with a healthy dash of Gladys Kravitz.)

I don't know how fussy your feet are, or how much 'too much' costs for a gamble. But these do seem to be your style, and they look great. But... I think you have nice legs, so really, I cannot imagine a shoe not looking great on you. So I guess the questions to ask yourself, as you enjoy your coffee, are:

1) Is this worth the financial gamble if they turn out not to be divinely comfortable after you've worn them for a couple of hours?

2) Are these genuinely 'you', or are you looking at these with the rose-colored glasses of most-shoes-looking-good-on-you? Or will these really work with your style vision?

And... this is usually my deciding factor:

3) If I went back now to look again, and found someone had already bought them, how disappointed would I be?

If your answer is 'bitterly disappointed', then refer back to numbers 1 & 2.

If your answer is, "Not very", well then, you already know what decision to make

Anonymous

Sarah, my last pair of booties had a very realistic looking lining that ended up being synthetic. Now that I know how comfortable leather lined footwear is (hello AGL flats) I have set the bar higher for new purchases. My old booties would make my feet sweat a little, and then my feet would get so cold. And damp. Not a good combination in Winter. It's hard not to have consignment store goggles though. These are only $60, and I have that much in store credit. Argh! Would I pay full price for these? Probably not.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Wow, such great thoughts already. I wish I knew more about these MK lines. I do think they look amazing on you -- they are a WOW soft grey/taupe -- and...seriously, a Chelsea style (my particular sugar eye) -- and a great price....but. You do have to be comfortable.

I really l like LBD's final question -- it's a good guideline. Then again, your disappointment would probably depend. You might be super disappointed to miss out on them, but only if they are the quality you require.

Another point to ponder. You wear your flats barefoot, correct? And your booties....would you wear socks?

I ask because I find I can more easily tolerate a pleather lining in items where I will also be wearing socks. I make sure to wear breathable socks, and I am usually fine.

However, I live in a cold climate so my feet don't perspire a lot (except when exercising) in the winter time.

I completely agree about leather linings in all summer shoes, and I vastly prefer it in my winter shoes, too. But I do have some very comfortable booties that are lined in pleather, including a pair from Zara.

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

You know where I stand on this! I say BUY IMMEDIATELY. Firecracker/Sharan has now confirmed to me with the little Italian words "vero cuoio" you found that these are the real deal. I wouldn't be concerned about the MK diffusion line.

Wait! But, it does say "leather upper" correct?

Anonymous

IK, thanks for the idea! I called customer service and the very helpful person tried to no avail to answer my question and/or bring up an image of the booties on her computer screen. She did enlighten me on the KORS MK line, however. It is the bottom of the barrel, so to speak, beneath the MICHAEL MK line, lol! Good to know. Still, they're a pretty nice bootie.

LBD, thank you so much for using your sleuthing skillz to help a sister out! There is a number stamped inside! I tried on my own to pull up info on them online, but no luck. I used the number when I talked to MK customer service though (see above). Thank you for asking so really great questions! Luckily, I was able to get through the emotional "better buy quick" feelings and think this through clearly with everyone's help. After my coffee I went over to Last Chance to see if they had anything similar (fat chance, as I've been looking there all season). There were lots of low heeled booties, but none were as refined as this one, and none were as comfy. For the most part, they were all more cheaply made. I did find a gorgeous pair of high-heeled taupe suede booties that were leather inside and out, but they were also excruciatingly uncomfortable, so there's that. The low heeled booties were all too chunky for my calves and ankles--believe it or not, I have a hard time finding boots that are "dainty" enough for them. These are refined, comfortable, and light on my feet. When I slipped them on, they really felt like me, which is a first, and totally in line with my style vision (which was cemented when I saw all of the fabulous YLFers in Seattle wearing rolled pants and booties)!

