Ask Angie (and all): help me evaluate my tall boots - YouLookFab Forum

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Ask Angie (and all): help me evaluate my tall boots

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I'm taking a bit of time today to put away the most summer-y of my footwear and take a good look at my F/W footwear.

I like my bootie collection pretty well, and of course, I have my little cowboy boot collection as well (pic 11), but in pulling my tall boots out of hibernation, I'm thinking it may be time for a thoughtful cull and refresh. Most of my tall boots have been in my closet for 5-10 years.

So, if you can spare a moment, I'd love a reaction on how these work for my style moving forward.

1 Chocolate brown Peter Kaiser - at least 5 yrs old. Classic & comfortable, but I kind of wish I had cognac.

2 Cordani black nubuck - probably 5+ years old and I have worn these a ton. The Ugg Cortonas have taken up some of the wear for these, but these are still good for a rugged day.

3 black SW 50/50s. 2 yrs old. Not frequently worn but very comfortable. Only wear with skinnies tucked in.

4 dark red Fryes - 3 yrs old. Nice but I'm craving a sleeker look these days. Very round toe.

5 taupe Fryes - 3-4 yrs old. Sooo comfortable. Good for casual rugged wear, and with skinnies. Planning to keep.

6 bronze Donald Pliners - 5+ yrs old, very pointy toe, only worn on occasions. Not great for walking. Dated, or coming back around?

7 lace up black Fryes - 2-3 yrs old. Nice style but I end up wearing the Cortonas more for comfort reasons.

8 grey J Brand - 3+ yrs old. Comfort is not bad but I feel like these read a little boho for me. Would like a sleeker grey boot. Worn just a couple of times last winter and not sure they're me anymore.

9 black Fryes - 8+ years old. Once these were workhorses but the heel is a little high for all-day wear. I like the style but infrequently worn. I think I wore them once last winter.

10 blue Eject boots - 3 yrs old - didn't wear at all last winter - mid-calf height is tricky. Not sure these are me anymore.

So, what do you think? Any suggestions for replacements/upgrades?

Please be brutal if necessary. If I end up selling a few, that would easily fund a couple of great new replacements.

Thanks in advance for your help!!

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24 replies

Latest reply was from Gigi

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

2 (rugged and too casual for you), 6 (too pointy with the thin heel), 9 (just - not excited) would be my candidates. Gut reaction.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Is 11 the ones you ARE keeping?

rute

Veteran

I know pointy toes are back, mas 6 seems dated..I feel 7 os dated also and I' not in love with 10

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Elizabeth, 11 is cowboy boots and shorter boots/booties. I'd say most of those are sticking around. There are maybe 1-2 prs that can probably go.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Quick response: Pass on #2, 6, 8 and 9.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Sorry reread and see you mentioned this photo up front. But I have
another question Can you post a pic of the Cortona's, so we can see
what you are comparing several of them to?

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Good suggestion, Elizabeth -- here are the Cortonas from my Finds. They are convertible -- from Chelsea boot to tall boot. I wear them both ways. Not as easy to put on as tall boots. Love them but not the greatest with skirts/dresses. Would love to keep/get a sleek black boot for midi lengths.

UGG Australia Women's Cortona

View Info

Top Pick

5

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Well, the ones I think I'd get rid of are 6, they are just too... pointy. Also not a personal fan of #10. At least not from this angle, maybe they look different on.
#9 looks like they would best be worn under pants, as they aren't really tall enough for dresses/skirts - so maybe they are sort of duplicated in your shorter boot collection?

I can see that a sleek black boot would serve you well.

kkards

Veteran

1st love what i can see of the low boot/booties.
my initial thoughts on the high booties --keep 1,2 and 3. maybe put 4 in a holding zone, there is something interesting about them, but i can see not wanting to wear them now.

Banoffi

Veteran

I would get rid of #6 - they look dated.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

First instinct, gut reaction, just looking at the thumbnails is keep 3, 4, 7, and 10.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Send them all to meeeeee.

