alternative pointy toe flats - YouLookFab Forum

Today I returned the Stuart Weitzman flats from NAS that didn't work out for me. I came home with an alternative pair to try, the Cole Haan Amelia, in Ironstone: a gray leather back part, with a silver and gray striated front part of the half-d"Orsay shoe (photo 1).

I like the look and feel of the shoe on my foot. It's comfortable, for a flat. My reservation about it is that it is a similar color to the light gray Mary Jane d'Orsay style I got earlier this summer by the brand Think! (photo 2). The shoes are quite different in character, admittedly, but I would wear them with some similar outfits, I imagine.

Why am I searching for a pointy-toed flat? I can't say they really fill a wardrobe hole. My main impulse is to have an updated pair of flats. I have several pairs of AGL almond-toe flats (black, mauve, platinum, denim), and when AGL came out with pointy ones last year, I was attracted to the new look. I don't really want more of the belted style, though. I do like the non-belted AGLs in Finds below, the pointy cap toe ballet flat, but I can't find them in my size, and I think I like the style of the Cole Haans a bit better, as they seem more modern and versatile.

I'm debating whether to order a different color in the Cole Haan Amalia, so I'm not duplicating the light blue-gray color family. Perhaps the black and gray-snake combo ("Sahara snake") or the black and black-beige ("black/cashew") ones below. But I do find the silvery gray combo very pretty, and I actually think the gray seems to go with more clothes in my wardrobe.

What say you all? Thoughts on color? Or on this style for me?

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Nordstrom

Stuart Weitzman 'Flatly' Pointy Toe Loafer (Women) (Nordstrom Exclusive)

$445.00 $222.49

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Nordstrom

Cole Haan 'Amalia' Half d'Orsay Flat (Women)

$218.00

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Amazon

Cole Haan Women's Amalia Skimmer Ballet Flat

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Cole Haan Women's Amalia Skimmer Ballet Flat

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Attilio Giusti Leombruni AGL Attilio Giusti Leombruni Pointy Toe Cap Ballet Flat (Women)

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by Firecracker (Sharan)

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8 years ago

Joy

Veteran

I really like #1 on you and think you should keep them if they are comfortable. I also really like the black and snake version in your Finds and think that you would have many outfits for these beauties.

Cerinda

Yeah, there's something about how much impact an updated shoe has. I find snake even more versatile than grey, so that one gets my vote; but then again the gray flats are a bit more polished/dressy than the Mary Janes, so they are not really duplicating...

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

I think the new flats have a much different feel and would work with a skirt or dress and am not sure the pair they are competing with would be able to support the more refined looks.

I vote yay.

Brooklyn

I vote keep too. They look really good. And I think that colour is very versatile. You could split wears with the other pair to the extent that there is a duplication.

unfrumped

Not sure what color is best but the style has different wear opportunities, I think. You've showed an ankle isn't look, but j also like this type of shoe vamp with narrow or straight pants worn long, which takes me into cooler weather or seasonal vibe.
I have mostly given up on pointy shoes as bad for my feet so that's another issue-- it may be possible to wear these for an update or to get a certain look, but still want more " true comfort" to trade off and not over- wear pointy's.

Oops, was " ankle pants look" before my phone changed it.

Suz

I like the new ones a lot if they are comfortable. To my mind, they have a very different feel than your current shoes, which are arty/ funky. The new ones are more streamlined/ modern. Maybe this is the issue -- you said you feel you'd wear the new ones more often, perhaps, or with the same kinds of outfits. That makes sense. But are you sensing a slight style evolution, maybe?

Any of the other colours could work great, but I vote for a snake print. Print footwear is incredibly fun and versatile in my experience.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Thanks for your comments, everyone. You are all seeing the flats as more refined, polished, dressy, streamlined, modern, and so probably not that much of a duplication with my Mary Janes. I appreciate your input on the color choices, too. There is less clarity in that aspect, but it may be resolved best by ordering another color to compare.

unfrumped, you bring up a good point. The pointy flats are not in the same comfort category as the Think! shoes. I would not take the pointy flats as all-day sightseeing shoes on vacation, whereas the Mary Janes have just fulfilled that role this summer, and beautifully. So maybe that function alone is a reason to have a shoe in my wardrobe. (I was worrying about displacing the Mary Janes.)

Suz, you bring up a point that I was wondering about, too. I hadn't really thought in terms of a style evolution but more of competing impulses in my style. Can these two shoes belong to the same person, if she has a cohesive style? I kind of go back and forth between wanting an arty vibe and an elegant one--all while dressing very casually 90 percent of the time. I think the arty shoes and the elegant or more streamlined ones can go with the types of clothes I wear. It's a surprise to see how different they skew when viewed apart from the wardrobe, though.

Okay, I'm thinking I may need to order the snake print ones to compare! (They are less than half the price of the gray ones, too, but I'm trying to judge on what I really want rather than get a shoe for its bargain price.)

I think you already answered your own question, at least in part -- sure those two shoes can belong to the same person if she has varied needs. One takes you on vacation and works with your clothes; the other allows you to add a bit more elegance to the look when you don't have to do quite as much walking.

I think in a similar situation I might choose the simpler more streamlined shoes with artier looking clothes, and the artier shoes with simpler clothes. If that makes any sense. To keep the arty/ elegant balance where you like it. Too much detailing on every clothing item ends up confusing the eye -- no focal point. Not enough detailing just looks dull. Of course our personal tolerance for detailing varies along with our style personae, but while there's definitely a continuum, there is also probably a place of no return in either direction, if you know what I mean.

That's a good thought, Suz. I think I may find myself doing that to some extent, as I can reach a point where I feel there's too much "arty" going on in an outfit I'm wearing, and I'll tone it down in one way or another.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

I saw these in person on you yesterday - and loved them, Sharan. They bookend your hair perfectly and look elegant and fashionable on the foot. A different animal to the casual mary janes.

carter

Please order the snakeskin pair. And while you're at it, it would be really awesome if you wear the same size as me. There is one remaining in size 8M, and my willpower is waning!

UmmLila (Lisa)

I like the more elegant look for you.

Anonymous

agreeing that the two styles are similar only in color, very different in style, and I much prefer the elegance of the first.

Deborah

I think they are totally different shoes, and if you love the colour then you have some variety with two differing styles in similar tones. I do this with my black all the time, so I say keep them.

Jaime

The two pairs are very distinct to me and would work with different outfits. It wouldn't bother me that they are the same color but the snakeskin is great too.

Carter, you're funny. I just ordered them. I'll share them with you. Hope you can squeeze into a 7.5.

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