Those are really beautiful booties, and I would have purchased them on looks alone! But I am glad that they are more good than bad, and extreme comfort goes a long way toward excusing other flaws in footwear! I am so glad you bought these!

MaybeGreg needs to add a sleuthing section to the site. Whatever they are,they look fabulous on you. I hope that your relationship is long and happy.

They look cool and a great color for you - very versatile grey! Wear with socks and maybe use a suede spray to protect the outside? You are lucky to live in a climate that (mostly) is nice to suede. Enjoy them

I am super late to this educational thread but so glad you got them, and incredibly impressed at your persistence and willpower!

Claire, Alaskagirl, bj1111 -- just cracking up at your comments!!!

Who knew that shoe linings could make me laugh.

Goodness! This story had a great beginning with promise and mystery... built to a crescendo....had a few plot twists... and then a happy ending! Talk about edge of seat!

So glad you and your (a-ma-zing) new boots will live happily ever after!

Oh, Claire, I can finally breathe again - I've been biting my nails through this thread! I love LDBs suggestion - imagining how your future self would react - and plan to use this myself. Please do post once you've worn them and let us know what your feet think of them!

I am so, so impressed by the amount of work you did before buying these. I would have bought them on the spot, worn them out to dinner, and had a good night's sleep -- all while looking fabulous.

The new booties look great and comfy too? Awesome find enjoy

They are beautiful. I have learned so much on this thread. And I have to say that I got a huge chuckle out of Belle's "Nancy Drew" comment. : )

This was such a great example of mindful acquisition.

Inspector ClearlyClaire, I am so happy you are detail-driven, because that teaches the rest of us. You must have very good eyesight to be able to see arrows pointing up and down inside the shoe.

Also, what is the water drop test? Did this determine, along with the arrow, that you have partial leather lining? The sides, but not the inner sole?

Now, we need to get you a Sherlock Holmes tweed deerstalker!

Oh! I am so glad you got these, and that they seem to have worked out in your favor of leather (mostly). SUCH a good color for you, I'm with Denise on grumbling about how difficult it is to find The Right Bootie in this shade of gray (I'm still looking). They look sharp on you, and the fit seems spot on.

I am so glad you did all this research and was so selective and particular - and that the boots met your expectations so far! Hooray!

Claire, really, truly, you are an inspiration, and you set the quality bar by which I look at my own acquisitions with fresh eyes (even when I fail to meet that bar!)

Oh my goodness, what a thrilling post! I'm so glad it ends well!

I'm trying to learn to listen to my gut when making purchases. I missed out on a FAB GAP mesh bomber jacket that was on sale and the last one in my size! Everything was pointing towards buy, but I kept thinking that I should wait and think if it is truly PPP, and when I had decided on buying a week later, it was gone and none available in my size even online.

I'm glad you listened to your gut and did your research right away. The booties look great, especially with the white jeans and gray sweater.

FWIW, KORS Michael Kors sells in Salon shoes, and Michael Michael Kors sells in Women's shoes at Nordstrom. This tells me that the pricepoint, and assuming the quality is higher with KORS line. (-: I think you made a great choice!

AJ, I hope you find your bomber aomewhere else, for an even better price.
Jenava, really?! That is great news! Nordstrom's salon shoes did not come up when I googled the brand. But I know your information is probably better. Thank you for that tidbit!