I agree that 6 looks a little dated, if fun in a space-age sort of way. 10 doesn't seem like your style; too arty retro and not rock and roll enough.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I vote with Angie. Great boot collection!!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Interesting responses so far. Keep 'em coming. You're all making me look at this with fresh eyes, which is particularly important when something has taken residence in your closet for so long you almost don't see it anymore.

In the last year or so, I've been wearing booties a lot more than tall boots. These have mostly been overlooked in that time -- the exceptions have been 2, 3, and 5. But I like the look of tall boots also, and it seems like they're starting to trend again. However, I was doubting how current many of my tall boots were looking.

Here are my thoughts.

#1 They're comfortable and classic, but a little ho-hum. They're such a dark brown they don't make much of a statement, but with brown tones trending, I think I should keep them for now. I would eventually maybe like to replace with cognac, but would cognac booties be a smarter choice?

#2 have been my rugged, don't-care-if-I-muck-them-up black boots. I'll probably hang onto them for days when I'm going to be really hard on my shoes, to save the Cortonas a bit.

#3 Keeping

#4 Keeping but being evaluated. Heel height is a little much for all day wear and lots of walking. I now have two pairs of lower-heeled dark red booties, so we'll see how these fare.

#5 Keeping. Great for easy comfortable casual cozy winter wear. They accommodate nice thick socks. Tuck in skinnies and wear layers.

#6 They're outta here.

#7 Keeping but they're on notice. Again, heel height and walking comfort is getting to be an issue.

#8 Going

#9 These look nice with midi length skirts/dresses, but the comfort factor is outweighing that, and I have my pointy-toed, heeled black Fluevog booties that look great with skirts and dresses. I think I'm going to sell these.

#10 Considering selling.

I also have a pair of navy Fluevog booties that I think I'm going to sell. They've always been just a smidge too tight, and I just have no patience for that anymore. Anybody size 7.5 Fluevog fans here? I'd love a new pair of navy booties.

bella

(website)

Veteran

I would say pass on 6 and 8. I think you would get a good price for #10, they seem brand new. So you are not really wearing them, that would be a good chunk of money to put the money towards a pair that you can actually use.

Sal

Veteran

Wow great collection! I vote lose 6. , sell 10. Love 1 to 5 the best for practical and style reasons especially 3 and 4.

Anonymous

Gorgeous boot collection. Keep the red Frye boots.

Anonymous

I'm reading every comment with interest here. Janet, you and I look to have a similar boot "problem". I have quite a few pair that have also been lurking in the closet for years and rarely , if never , get worn. And I am guilty of owning a pointy-toe stiletto heel pair too that I can't bear to part with but probably wouldn't be caught dead wearing now. Makes no sense at all .

So - this is a long way of saying i will not offer any suggestions here- I'm on this one to learn .Good luck! (and what's up with all the cowboy boots? (

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Hehe, Lisa, I know -- a girl from Baltimore into cowboy boots? But it started with the tan ones, which I've had for years and are just the most comfortable thing, plus there's something that can be a bit kickass about cowboy boots , so they work for me.

It helps that my husband is from Texas, and we have a cattle ranch there, so I feel a little more legit.

thimblelina

(website)

Veteran

I think everyone needs at least one pair of cowboy boots!
Also, I made a similar decision in that I consider my dark brown engineer boots classics. I'm adding a short cognac Chelsea bootie this season. I really don't think I need an entire tall boot shaft to get the impact of the vibrant cognac color with both jeans and tights.
I agree #6 is most dated.
And never get rid of Fryes. Period.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I've decided that Pliners in general don't age well.
The Ejects look steampunk, not sure if that's your style.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Yeah, Anna, I have two pairs of Pliners from that era, and the toes are those long, snipped pointy toes. They looked good with flares, so I held onto them with the thought of flares trending again, but I think these have to go. My other Pliners are dark purple croc-textured booties with a lower heel, so I'm not letting those go quite as quick.

Yeah, the Ejects are sort of steampunk , which I flirted with a few years ago, but it's not my thing now.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

So hard to tell without styling but I do think #6 looks dated - interesting comment by Anna.

Gigi

Veteran

It's difficult for me to advise, because your style is very different from my own. The only one I felt strongly about purging was 8, which I see you have already decided to pass on. You have a really great collection!