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Feedback wanted on boots and pants

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Hi all!

I'm feeling very picky in my shopping these days, but I brought home a couple of things last night that seemed promising -- however, my ultimate test is always the harsh light of day in my own home!

Up for review: (all of these are from
Nordstrom Rack)

1-5 Paul Green suede boots. Fantastic deal, but I'm wondering if my sale goggles are making look more fab than they are. I would like some sleek, refined tall boots that can work with skirts/dresses (as well as skinnies and leggings tucked in), and have a comfortable, walkable heel. Currently I have the Ugg Cortonas which I love but are not sleek and don't dress up well. I also have my Frye lace-up boots from a few years ago, but the heel height is becoming a comfort issue for me -- I can wear them for a few hours but not for much walking. These have enough room to tuck jeans into them, and theyre perfect comfort-wise. But are they cool enough? What do you think? (Please note, not truly styled, I just threw on the first skirt I found and a black top just to get an idea of the height with my usual below-knee length hemlines). I also notice that these are a bit roomy in the ankle, especially on my right leg, which is smaller than my left. I'm wondering if these should be more snug on my leg, considering that there is a stretch panel on the back of the boot that fits with zero stretch on the right side. My calves are pretty average, and in fact, some boots seem too tight to wear with jeans tucked in, so this is a little unfamiliar to me. Do they look wrong with this much room in the ankle and lower calf?

6-9 Nine West pointy toe loafers with leopard print. I love this pointed toe style and have been keeping an eye out for more shoes with that profile. I'm thinking these could look good with crops, rolled jeans, skinnies and maybe even bootcuts. Again though, is there enough edge here?

10-14 Wild card alert. Taking a chance or two. I'm kinda digging the slightly retro mod vibe of this Bobeau top even though it's not conventionally flattering. It's really inexpensive so not a big budget gamble to try a different silhouette.

Also in 10-14 The crop two-tone pants are Eileen Fisher (!). They're not terribly cropped, and there is a zipper at the hem, so not hemmable. I know the side pockets tend to pooch out a bit, and I suppose I could have them sewn shut. I like these more than I expected to.

Pardon the no makeup look.

This is a lot of pictures and text, so thanks for making it through all this if you stuck with me this far.

Brutally honest feedback welcome!

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Shopping

21 replies

Latest reply was from Maneera

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I love the top, especially with those pants. Keep! And the pants are fantastic! Great fit and I think the outfit is terrific together. I vote keep on those, too.
The boots are not wowing me. They are nice looking, certainly, and I don't see fit issues at all. They look flattering on your leg, and I like the tapered shape of the toe. But I think they look more traditional and classic (as opposed to modern, classic, which is how I would describe the leopard loafers). The boots don't have a current or edgy look, to me, so I wonder if you would pass them up for other more chic boots in your wardrobe. (And keep in mind this is coming from a big Paul Green fan.)

The loafers look more on trend to me and I think they would be fun to wear as you describe. The pop of leopard print makes them different than your platform loafers in 10-14.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Firecracker, that's really helpful -- when i put the boots on today, I felt like they might be too classic/conservative for me. I think I was seduced by comfort and fit and a good deal.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

LOVE the loafers and the top.

The pants are fab with the right footwear (you know I have a very complicated relationship with that style of trouser). Needs ankle straps or higher shaft booties.

Take back the tall boots. They fit and look GREAT. But they're too basic for your style persona.

citygirldc

(website)

Veteran

Hey there. Hope you are well. The shoes are a keeper. I do like the boots but they don't have a wow factor and look like something you may have owned back in the 90s. Pants are good but have them sewn shut or find a new pair.

deb

Veteran

Love those loafers, keep, keep, keep. I also vote keep the top. Not on the boots and I think you can do better with the pants.

celia

Veteran

I do like all the items but agree that the boots might not be you.
I have a difficult relationship with those kind of side pockets, although they ruin the streamlined leg of the pants ( which for hip conscious people like me is a big no no) , they also give the pants a certain personality. Your call on sewing the pockets.

rachylou

Veteran

I like all the items, but none of them seem very you to me... I'm not seeing them as woman enough.

catgirl

Veteran

I would return those suede boots - I bought a pair just like them years ago and never wore them. That was the start of my realization that even my staple items need to have some panache or swagger. If you were more of a mod gamine gal, they would work.

Love the pointy toe loafers and the top looks good. I am not a fan of that style of pant, and the pockets do the same thing on me, so it's not about body type! You are looking very trim though!

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I have to start this post by saying how amazing you look.

The boots don't speak to me... at least, they don't say "Janet". My gut instinct is that they are "okay", very classic, useful looking. That is NOT how I'd describe your style! Even if they were a couple of inches higher, heading into knee boot territory, I think I'd like them more. But they DO fit and look good, in and of themselves.

The loafers are a big yes. LOVE!

Also like the shirt, and do think it's worth playing with, have some fun with a new silhouette at a good price. The pants... not sure. They look good, but not really wowing me, but I can't put my finger on why. It's not the pockets, as they don't really show. I do love the idea of two tone pants.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I really appreciate all the feedback. In retrospect, I think I was in the throes of some emotional shopping last night. I'm having some post-vacation emotional letdown, and this week would also mark my mother's 87th birthday, so I am a little vulnerable right now. I have mixed feelings about this stuff this morning, and you all are helping me realize why.

