Chocolate brown vs Cognac knee high boots?

tammyw

I have been searching for the perfect brown boots for years. I have no problem finding black boots I love, but the perfect brown boot has been totally elusive! They were either too big in the calf, not my style, wrong shade of brown, too narrow in the foot, etc.

I just got these from the NAS sale:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/at.....women/3714

I do love the style and fit. I have another pair of AGL boots in black and adore them. I just always pictured the perfect boots being a lighter brown (not necesarilly cognac, but more like this Frye Abigail boot in "dark brown". I love the look of these Abigail boots, but I am sure the wide calf would look ridiculous on me.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/fr.....ort&c

Can anyone discuss which color would be more versatile?

FWIW, this is a picture of me from last Christmas wearing my black AGL boots:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/.....977175705/

11 years ago

Shopping

13 replies

Latest reply was from Laura

JAileen

Veteran

What a darling picture of your family!

Your hair looks like a medium brown. Until last year I had hair a similar shade of brown and wore lots of medium brown. I have these Frye Campus boots in brown which in this case is kind of a dark cognac. I'm not suggesting you get this style of boot (although I love them), but I think this color would be very good. It looks great with denim blue. And now we know it combines beautifully with greys, black, and ink blue, too.

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11 years ago

tammyw

Active Member

This is my biggest problem! I love the style of the AGL boots but prefer the color of those that you posted (but that style totally isn't me!) It is so frustrating!!!

11 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

Ha--when I finally try to buy my first pair of tall boots, this will be my problem.

I think you could combine these wardrobe issues: bookending with hair, as mentioned, as a good "look" for outfits so can be a guideline that is easy to work with; what you currently intend to wear (colors mostly)--if a lot of very dark neutrals including black, the lighter cognac-zone colors contrast more ("mixing dark neutrals" notwithstanding"); your target color clothing--e.g., if you love chocolate brown and want to start aiming that way and wearing colors (skirt and pant colors) that playoff of that best vs. items that look best with the cognac. Plus, whether your wardrobe allows multiple shades of brown boots or you really need the "one boot", or whether, if you find a great fit in one color or another, you can just go with the flow and wear mostly things that look good with that.

11 years ago

Beth Ann

Veteran

I'm on the same quest! I love the color of the Frye boots --- perfect, rich and deep, but still a true color. Now, for me, a girl with serious calves --- the Frye's would be just up my alley.

I think it's still early enough in the season, that I would settle for a color too close to the black. FWIW, most cognac seem on the blond side to me, I want something a bit deeper.

I think the next 4 weeks should bring a lot more boots to the stores.

11 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

Tough question. The only advice I can offer is along the lines of what unfumped said: a cognac boot is going to be more obvious and more contrasting with your outfits than a very dark brown (presuming that you don't wear a lot of light-colored bottoms). Going with a cognac *may* lessen the leg-lengthening look that can be achieved by wearing bottoms that are similar in color to your boots (if you tuck pants into your boots) because there will be more contrast and thus more of a break. At least that's my guess. I haven't been able to find a pair of cognac boots that fit me so that I could try out my theory!

11 years ago

Beth

Veteran

I'm in a similar situation trying to decade between chocolate and cognac, but in jackets, not boots. A few thoughts: depending on your wardrobe, will chocolate work with the predominant colors in your wardrobe? Also, will chocolate be too similar to black in terms of dark colors? Cognac might be a brighter alternative.

That said, I can see both colors looking lovely with your coloring.

11 years ago

Anonymous

I can comment from the perspective of having had boots in the darker brown.....and now wishing I had the lighter cognac colour instead: the dark brown never feels different enough from my black boots to stand out in any way. Sure, they are wonderful to have as an extra pair, but I always found my black boots performed the same role. I noted that I felt a little "dark and drab" with them and a dark brown bag as an accent - something that never seems to happen with black. This might all sound like a personal little foible, but it bugged me enough to remember it. I love the look of the luggage browns now, and am actively keeping an eye out for boots in the colour of the Frye pair you linked. FWIW - the style of the first pair is awesome though - those are outstanding boots.

11 years ago

ElleH

Veteran

I have both colors. You could try matching your hair or else what goes with more items in your wardrobe? Sometimes cognac is more versatile but I have dark brown hair & sometimes I have dark brown clothes too so I wear dark brown as well. Your hair is lighter right?

11 years ago

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Ah, you are so right--boots are hard, hard things to find in the size, style, and color one wants!
It sounds like you don't love the dark brown color of the AGLs, though, so I would hold out for a color and style you really, really want. To me, the AGLs seem too close to your black ones, colorwise. (Now, granted, I have black boots, and I also wanted a dark, dark espresso brown, so I was disappointed that the AGLs did not fit my calves. But that's my dilemma, not yours!)
I would say that the Fryes you linked to are a great color to bookend with your hair. So I would keep an eye out for some in that color. They may not be available at the moment, but there will be more boots to come in the next couple of months. If need be, could you hold out even till next fall? Or do you want to seek a stop-gap?
And versatility has a lot to do with what colors you wear, too. But bookending your hair is an instant way to look pulled-together.

11 years ago

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

what about these: http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/al.....clusive-wo
too light?

or these:http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/sa.....8;contextu

They were offered at NAS last year or the year before, and people kept mistaking them for Fryes. Nice-looking IRL.

11 years ago

Echo

Veteran

I prefer cognac, but that's generally because I feel it coordinates better with my wardrobe. Cognac provides more contrast with black and navy, and my eyes still haven't adjusted to the look of a darker brown with black.

11 years ago

tammyw

Active Member

You all have helped me to decide to return the AGL's. We live in S. California, so there's really no urgent need to keep a pair of boots that I don't 100% love (in this case, the color of the AGL's). I just need to learn to trust my instincts.

As far as what I would wear with them - that's a good question. Mostly skinny pants and tunics (assume black legging style pants/jeans and skinny blue jeans also). Living in S.CA., and being a homeschool mom, I don't have the need to be fancy too much, but I do like to be put together. The harder aspect is that I get hot easily and our window to wear boots is small.

So yes, I will return them, and only keep a pair once I truly love them, as I know I will be keeping them for YEARS since they don't get a ton of wear here.

Thanks for all the great advice!!

11 years ago

Laura

Active Member

First off, both pairs look SUPER cute!!!! In fact, if it was me at the store, I would have broken down and bought both pairs. I wouldn't be able to resist! LOL

Will you be wearing those boots with pants more or with tights / skirts more?

Blue jeans tend to look better with darker boots I find. Also, the darker colours seems to go better with most of the colourful dresses I have in my wardrobe, so for dresses, I would choose the darker pair too.

The lighter pair looks sooooo adorable though and they would look amazing paired with some of the fun patterned tights that are out on the market for this fall!

11 years ago

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