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jill58

Veteran

I've had these Born booties for years--they're still in good shape but I'm wondering if they're starting to look a little dated. In addition, I have three (!) other pairs of black booties (also combat type boots recently purchased, ostensibly for winter walking and a pair of tall black boots) -- the primary difference between them being heel height. I also have the Paul Green 'Malibu' booties which I love as a break from all-black-footwear-all-the-time. The Sofft 'Wendy' booties also seem redundant--purchased from a clearance rack for less than $40.00 (sale googles)--they seem sort of pointless when I have the Sam Edelman and Paul Green booties.

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Paul Green 'Jay' Wingtip Chelsea Boot (Women)

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Sam Edelman Justin Chelsea Boot

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Söfft 'Wendy' Bootie (Women)

$145.94 $109.90

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Dressing

29 replies

Latest reply was from Minnie

rachylou

Veteran

I don't think they're dated in and of themselves... but I can imagine a dated look involving them... tweed blazer, black 'regular fit' trousers, winter scarf, fuzzy knit gloves...

jill58

Veteran

Luckily I don't own a tweed blazer . . . or fuzzy knit gloves.

Anonymous

I love the Paul green wingtips. So gorgeous.

TBH, I think they're all current, but if I had to pick one to go, I think I'd pick the Soffts, because they seem busy (but that is just me).

I also like the simplicity of the Sam Edelman's, the colour of the gold PGs

Anonymous

I have that same feel about booties like this now (I think you and I have shared similar footwear thoughts before - lol) . There is something about the modified slant-back western heel that I've "decided" looks dated now. I noticed it yesterday when I put on a pair of Kors boots I bought just last year - and now they look , well, dated. I prefer the true block heel now, and the other two pair you have above - the Sam Edelman and the low heeled Paul Green chelsea. I have too many pair of those boots that have the heel like the soffits and the Borns - and now I'm regretting it. This seems to happen very quickly with boots and shoes - all of a sudden, it's done.

jill58

Veteran

Lisa p -- That's it! I hadn't identified the problem exactly but it's that heel. I have another pair of B.O.C. mules that have exact same "modified slant-back western heel" -- they're already on their way to be donated. Even the 'Malibu' booties have it but I like those better due to the natural wood heel and the color.
Smittie -- I also agree with your comment about the Sofft booties being too busy. Honestly, they're not even that comfortable. I'm going to get rid of them.

DonnaF

Veteran

The Born and the Sofft booties seem almost interchangeable in terms of heel height, silhouette, and dressiness. The PGs and SEs are a bit more masculine. I wouldn't consider the Borns outdated, but they aren't up to the minute IYKWIM.

What have you or do you wear the Borns with? And the Soffts? How do those outfits look with your other footwear choices like the SEs? I would be hesitant to get rid of both Borns and Soffts unless I knew I had acceptable alternative.

Anonymous

I know , right? And now I cannot unsee this. My boot collection is in trouble . It will be on notice effective immediately .

Staysfit

Veteran

I don’t know........I think they’re fine. Maybe because I live in a very small city/ rural community where having the most up to date item isn’t so important, I’m not bothered by the almost unnoticeable difference between these heels. To me it’s a bit silly to cast out a perfectly good pair of boots for this reason. I like them, and would keep wearing them with confidence. IMO, if someone snubs you for wearing them, there is a problem with the person, not with the boots.

jill58

Veteran

Lisa p -- I'm afraid to look in my closet now.
Donna F -- You're right -- the Sofft and Born boots are similar (and worn pretty much interchangeably) but of the two, I like the Borns better. It's partly the busy look of of the Sofft boots that smittie pointed out.
Staysfit -- It's not that having the most up to date items is my main concern--it's more a change in my own eye. Also the Sofft boots are not as comfortable as I had thought they were so I tend to always wear something else.

lyn67

Veteran

I see and feel the same unfortunately...thus couldn't articulate it so well like Lisa did! Still I will continue to wear mine 4x similar pairs-always found them working better with skirts or dresses rather than pants...but my heart(and valet) is broken-- cannot afford to buy all shades new, again:-((.

Tanya

Veteran

I agree with that Lisa p said - that kind of heel looks less than fresh. I would still call it not the newest, but not super dated - or at lease I hope so I got a pair of very pricey Aquatalias last fall that fit my skinny ankles like a dream. They have such a heel, but I am planning to keep wearing them this fall.

Aquatalia Faylynn Weatherproof Suede Bootie

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Glory

Veteran

I completely agree with Lisap but was not able to put my finger on why I found them dated. My shoe wardrobe is in trouble now.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

You all know that as soon as we all purge those heels from our closets, they will come back in fashion?

(I discovered a pair of pointed toe, kitten heel booties in a forgotten corner of my closet the other day -- sooo dated now that I'm tempted to keep them and see if they come back!)

jill58

Veteran

Tanya, your Aquatalias don't give off a western vibe and have a slightly lower heel -- a different look. I wouldn't put them in the same category.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Jill, the Born booties aren't dated - but they do look very high. If you keep on favouring a lower heel height - I see no point in keeping these. Feet come first.

