https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/footwear-experiments-including-frye-shootie Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 10 Apr 2026 08:07:00 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/footwear-experiments-including-frye-shootie#post-1178580 Wed, 26 Feb 2014 17:26:00 +0000 unfrumped 1178580@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, such lovely, thoughtful and&nbsp;helpful replies.</p> <p>Suz, I'm afraid that when I size up in the Born, it will be too loose overall--but still trying. The issue I have is that a "summer oxford" has to fit even more precisely&nbsp;if worn with "bare" leg and skirt, or cropped pants,&nbsp;since the fit at the vamp and ankle is so noticeable.&nbsp;The pink sweater is a new AT ( hides head) sale item for a cool spring wardrobe refresher. It is a little more of a warm dusty pink than a perfect cool gray-pink, but it worked with quite a few things to springy-fy grays and blacks.</p> <p>clearlyclaire, that is a great thought--don't just rule out on appearance, but see if different brands provide different support and "stance" in the shoe which can affect stability. Hmm, more encouragement for retail research.</p> <p>shiny, I think you are right. In the past I've always considered taupe a good color but it is problematic for legs (except under pants). So my ideal nude-hose pairing shoe needs to be lighter. My hair reads brown but cooler, so the taupe does bookend--I think that's why I even considered it--but at the expense of being higher contrast with my legs.</p> <p>rabbit, thanks! I did put in an insole for this tryon and I actually think it made less gapping but I could not really see that it was enough that anyone could see (if&nbsp; that makes sense). The heel still slips. But, I agree, variations on insole, sock thickness (for pants footwear), or even tights (regular vs. fleece) or heel grippers are things I use before deciding yay or nay, if the adjustment can bring it to the right level.</p> <p>JAileen, those do look good! I haven't ruled out future Frye's, either--there is a definite comfort level there but the fit probably varies with the style. That is why I have been SO tempted by them when I put them on. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/footwear-experiments-including-frye-shootie#post-1178036 Wed, 26 Feb 2014 01:22:31 +0000 Anonymous 1178036@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hi there, something you mentioned about your "gateway" shoes caught my attention. It seems your inexpensive pair made you think you need a chunkier heel. From my recent experience trying Okala knock-offs (with exactly the same heel height and width) and the real thing, there was a huge difference in the stability of the shoes. Just&nbsp;<i>try</i> a few pairs that have the refined heel shape in a more expensive brand. They might be better engineered and more sturdy than you think. I highly recommend Nordstrom for trying shoes since they can be returned even if you've road tested them and they fail.&nbsp;</p> <p>I quite like the effect of the taupe shootie and the nude hose, but I'm not so keen on the dark hose. All of the sudden, nude hose are really growing on me. Good luck! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/footwear-experiments-including-frye-shootie#post-1178028 Wed, 26 Feb 2014 01:01:37 +0000 shiny 1178028@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Okay I got around to reading the rest of the replies. The taupe is just the wrong color for you, if you plan to wear these with bare legs -- it's a perfectly&nbsp;fine color with pants. But I'm not loving that shade&nbsp;with bare legs.&nbsp;</p> <p>I am *VERY* picky about the shade of my nude shoes. It has to have the right undertones for my skin tone, for me that's bluish/red/cool tones, rather than warm. It's just like picking the right shade of beige.</p> <p>I should add that I rarely wear black footwear with bare legs, because I'm blonde, but also because it's rather jarring effect with my pale legs. If I do wear black with bare legs, it's going to be a strappy sandal or pump with lots of vamp -- to show skin. It would be unlikely I'd wear black booties with bare legs, or probably not shooties either.... unless maybe it had tons of perforations or something.&nbsp;</p> <p>Unfrumped, I don't think I know what color your hair is??? Bookending makes a difference!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/footwear-experiments-including-frye-shootie#post-1178022 Wed, 26 Feb 2014 00:52:50 +0000 Suz 1178022@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I <b>love </b>those first two. Especially #1.&nbsp;They look wonderful! &nbsp;If comfort is there,,,,keep!!&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;I also quite like the Fryes and think the FPE is small enough (at least in photos) that it would not disturb me -- but you must be confident that they are "the ones" since they're expensive.