Suz, more great questions! I think these would require the thinnest cotton sock. I tried them on with hose in the store and that made by foot slide all the way forward, mashing my toes. The merino ski socks I brought were way too heavy. I really wanted a Chelsea boot. I tried the SE Petty's and others that you and other forum members have, but they weren't a good fit. I like that these have a lower heel than my last pair of booties, and that it's not too Cuban (cowboy boot) looking. They are easy on/easy off, which is important for getting through airport security and life in a climate where the weather fluctuates a lot during the day.

Vicki, you are such an enabler! They turned out to not say vero cuoio, but the uppers and the sole are leather at least.

I thought, and thought, and thought about these...and because they are so comfortable (lining aside) and because I have such fussy feet that I almost never have the experience of putting on a shoe for the first time and having my feet say, "Ahhhh!" (like they did with these), and because I would have been bitterly disappointed *winking at LBD* if someone else bought these....I brought them home with me. I think they will be a wonderful, modern update to my F/W wardrobe. YAY! Thank you all so much for your patient input.

Ginkgo

Veteran

Thank goodness you brought them home, Claire! It sounds like socks will take care of any problem, and they do look so much "like you".

merwoman

Veteran

I love happy endings - those booties deserve a good home! They look great on you Claire - I particularly like the heel. It's really difficult for me to find a non-Cuban heel, so I settled for the pettys because they are extremely confortable for me. Glad you found a pair of booties that works for you.

Anonymous

Thanks, all!
BREAKING NEWS:
The saga continues! I just found a partially worn off sticker from the sole of the "other" boot (the one they had kept behind the counter)! After Googling the international textile label, I do believe that these indeed have a leather lining!!! What incredible luck!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

YAY!!!!!

A YLF PPP victory!! So happy for you!!

They're gorgeous and seem made for you.

jackiec

Veteran

OMG I am late to the party - but I am SO glad you got these!! I think I would have snapped 'em up in a heartbeat. Honestly, it has never dawned on me that a fully leather shoe would be lined in pleather. Wow. But that's coming from someone who often doesn't even look at a tag for fabric content until it's time to wash. Hard to believe I'm a type A.... Anyways these look absolutely fab on your feet. If you change your mind I'll buy them off you

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I think there is a difference between and all-synthetic lining and just the synthetic footpad. I often put another footpad in the bootie anyway. My only all-synthetic booties are the F21s that I wore at SSIF. They are a bit more sweaty than my leather upper shoes, but they are comfortable. Granted I am not a sweaty-foot girl. I hope these work for you. I remember searching for gray low-heeled booties last year (it seems from October through April I was buying and returning). I finally gave up. I tried so many pairs! I do have one pair of high-heeled booties (the Rag & Bone Newbury) so I've made do with that. So do keep in mind that this is a difficult-to-find item.

Anonymous

Thanks you Ginkgo, merwoman, Suz and jackiec!

I'm back again, a bit chagrined. After this I promise I will shut up!

After closer study, I see that my label means that the footbed lining (only) is leather. If the entire lining was leather, there would be an arrow pointing upwards, as well as downwards, and there is not. I did the water drop test on the lining just inside the shaft, so this makes sense. Oh well. At least there is leather right were my foot will be pressing. There's a bit of a gap at the ankle, so hopefully that will let some air in, lol!

I can't believe how emotionally exhausting making a purchase is, especially when you're trying to do the whole "quality over quantity" thing. I think I need a nap now.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I'm so glad you got them because they're lovely and I can see them working for you quite well. Fingers crossed that they are comfortable over time.

I had no idea that the combinations of leather and non-leather could be so various in shoes...

bj1111

Veteran

Claire you had me on tenterhooks with the mystery...will she or won't she? Is it leather or will her heart (feet) be broken yet again? I'm so glad you solved to mystery and walked home with the prize.

Those are amaze balls boots. Love that gray...much softer than black.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Yay! They look great on you. Amazing detective work too :-)!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

They're really pretty, Claire. I'm glad you felt comfortable enough to take the plunge. Enjoy your well-deserved nap!

Debbie

Veteran

They are beautiful! Glad you gift them.

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