Janet, I'd like to see those kitten heel booties.

jill58

Veteran

Angie, they are kind of high. I only wear them when I want some extra height and I don't have far to walk.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Pondering on this. I like all your boots. Lisap has a very good eye on these matters,but I am much more in Staysfit's camp. I actually like the busyness of the Sofft boots as I like details and find very plain stuff a bit boring, in keeping with my eclectic style. But I can see that they are pretty similar to the Born ones, and if they're not that comfy, and cost so little ( about $35 I think you said on the 6-month old thread about shoe mistakes which I ended up on) then you may as well let them go and chalk it up to experience! I think the Born ones are lovely and look in such good nick. I think I may have a few "modified slant back Western heel" booties. Many I am not wearing enough anyway as too high...I will have to check. I agree with Janet's point in a way, that stuff may come back. I think I've decided though that even if it does, unless I really loved the pair in question I will not regret culling. You all helped me to cull the 2008 square toes. I don't think I will regret that even if square toes come back. I was just over them really.

Anonymous

Staysfit - and others - I have to defend my comments about the heel seeming dated. It's what I see, not how I address the issue to anyone publicly. Jill asked, and I answered. Of course no one is snubbing anyone for wearing "dated" boots - I can't imagine that happening anywhere! I just happen to notice things like that - and never presume to judge anyone else for what they choose to wear. Hey - I have quite a few pairs of boots with this heel too, and am now trying to figure out how to wear them. No one can afford to replace their entire footwear collection at once ! However, this reinforces my theory that footwear can all-of-a-sudden look dated or "wrong" (to my eye) and that shoes/boots are the best way I've found to keep my look current and updated.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I think you do have a great eye for this Lisa. And I appreciate your thoughts and I'm sure you would be far too polite to say it to people in public. Also your writing is so much fun! ( example your recent thread on the gingham top). You are very self-deprecating when you write threads like that, I love it. When I say I'm in Staysfit's camp, that is more my Depression-era Sunday-school teacher mother speaking through me with my competing concerns about waste and materialism versus my love for eclectic dressing and fun with fashion. Having these opposing desires in one person just makes life interesting!
Please excuse me Jill58 for highjacking your thread just one moment- but do you and Lisap think the heel on my 2010 high red shoes is that same kind? I should really cull them because they hurt to wear, but I still find them so pretty... If they look dated that might give me the push to cull and might help?

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Anonymous

No - that heel is a different animal. And they are pretty! But what are you doing wearing shoes that hurt??

jill58

Veteran

Jenni -- I got the same messages growing up. Although my parents were by no means poor, I remember having, at any given time, one pair of shoes for school and roughly five outfits -- one for each day of the week. As an adult, I have reacted against this a bit, however when I find that a pair of shoes is actually uncomfortable, no matter how recently they were purchased, my impulse is to get rid of (donate) them. This is also my feeling about shoes that I no longer like for aesthetic reasons. I don't consider it waste if I pass them along for someone else to enjoy. I think many of us have conflicted feelings about materialism (particularly when it involves rapid consumption and disposal) and at the same time enjoy having a variety of shoes to wear. In any case, if you enjoy wearing your red shoes I say keep them. But if they're truly uncomfortable, even for just standing around at a party, I say donate.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

What am I doing? Wearing them because they're pretty! Last worn for a Christmas party in 2015 for an organisation that I was the Chair of ( now resigned, this July). Worn with my beautiful red dress same colour. Managed them for about an hour and a half standing with drinks then sitting at dinner, changed for dancing into the low-heeled red sandals.
And thank you Jill58 for letting me hijack your thread and being so nice about it. Mother is dead since 1999 but lives on in a disapproving voice in my head sometimes...
oh well, will not cull them for dated heel. Maybe will just take them out and look at them sometimes? Also we are going to be building a new house in our back yard soon and it will have more wardrobe space. They could be part of a display just to please me.

Anonymous

You and your shoes , Jenni . Sigh .

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Oh well. Despite mother's voice in my head I am fairly unrepentant.

jill58

Veteran

Jenni -- Hmm ... "building a new house in our back yard" and "more wardrobe space." I'm imagining a NZ branch of the Bata Shoe Museum.

The Cat

Veteran

I agree about what has previously been said about the heel. I have a similar pair, bought five years ago. My heels are slightly taller, the toe is almond shaped, and the whole design is more streamlined (no buckles etc.)

I'll say, continue to use them if you like them. They certainly do not look very dated, though other heel shapes appear more fresh and current.

Mine are a little taller than I find comfortable for walking nowadays. But I still like them, so I will use them on cold days in the office and at other occasions where I just SIT most of the time.

Style Fan

Veteran

Jill your boots look fine to me. Janet I have heard that kitten heels are making a big comeback. I just got rid of a pair of purple booties with kitten heels. I am never getting rid of anything again.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I've had to come back and look at this thread again, because I feel like sometimes there is a vague tipping point in the details of heel style that makes them look dated. For instance, that slant back heel style is still in the stores, but it seems that the more current ones are now *lower* heels in that style. Maybe higher heels are not looking as current to my eye right now.

I kind of dread the day when the fashion powers that be dictate that block heels are over. Most of my booties now have that style, and they are so comfortable!

Minnie

I think Janet has hit the spot: it's not primarily the heel shape, but the height in combination with the shape.
They may not be the most trendy booties, but if you would incorporate them into an outfit with trendy elements, I think it would be just fine.

From Angie's 9/11 blog post:

Designers made a statement with dressy and casual flat footwear (in which I include heels up to the height of an inch.) ALL toe shapes are popular. Pointy, square, round, snip toe, and round square toe boxes were shown. ALL heel shapes are making a fashionable appearance. Stilettos, platforms, block heels, stacked heels, wedges and kitten heels. Dainty and refined footwear is as trendy as chunky silhouettes. These days, it’s hard to find a dated style of footwear, although you should pander to your sartorial preferences and look for something “new-for-you” if shoes are your thing.