&nbsp;</p> <p><b>SWOONING </b>over your skirt in 4 and the lovely fluid fit on the sweater there.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/footwear-experiments-including-frye-shootie#post-1178010 Wed, 26 Feb 2014 00:30:44 +0000 shiny 1178010@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, you have amazing taste in footwear. I'm dying over here.&nbsp;</p> <p>Without reading everyone else's replies:</p> <p>I love love love the first two.. the third I'd love if it was lighter in color. The ever so slight FPE&nbsp;actually doesn't bug me, but it just seems to be the wrong color for your "nude" and skin tone. Does that make sense? Is it available in a lighter version?&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/footwear-experiments-including-frye-shootie#post-1178000 Wed, 26 Feb 2014 00:16:30 +0000 rabbit 1178000@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think all the shoes you posted are very attractive. &nbsp;In terms of fit, have you tried putting a thin insole into the Fryes? &nbsp;That often lifts my foot in shoes just enough to have a tighter fit at the top. &nbsp;It can also add more cushioning to a walk around all day shoe. &nbsp;But if it doesn't work, I'd wait for a perfect fit too.</p> <p>I have pale legs and in the nude footwear internal debate tend to default&nbsp;to a gray, especially one with surface like this. &nbsp;I figure it won't show wear or dust half as much as a 'nude' and is closer to a bookend with hair that isn't light. &nbsp;Also while I think a nude/chestnut shoe can look great with a tanner leg, I'm not yet convinced it works well&nbsp;on me with very pale skin. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/footwear-experiments-including-frye-shootie#post-1177916 Tue, 25 Feb 2014 21:58:50 +0000 JAileen 1177916@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It's funny I bought some Frye oxfords several months ago thinking they were black and then they turned out to be grey (they were called slate, I think). I've been wearing them with pants and socks. I like their funky factor. I like that they look like western boots, but then when I cross my legs you can see that they're not. I think they're cut lower so there aren't any flower pot issues. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/footwear-experiments-including-frye-shootie#post-1177875 Tue, 25 Feb 2014 21:17:29 +0000 unfrumped 1177875@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Gigi, thank you for the observations and the style photo; you are confirming my reservations.</p> <p>A couple of months ago I&nbsp;bought&nbsp;a tapered-heel shootie/bootie that is a little gappy but was inexpensive. It has served as my "gateway" experience to trying a more dressy shootie look, and some new outfit looks, and I do not regret it. It also showed me I needed a heel a bit chunkier, though could be less than the Frye, to feel more stable for striding, if I wanted to be able to wear regularly.</p> <p>The Fryes are not cheap, and if so-so will not fill the wardrobe hole, and I will still want something else.<br />So in a lot of ways they are almosts, but I think I should view them as encouraging but not "the ones". I'm learning that if I'm really drawn to something that I'm really tempted to "settle", it means I love something about the style direction but &nbsp;I should try to find a better version. So hard to be PPP!</p> <p>Liz A., we had cross-posted. Thank you, and your question overlaps with Gigi's comment. If these shoes were a <u>perfect</u> fit,, and comfortable and "10"s, I might duplicate in more than one color, say for dark tights and for nude, or something. And if they were a perfect fit but I am only finding them in taupe, I think I would buy and use as much as I could. But I think the key issue is they are a bit too loose and gappy. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/footwear-experiments-including-frye-shootie#post-1177872 Tue, 25 Feb 2014 21:14:10 +0000 pastrygirl 1177872@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm also looking for a nude oxford look, and tried those same Borns on yesterday. I <i>almost</i> got them but&nbsp;they didn't quite work for me. In the meantime, I have a pair of Clarks (Charlie Cap in bronze) that I'm hoping will work. I thought about buying the Borns and returning the Clarks but decided not to.</p> <p>I really like the Fryes look on you! I agree that you'd probably still end up with a nude shoe on your list. I still have them on my list, even with the Clarks, because they provide too much contrast against my pale leg.