Ask Angie: can heeled oxfords substitute for dressy booties?

As I mentioned in today's blog post comment, I have a ton of boots but a big hole in the dressy boot/bootie categories. I'd like to get some to wear with black skinny pants, dresses/skirts with tights, to dress up jeans looks, and under (currently hypothetical) trousers. I think a bootie would be more versatile than tall boots since it could go under trousers and bootcut jeans.

Problem is,what I really want is some chunky heeled oxfords like the Borns in the photo below. Do you think these could function as a dressy bootie substitute? I could see them working in all the situations above.

Are these dressy enough? Or are they too menswear-ish or chunky to be truly dressy shoes? I'm not really a big fan of delicate shoes. You know I have fussy feet and can't do too high/narrow a heel. I guess I'm a little lost as to what kind of "dressy boots" would actually work for my style and lifestyle.

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13 years ago

Ariadne

Veteran

Taking notes on all counts...

unfrumped

Watching with interest because I need heel stability, too--I could do something a bit more tapered that the one you've shown, but still stocky. Was hoping that if the bootie part itself were somewhat refined and fit well around the ankle, it might compensate for a chunkier heel.

kellygirl

Obviously not Angie, but these are pretty. I saw some very similar in the Eddie Bauer catalog (which I don't understand why I get since I've never bought anything there.) The high vamp does seem very bootie like.

qfbrenda

I like them! And I really like Borns so I would go for it. That said, I have no clue about the actual answers to your questions as to dressiness, etc.

Transcona Shannon

Not Angie, but I think these could work like booties. Angie once suggested my black/white Maggy London dress would look great with animal print booties. I commented that I didn't have those but would my animal print Docs work (same shoe as the Doc Sara oxford) and she indicated they would. I'm thinking these ones are sort of the same.

Plus I think they're gorgeous - not too menswear or chunky at all!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'm here! And about to run off again, but wanted to chime in.

Nice one, Shannon

Diana, a DRESSY heeled oxford can definitely take the place of a dressy heeled bootie. They can totally be chunky in more refined way. In fact, I prefer dressy oxfords to dressy booties with skirts and dresses for my own style. The Borns are gorgeous! I think they are dressy enough for your lifestyle - although I would not call them "very dressy" if you know what I mean. For my lifestyle and style, they would not be a dressy shoe. They would be quite casual.

Okay. Long ramble. My thumbs are up on these Borns for you and your style.

Sylvie today in the blog comments had hoped that her Frye Melissas could be her dressy tall boot. Unfortunately, I had to disappoint her. I have never met a dressy Frye boot.

Make sense?

Diana

Thanks, Angie and everyone else. I'm glad you all approve of these. Born does make dressier looking heeled oxfords but unfortunately the heels are too high for me. I think if I want "really dressy," as Angie puts it, I will just suck it up and wear sitting shoes, but if I need "dressy enough but still able to walk" I need to stick to this type of chunky heel.

One more thing. These (and several other similar styles from Born) only come in grey and brown. I have seen them IRL and the grey is a pretty uniform dark charcoal, but I would still prefer black as it seems dressier (I definitely don't want brown). Do you think I should wait and see if I can find something similar in black?

I wear a pair of heeled oxfords as 'dressy bootie' substitutes. Mine are colorblocked purple and charcoal suede and patent that I think ups the dressy factor from plain leather.

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