I love the zebra boot - but only keep if you think you will wear them. Pattern boots are really fun and liven up basics. Also, I find a bold print like zebra easier to wear in a smaller piece like a boot or handbag than in an article of clothing (such as a zebra coat).

Black boots and jeans both look great, the jeans are a nice length to show off those zebra boots.

Splat. The zebras are blowing me away. LOVE them with your hair and think they will work to punch up many outfits.

Big massive box of boots has such a nice sound Another thumbs up for the zebra boots-if You love them! They definitely don't look weird to me either.

Love zebra booties. Please keep. Hope I will not be tempted to start looking for zebra booties my self since I just ordered snakeskin pair. And I have those same jeans, so of course I am enabling.

OMG, I LOVE the zebra boots! They look fantastic. Now I want them. And I just got snakeskin booties and cannot order. Gah!

The jeans also look sensational on you. You do that silhouette so very well!

Love the Blondos, too. Super smart looking and practical. Altogether a great score!

Lisa P, I hope you're feeling okay. NOT fun and take care

YES! Lots more questions this time because you mentioned that you lost your way earlier this year, that you spent a lot of money on items that did not make a difference or make you happy, and that you have a lot of wardrobe items. Sooooooo, let's be more discerning and a little analytical about it - but of course, with a good amount of emotion! Hope that makes sense.

Jeans look great - the boots I'm not as certain about since they are a little bold and thus more memorable. I have a hard time with bold animal prints in general.

I think you can pull off the zebra boots. Are you comfortable with that level of contrast? And can you make great outfits with them? I agree with Brooklyn that they’re really more like white boots than black ones.

I have those jeans (mine are the curvy cut) and have been wearing them all summer.

Lisa - I really like the zebra. Fun, elegant, graphic and unique. I think think the black blondos are super too. The link gives a lot more detail. I love the play of the mixed media and give me a great sock bootie any time. Waterproof, comfortable and I love a lug sole. I'm totally into pointy toe booties. I wish I could wear that high a heel. Both gorgeous. I think the zebra will ramp up the cool factor of any outfit. I'd love to see it dressy with a black pants and blazer. So many nice combos. Cute jeans. I'm currently into cropped boyfriends, but these look great on you! Enjoy your new goodies!!

Gah - so much to read , thank you! Sorry for not being right here to jump in on my own thread -

Angie's pointed questions really set me back on my heels, and I had a lot to think about last night and this morning. Quite frankly, there was no plan involved in any of this buying, and of course , I feel quite sheepish admitting that. I should know better, after all these years here, yet planning still eludes me. I usually buy a few new pair of boots/footwear every season, still wearing the older ones from other years but I really like to have pristine, up-to-date footwear and relegate the older footwear to less "important" occasions (non-work etc) . That said, none of this came with a plan, other than a vague notion of wanting a black/grey/white based reptile or animal print boot. The black ones were a happy accidental find, what can I say?

But you know, I am not happy with how I approach my buying, and again, Angie, you really made a point that I'm not sure what to do with right now. You asked, what do you want to update with your new jeans purchases? What looks are you trying to refresh? The problem is, I honestly don't know how to go about setting out a plan, how to make the time to sit and focus on this with the intent it deserves, when so much money is involved. I do like a cropped flare, as it shows off boots nicely, and I don't have a pair in plain denim that isn't distressed or unhemmed. I can wear these for work quite easily. That said, I do see that maybe this isn't my best , most flattering look, as I said myself it seems to visually shorten and thicken the legs. So - that kind of hit home too.

I'm now thoroughly confused. I think that's another whole post though

gryffin - the heel on the Blonde is deceiving. It doesn't feel high at all, although they wouldn't be all-day-on-your-feet boots for me.

Jenn - good point regarding the level of contrast.. It is somewhat outside of my comfort zone, but not in a bad way, I hope. And yes, they do read as "white" rather than "black", but I'm ok with that, in fact quite like that part

Suz - all just what I needed to hear Thanks for being such an enabler ! In all seriousness, your opinion is highly valued, thank you.