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/footwear-experiments-including-frye-shootie#post-1177853 Tue, 25 Feb 2014 20:47:52 +0000 Gigi 1177853@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Unfrumped, I have a similar build as you, and if it were me, I would return the Fryes. I think that the chunky heel plus the gapping are too much for your frame. However, I think you should keep looking if you are so inclined and not just settle for flats. I think that you could possibly find a chunky heel that is less chunky than this one. For example, I have these (I think a couple of other fabbers have them too):</p> <p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.famousfootwear.com/en-US/Product/26572-1028128/Clarks/Tan+Leather/Womens+Sapphire+Athena.aspx"><a href="http://www.famousfootwear.com/en-US/Product/26572-1028128/Clarks/Tan+Leather/Womens+Sapphire+Athena" rel="nofollow">http://www.famousfootwear.com/.....ire+Athena</a>.</a></p> <p>The heel is chunky, but not too chunky, and I think the fact that the heel doesn't go so straight up and down makes it a little more suited to people with&nbsp;slender frames. I don't know that you would want these particular shoes--they're 3" heels, I think, which may be too high for all day--but I just wanted to show an example of a chunky heel I found that I felt was complementary to my frame.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/footwear-experiments-including-frye-shootie#post-1177792 Tue, 25 Feb 2014 19:46:04 +0000 unfrumped 1177792@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ah, Thistle, you can never be no help! Thanks for chiming in.</p> <p>I just got the delivery last night so have not had time to do the walk-about, and to try with pants and see if only works one way, or what. And I "don't get out much" which means I have not tried as many brands of shooties or short booties as i would like. </p> <p>I'm pretty sure I would like a paler color and I thought that would be everywhere, and there are a lot of nude footwear, but by the time you factor in heel height and heel width, and boot shaft and material and decorations and such, I haven't seen as many contenders as I thought I would. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/footwear-experiments-including-frye-shootie#post-1177789 Tue, 25 Feb 2014 19:42:06 +0000 Liz A. 1177789@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wish I could enlarge the pictures, but from here I like it a lot.&nbsp; I see the FPE since you pointed it, but probably wouldn't have noticed it in action.&nbsp; I like the color on you.&nbsp; Doesn't look too high contrast.&nbsp; And I love the style and heel height.&nbsp; My only question is do you want this color and a nude color? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/footwear-experiments-including-frye-shootie#post-1177780 Tue, 25 Feb 2014 19:38:09 +0000 Thistle 1177780@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Can't get over the fab skirt in #4!!&nbsp; I love #4 as styles.</p> <p>So, I love all of the shoes you have shown here. I really am no help. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/footwear-experiments-including-frye-shootie#post-1177754 Tue, 25 Feb 2014 19:20:40 +0000 unfrumped 1177754@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Posting some shoe pics and I still have a couple of pairs of black boots on order (despite telling myself I would not do late-season shopping).</p> <p>Tourguide:<br /> Have been looking for shoes to wear with nude ankle look (skirts, or pants with nude knee hose) for spring and summer, not with winter tights.</p> <p>Including close-ups of 2 I’m not keeping in case anyone else is looking. Sorry the perspective is weird<br /> #1 is Born Ashleigh tricolor oxford, and I really want to love it but it probably is not going to fit right. This is sz 8, probably too short but too roomy through vamp.<br /> #2 J. Simpson fits more “ladylike” and trim, but the cognac parts are stiff and somewhat cheap-looking and also it isn’t playing well as I thought it might. There is a pink/white version that I thought was just too sweet for me.</p> <p>#3 - 6 is questions: Frye Courtney in “gray” which is more taupe. 3-5 with sheer nude hose and 6 with off-black. Trying to find a lower-contrast shootie with fit. But, it gaps at the vamp on my low-volume foot. </p> <p> Pro’s: I still like it—or maybe, I like a lot of things about it; I like being a little cheeky with some heel, and I need a chunky heel vs. tapered, for work; the toe is slightly tapered, though not pointy. I feel like I’m kinda getting an eye for accepting the pale-leg contrast thing and the bootie with sheer hose as being an updated alternative flats, if not too dark.<br /> Con’s: it may be still too flower-potty and worse in a shootie than boote. It’s not nude, is medium-dark, so gives more pale-leg/dark foot contrast than ideal—will still have a more nude version on my list. Chunky foot/thin calf thing may not be my best and I should stick with flats?</p> <p>So, not just K/R but direction to go in. What are your thoughts on #3 as being an improvement, or good alternative to flats, or not good enough? Focus on a modern loafer? Aspire to something like the Frye but keep looking for a better version? Frye style still too "chunky"?</p> <p>Any comments and suggestions welcome. </p>