Are Booties Appropriate with a Suit?

Aquamarine

I am wondering if black low-heeled (~2 inches) booties are appropriate under a black suit for interviews. Not for myself, but for someone who will be interviewing for professional schools in a cold, very snowy climate. The interviews will include tours of campuses, so lots of walking in and out of buildings.

This has become a brutal winter in the NE, and pumps/dressy heels are out of the question. Changing in and out of boots is also a bit impractical, I think, in addition to all the other stressors of these interviews. Plus, traffic in and out of buildings is making all floors super slippery. Winter has become truly hazardous around here.

The booties are neat and simple..Clarks, I think. The suit pants are a trendier tapered version. So I think the hems *should* be OK if climbing over ginormous snow banks isn't part of the tours I would like to think that opting for common sense by wearing practical shoes should count for something, but I don't know...

10 years ago

Dressing

12 replies

Latest reply was from shiny

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I cannot imagine that the type of booties you describe would be inappropriate in this situation (or many others, for that matter). If they match the trousers there will be a long leg line and no one will think twice.

10 years ago

Diana

Veteran

A pants suit, definitely. This is actually the #1 reason why I went for a pants suit instead of a skirt suit, because I can wear far more comfortable shoes.

10 years ago

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

What Suz and Diana said - dressy refined black booties should be fine with a pants suit.

10 years ago

K.M.

Veteran

I don't know if everyone would agree, but I have worn booties with a suit for a job interview at a Midwestern university (so I suppose a similar setting?). It was during last year's polar vortex and I don't think anyone would have expected me to be sporting dainty heels. I wore the booties with a bootcut suit the first day, and with skinny black pants the next.

The tour also involved walking around campus, inside buildings etc. And everyone was wearing sensible shoes.

(PS. I got the job, so I think the booties passed the test!)

This also reminds me of another professional interview I had at a different campus many, many years ago, on the West Coast. Weather wasn't a concern (mild Northern Cali winter). I wore a pair of very impractical black boots with pointy toes and slim high heels. I was comfortable enough in them walking around during the campus tour, but it was a very hilly, "nature-preserve" type of campus, and one of the search committee members actually remarked on my shoes concerned that I might not be comfortable! (And as part of that campus culture, people wore sportier, more practical things).

I also got that job, so then again, even when my footwear stood out, things turned out fine.

Not sure what type of position your friend is interviewing for. I'm a faculty member so dress codes are not so strict, at least in my field. If she's interviewing for an administrative or staff position it might be a little different?

10 years ago

gryffin

Veteran

Gosh aquamarine I hope so since I wear booties wtih suits all the time. Although I do tend to keep them sleek, I will funk up the suit with a trendier booties. Some examples below..

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10 years ago

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

I wore booties with suit pants once, and the pants kept getting caught inside the bootie. Hopefully not an issue for you.

10 years ago

Summer

Veteran

It sounds perfectly sensible and thoroughly appropriate to me.

10 years ago

Anonymous

I'd use common sense and wear footwear that's appropriate for the weather conditions and amount of walking required. I'm sure there are boots that will look just fine with suit pants. You'll have to find some that will work with the width of the pant leg opening.

10 years ago

Staysfit

Veteran

Absolutely acceptable!

10 years ago

margaretz

Active Member

I wear booties with suit pants! Narrow, close at the ankle style booties in black. These would be fine for an interview in rainy or snowy weather.

10 years ago

Aquamarine

Veteran

Thank you all for your thoughts. So glad to hear booties will be fine. Yes, they are sleek but stable, and should fit nicely under the narrow pant opening.

I knew I could count on YLF for advice.

10 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Absolutely! Keep them sleek, but also sensible for the weather conditions.

10 years ago

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