Bijou , kyle, anchie - funny, I've never owned patterned boots before. Ever. I'll happily do a wild coat or sweater or scarf, but just have never seen a pair of patterned boots I liked before. This fall season is killing me - so much to choose from , finally!

I'm laughing at all of the photos of zebras-from-above. Glad to know these are somewhat authentically drawn, even if they actually do look like heart valves or branches

Deb - no seam down the middle, thankfully. I don't like that either. I think you'd be disappointed in the Madewells if you saw them in person. The leather looked really cheap. Totally off-putting .

And thank you all for validating my choice - to use an Angie term I do like the crazy contrast and am not at all uncomfortable with it. In my climate - snow and ice for months on end,and being in a coat all day, my footwear is where I can make a statement . No one ever sees my actual clothes in winter !

Hah, Lisa &LOL I've thought it only happens to me: "I swear my legs are getting shorter and curvier, which I can't get over - what is happening to me??" I've really thought on this long and hard, are the bones in my legs getting shorter with age??? I did have long legs in my youth-was practicing classic ballet for years, so how did this happen. Then a bulb went on -it's the altered visuals, only...but stll bad, very bad:-(. Think of some sticks in a right angle for ex-like our legs when seated- then put on those sticks some modelling clay/plasticine, then more and more, and so get a growing bulk especially where the the joint is, so you start loose the sticks' original lengths and they appear shorter...Not to speak about the curves in 3D! LOL, again!:-)

BTW, really love your new baby bootcuts(wish me a pair, too) and the new booties, but don't know about the zebra ones. I really like them on others and in theory! They are looking great on your feet, are sleek and one of my fave bright&neutral print (zebra) BUT they really bring the eyes down there-

It's great when our eyes move up and down...but not so much when they're not coming back up...:-( so they can wear one. At least this was my very own experience with some high contrast printed shoes- whenever I tried them. I guess I personally am unfortunately not that of a bold face to compete with them. I can only do with lower contrast prints(leo) on my shoes and when comes to brights and bolders I can only do uni(like bright white, yellow, magenta).
It all depends on the person.

If you don't have a pair of non-distressed or unhemmed dark jeans to show off your fab shoe collection, would that be a wardrobe hole that this pair of jeans would fill? FWIW, I don't think your legs look thick or short in the photo you posted but only you know how you feel in them.

I love the zebra booties! For me personally, I would probably only wear them with an ultra-minimal outfit though - they would look amazing with a dark column-of-colour - but as you well know I'm not exactly brave with fashion! That would be the only consideration though - are there enough outfits you'd wear them with to justify them. They look awesome!

I had some of the same questions as Angie based on your recent posts about shopping/unhappiness and it sounds like you've actually answered some of them already. The jeans ARE different from anything you currently own and it's a silhouette you like so not something trendy that you won't like in a couple months. I love the zebra boots and it sounds like you've thought about the outfits that you're planning to wear them with. It makes sense to add pattern with your footwear in the winter when nothing else can be seen.

I am a sucker for black’n’white, probably due to my salt’n’pepper hair, but I wanted to share with you that I have a zebra belt that I NEVER wear. I thought it was a slam dunk, but maybe it is a bit too much contrast. I have noticed that we’re a bunch of enablers at YLF, so keep that in mind, too.

What Sara L said about the recent post and Angie’s questions. I just checked that post with its 92 comments, it’s only a month old. You were worried about bright colours and I do wonder if these zebra boots would also be something you might end up not wearing enough to be happy- because they are very memorable. So rather than enable I raise you that question.

Lisa P, I'm trying to help, although it may not come through that way.