At other times I feel much more confident and assured in my shopping choices. Funny how a bit of emotional turmoil can color all of that.

I'm going to return the suede boots straightaway. I'm going to give the pants a couple of styling tries and see how they sit with me. I love the color block aspect, the zips at the hems, and the fit. Not totally sure about the crop style, but I suspect that some try-ons with different shoes will help me figure that out.

I'm going to try the top with flared jeans and black straight jeans, and maybe even my black jersey pencil skirt. I like that it's something different -- I seem to have a bunch of sleeveless tops, and a bunch of long-sleeved tops…and then nothing in between, oddly enough. So I have a moratorium on more sleeveless tops for now.

I am leaning towards keeping the leopard/black loafers -- again, I'll try them on with some things. Fortunately, there is a bit of a return window for the Rack, so I don't feel too pressured to decide quickly.

Thanks for all the help! It's a beautiful day here today, and there's a fab shoe store about a mile and a half away -- perfect for a little dinnertime walk to check out what tall boots they have in their new fall collection. ;-D

Anonymous

I have nothing different to add: I like everything for you except for the Paul Green boots. Side pocket pants are hard to get to lay flat, I know, but I do like the overall fit on you - very flattering.

viva

Veteran

Just chiming in, although I agree with your decisions. Love the loafers - although just want to make sure your heel won't slip? I see a tiny bit of room back there? Just checking.

I also love the top; it's cool and different and would be a fun, inexpensive thing to try. And you know I am almost always going to say yes to a cropped trouser.

For me the boots are meh, mostly because the heel is too low to be sexy and too high to be cool as a flat, and the shaft is too low to be a true knee-high and too high to be an on-trend mid-calf. They fit and they are a great color, and they are Paul Green. But fashionable enough for you? Not really.

So sorry to hear about your emotions these past few days. Feeling a few things myself right now, so I'm there with you. Hope you can get outside and ride them out.

Anonymous

Agreeing with everything Firecracker said. I was struck by, and I never say this! how much younger you look in the top and pants. I just don't see those boots in the closet of the woman who bought that incredible coat on vacation.

I could really see what I already was kind of guessing at, that for some reason, classic things with no twist can look a little sad. no matter how gorgeous, because you are, the person wearing them is.

Sal

Veteran

Okay....

Love the top, definitely keep. I love the pants too, I want some that fit JUST like that. And I actually like them with the loafer, I think with your long legs I like the flash of ankle for a spring/fall look......

the loafers are great, I struggle with this style both for fit and what to wear them with, but that is just me. I like the way they look.

And the boots are not quite right sorry, for the reasons others have said above.

Hope you feel better soon, it sounds like a hard week.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Sounds like a tough week, Janet -- I am sorry.

As for the shopping, you've made some excellent decisions. I'm in favour of keeping the top (yay - fun wildcard for you!), the shoes (super fab!), and maybe the pants, but not the boots, which seem a bit on the blah side for you.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I love the outfit with the top and pants on you, the loafers looks good if comfortable, and actually like the idea of the boots with the skirt on you a lot - the close up of the boots did nothing to me and I was very pleasantly surprised how well they looked in and outfit. Keep your eye out for a even more fab pair of tall boots!

unfrumped

Veteran

Dittos here.

The top seems like it is a fun piece you can play with, with different bottoms.
The zip pants May havd some of that length confusion, but I don't think if matters as much with that more " active" look-/ I think you'll find ways to wear them even if not at the pinnacle of PPL. I usually reject side pocket poaching, but maybe these are worth it. I know I have left some pockets still tacked these days instead of opening them.

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I haven't read the other comments Janet so may be repeating. I really like the loafers (love them actually) and the pants. You could get the pockets sewn shut if they are a problem. I am not a fan of the taller boots. they don't seem to be in your style so may not fit in with your outfits unless you are changing direction.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Yes to the top and loafers! I don't mind the boots but they struck me as too short in the shaft for tall you. And it looks like they are going back anyway.

I'm not a fan of the pants. The side pocket style is difficult. I saw a teenage girl with a rectangle/IT body type -- narrow hips, like a gymnast -- and her shorts gaped worse than mine do! (She was wearing them more fitted than I do, but still, I was shocked to see that on a rectangle.)

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

You seem all sorted out,so just popping in to say that shopping during emotional times rarely results in the best decisions at least in my world. I commiserate with the missing Mom part as my Mom would have been 76 in July and I keep thinking of my 50th b'day coming up without her and tearing up. Sometimes these waves of grief knock us around. Gotta say I love the loafers and can see them working well for your style.

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

The leopard print loafers are fabulous! Keep keep keep! I also love the blouse as well as the pants. They don't read particularly 'cropped', but they fit very very well. Infact, the top and pants go so well together!

It's the boots I don't love. I have a similar pair I'm confused about. The style is too classic and 'functional'...which is not bad at all. The fit, colour and length are GREAT, there is just nothing edgy or stylish about them.

BUT.....having said that....I do know the importance of functional, comfortable boots. I have kept mine for the same reason. If the rest of the outfit you wear with them is trendy and eye-catching, the boots can just recede in the background and simply be there for a functional aspect --- to do their job, i.e., keep your feet comfortable. If you often wear a statement coat, dress or jacket paired with dark skinnies and leggings, the boots will work.