Help with proportions? Black Ankle pants and black booties

amiable

Trying out Angie's suggestion to wear Black ankle pants with black booties.

And I'm not convinced it's working for me. Perhaps it's my black ankle pants - are they a bad length? Or too wide?

Shown here with three pairs of what I think almost qualify (maybe) as black booties (and one pair of burgundy booties, and a pair of black sneakers).

#1 suede oxfords - pointy toe and a slight heel. Is the top too low to go with these?

#2 leather boots - almond toe, but I think the shaft is too tall - and don't find the silhouette flattering here - it looks.... top heavy?

#3 higher heeled oxfords - also pointy toed, but still more shoes than boots, right?

#4 burgundy beetle booties - maybe the only honest booties, and probably the best of the lot - but not black?

#5 Trying it with sneakers too. Just for fun.

Is it the pants? Do any of these work? I think I'm gonna go change to bf jeans.

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10 years ago

What I Wore

26 replies

Latest reply was from amiable

N-Marie

Veteran

To my eye, it looks better with the higher shaft (#2 and #4). I wonder whether part of the problem with the lower shaft shoes is that the pant leg is not tapering enough?

10 years ago

Gracie

Veteran

I would wear #2 and #5 in a heartbeat, to my eye these two combos work best (or maybe because I lean tomboyish), #3 is my third favorite. Your top is absolutely lovely and you rock the semi-tuck.

10 years ago

columbine(erin)

Veteran

Since perhaps the pants don't taper quite enough maybe they need to be rolled and worn with the higher shaft boots. Hmm.

10 years ago

Elly

Veteran

3 and 5!

10 years ago

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I think #3 and #5 work. Slight preference for #3 from a style angle but for comfort I'm guessing #5.

10 years ago

Sara L.

Veteran

I love that top! I'm not sure about these either. I like #3 the best and the sneakers are fun too. I think maybe it's the pants and they need to taper more.

10 years ago

fern

Veteran

I love #2 but it's very tomboy. Maybe Tom Sawyer. #3 is lovely.
I think the pants are not long enough to wear with #1.

10 years ago

Tina

Veteran

I think 4 would work very well if you would echo the color of the booties in your top/ topper. I like 3, 1, 5 and 4. It must be personal preference because I thought 2 did not work but several others have loved it - go figure:-)
I think the pants fit well and they look tapered enough. Proportions are best in 4, to my eye.

10 years ago

Sal

Veteran

I think 3 4 5 work. If wearing burgundy I would change the top and maybe add tights? I think this could be me though, i strongly associate burgundy with winter woollies!

I actually love 5.. It is a great top, you have such lovely long legs you don't need a heel, and it looks perfect for a casual fun running around look.

10 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

Funny, I like 1,3 and 5. I like the idea of 2 but I think the skinny shaft is almost too skinny and abrupt. I do think the pants could taper a bit more (and this is why I have such a hard time with this look for myself- for the kind of taper I need with my skinny ankles I might as well wear leggings).

10 years ago

Anonymous

I like all but the first. I like those oxfords, just not feeling them with those pants. And as I am often an oddball, I actually like the burgundy ones in #4 with your top. I think they go great without matching. For a casual day, I'd say #2 or #5 and #3 I think could tilt it in a dressier direction.

10 years ago

amiable

Veteran

Wow - so many responses. Thanks! I ended up wearing #5 - they were comfy, and somehow worked to my eye. I think I may try #3 in a business casual setting (and see if my feet kill me for that heel height). I'm glad that #5 works okay to your eyes too.

And I have some burgundy that may get #4 a try.

10 years ago

MsLuna

Veteran

Hi Amy!

I'm a fan of #2 though.... The rest of the looks will work if you taper the pant hems slightly (narrow the hemline). I have skinny ankles and I have this problem all the time. This could create a longer leg line and a less disjointed look (if that's what you're going for).

10 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

I like #1. But you need to tie the laces so they are perpendicular to your foot. The lace looks wrong on your right foot.

10 years ago

thimblelina

(website)

Veteran

I love ankle pants with boots. If the gap strikes you as too wide, mitigate that with a lightweight black sock scrunched above the boot line. The Madewell fall lookbook made great use of these kind of socks if you google up some of the images.

10 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Without reading the other replies --

Are you kidding me? They all look FAB to my eye!!!

Each gives a different vibe, but work proportionately. Love that top too.

I think my favorite is the burgundy booties. Total wow with that one. But I like all of them and think all work.

10 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Amy, you look so beautiful in that top! It was the perfect purchase.

I really like #3. I am not crazy about #2 for the reasons Una stated. I think all the others work to varying degrees, including the last one.

10 years ago

Jeanie

Veteran

I like #3 best. I am looking at Angie's post on pairing black pants and black booties and I noticed that most of the looks have only a 1 or 2" amount of skin showing. I suspect you have long legs and you might need longer pants to make this work better for you with the shorter black shoes. I have to say that that shirt is just perfect on you.

10 years ago

Anonymous

#3--best proportions, cleanest lines

10 years ago

Missey

Veteran

#3 and #5 are the best, proportionally, to my eye.

10 years ago

Vix

Veteran

Hi Amiable --

As others have said, what a gorgeous top on you!

I agree that my favorites in terms of proportions are #3 (polished!) and #5 (fun!)

For #2, I think the look is pretty cool in generally but the top length needs to come down a few inches to avoid that "hiked up pants" look -- looks like you can adjust? Or you may need more of a mid-thigh+/tunic thing.

#1 and #4 may be a little off in terms of showing a bit too much skin but it doesn't really bother me too much as the lightness in the top echos your skintone; I also like the burgundy paired with the top's colors.

If it would work for you in terms of comfort, I think you could also try some dark-toned, sheer patterned trouser socks/hose with 1 and 4 to extend the leg line -- but you're so leggy you may have to play around with lowering the hemline like with #2!

Re tapering more: Granted I need to defer to those who routinely taper leg openings (not a thing my calves need) but I can't see how you would be able to taper the leg opening more and still move in them without them catching -- or go from sitting to standing without them riding up?

10 years ago

Beth Ann

Veteran

Hello top twin! Another vote for #3 here --- and #5. I think the red boots would work paired with another top -- or if you wore your denim jacket over the top.

10 years ago

Marley

Veteran

My faves are #1, 3, and 5. Outstanding looks - all three of those outfits! Only thing I would change is to tuck in the laces on the oxfords and sneakers to give you a more streamlined "boot-like" look!

10 years ago

Anonymous

Ankle pants with booties are a "look" for sure. There's no getting
around the fact that the unexpected proportions can be a bit jarring to the eye. But I think it's a great look on you!

I love all 5 pair with the pants. But I think the top works best with the pair in #5. The top is so pretty and summery and works will with the summery sneaker. I think you should try changing up the upper half of your outfits so the mood of the top/topper matches the mood of the shoe.

I think #1 is the hardest to pull off. I wore the same pant/shoe combo to work the other day and kept feeling like I looked like Oliver Twist.

10 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I think you should try with a black jacket or cardigan on top. I think that will help balance things. Seeing the booties with the light top is throwing it off a bit. The sneakers work with just a tee though!

10 years ago

amiable

Veteran

I hadn't thought of a jacket or cardigan. That's a great idea - thanks!

10 years ago

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