I could have enabled the whole lot, and kept it short and sweet. Maybe that would have made you happy now - but the point is whether these purchases will make you as happy later, since that's where you struggle. So I'm taking the time to work through this with you - FWIW

If you were my client, this is what we would have done:

• Pulled out the jeans that you will wear over the next three to six months, and assessed them. What are you happy with, and what are you not happy with? Is there too much repetition, or do you need to duplicate? Do you want to evolve the silhouettes? (You just mentioned in Janet's jeans thread that you have 500 million pairs of pants and jeans! Let's give the new purchases some extra thought. Do they earn a place in your wardrobe?) I think the cropped flares are super cute btw, and they're a top pick too. They are totally flattering.

• Pulled out your black pairs of boots and assessed them. Is there too much repetition, or do you need to duplicate? Do you want to evolve the silhouettes? Are they right for your climate? Do you want two more pairs of black boots? Or is another colour the answer?

• Created outfits with the new zebra boots and assessed whether you liked them, and how you felt in them. Do you have the items that work with the boots to create fab completed outfits? Or do you need to purchase more to make them work. If so, is that something that you want to do?

This sounds time consuming and overwhelming, but it isn't. It's an hour extra of your life probably, and not an un-fun one! It's worth it. The more you practice the process, the easier it becomes over time.

Angie - I am going to take this very process as I am struggling a bit with pants/jeans at the moment....thank you!!

Sal, that's great! Here to help with my two cents if you need it.

Angie, I am going to do your process with my wardrobe. Lisa, I have a love for zebras. Well, I have a love for anything animal. I don't think they are too weird. They are attention grabbing but so what.
I love the jeans too.

Angie, I’m so glad you posted that response — SO valuable for all of us.

I’m glad I did that jeans inventory. I had actually forgotten about a couple of pairs. It was only by taking out every single pair and trying them on that I truly remembered what I have, how each pair fits, how each works with various footwear, etc. Truly worthwhile.

We have to know what we have and how it’s working for us before we can add thoughtfully. I now know that I could add one pair of dressier trousers (like the cinnamon Theory pants if I decide to keep them), and replace my old low-rise faded Gap flares and Love Story jeans with some newer lighter wash bootcuts with a higher rise. And that’s it for now unless I decide some new silhouette is irresistible!

Lisa, I feel like the jeans and the black boots are almost no-brainers for you as long as they’re not redundant with what you already have in a way that’s not useful (I personally find it very useful to have 2 or 3 similar jeans in my favorite silhouettes, and good black boots are a slam dunk). The zebras may be more of a wild card, but they are super cool, a great accent with your winter coat-dominated outfits (try them on with your coats to be sure you love the effect!), and are neutral yet interesting. But you need to reach for them! Keep us posted.

Angie - YES ! I know you were /are helping and I was responding (or tried to) acknowledging the challenge you laid out . SO valuable. And you're right : I initially reacted as you predicted - thinking this will take so much time and focus, and I'll lose the plot half-way through. This is typical of how I operate with everything though, and I'm the first one to admit it. But here you've laid out the process, and I will be copying this and keeping it for future wardrobe planning.

Anyways - I probably don't *need* two new pair of black boots, and maybe this is the season where I finally put into practice all that I preach about wanting to do. Wear out what I have instead of constantly replacing and refreshing. I think my jeans collection needs weeding out - and that will happen tomorrow. I will be keeping these Madewells, and am happy to see how many others have and love them - and that they were a top pick too!

Lisa, I know you can do it, and not lose the plot halfway! It's not hard. Allow yourself to give it a bash.

By *need*, I mean in a first-world-fashion-loving-sense, of course

If two pairs of black boots is what you need to refresh this season - one fashionable and one weatherproof - then that's great. I'm making sure you are addressing the right needs.

Style Fan, glad that bit of info was helpful.

Janet, EXACTLY. That's the process, and you've grasped it beautifully.

*carries off Angie’s post, tapes it inside the door of her closet *

Wow! I’m so glad I decided to keep reading because there is a goldmine of wisdom in this thread! Angie’s process for assessing whether to add an item to a wardrobe is going into my fashion wisdom archive next to my other favorites about how to do a closet edit; and the definitions of basics, essentials and statements!