So I still have not gotten to make my Pinterest board and discover my fashion truth. I know I need to do that..... So feel free to point out that I have not yet determined where I'm going. Still, in general it has been a good thing this year for me to try different styles, shop in different stores, and overall turn over more stones. But the downside is that I may go off on a style tangent and later go, what was I thining?

However, I tried on these Born shooties ( I swear, i was looking for dressy shoes!) just because I could sorta tell they ran a little more narrow. I have tried on several Born's over the year and found them comfy in general but too loose, too biggish. Please excuse my polka-dot try-on socks.

I was not looking for this type of detail, which is Western. I was however interested in the lighter color and in the 2-tone detail as a generic concept to add some spice.
However, if I were being practical, I could use a solid dark cocoa-brown bootie with more of my pants. OTOH, I showed these with khaki-colored bootcuts, which is a color I like to wear and do wear about half the year (would wear in deep winter if I had cozy wool version) and these do give a totally different vibe than would a dark brown shoe.

Now the problem is, they feel great and I feel great in them! And not just like a squashy comfort shoe, but I like the way they fit fairly close around the foot and the bit of heel and they just feel neat to walk in (though have not put them in circulation yet, in order to decide re: keeping). The 2" heel means I would not likely wear on my roughest work days, but since they're more comfortable than I ever expected, I could wear to work, from that standpoint.

So, do I need talking down? Or is this something that I could style against type, to create a contrast, meaning, I would not wear other western elements with them for work . Before the return date, I would have to play in my closet and try some outfits. Things I have that might work would be one of several pairs of tan, camel or khaki trousers worn with patterned silk blouses worn as maybe volume over less volume; leopard cardigan with colors of tan, cream and brown; other workwear knitwear tops.

I am totally NOT Western/cowboy in style unless you count plaid shirts for casual wear. I know I could wear these with jeans, and that helps with the versatility, but that's not the main point.

I'm having a bit of trouble telling whether I might be closing my eyes to the Western aspect, while astute observers will think I'm wearing my cowboy boots to work by mistake, versus whether this is a fun and appropriate style mix-up.