Keep/Cull-High Shaft Booties - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

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Keep/Cull-High Shaft Booties

Colette

Veteran

These boots survived the major closet purges of 2014 and 2015, so far. They are all at least 10 to 15 years old, fit and are in great condition (each only have been worn a few times). I need help! Should I keep or cull? All input is greatly appreciated.

1-Black Embossed Nine West
2-Tan/Gold Animal Nine West
3-Cognac Via Spiga
4-Black Gortex Waterproof Stuart Weitzman

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Dressing

14 replies

Latest reply was from Colette

Anonymous

Hi Colette: #4 looks current, but to me, the others are dated, given the extended toe. The higher shaft is great, but I think these have seen their time.......

Hope my honest opinion isn't too harsh.

Colette

Veteran

Lisa, honest opinions are EXACTLY what I need. Thank you!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Colette, I have one lone pair of boots that have the same profile as your 1-3 examples -- they're Donald Pliner from ages ago (at least 7-8 years old, maybe more?). Strangely enough, they are still comfortable to me, but they don't feel very current for the reason Lisa cites, the extended toe. I keep that one pair in storage in case that style comes back around, but I've let go of all my other old shoes with that style.

I know that the day I let them go, the next season the magazines will be touting that style as the next hot thing. I just know it!

Sal

Veteran

I agree 4 looks current and I actually really like 3.

It depends why you are not wearing them - comfort, style, orphaned.

I think any of them could be worn and I would make sure the supporting acts are modern/current.

Anonymous

I get it, because I have a pair of navy Prada pumps with this extended toe box, which I can't bring myself to get rid of. I would never wear them now, as the toe looks almost comically out of style when I put it on, but I've thrown out shoes before that I wish I hadn't. The thing with most shoes/boots though is that even if the shape/profile (good term, Janet ) does "come back" , it's usually modified to look current.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

All of them look a bit dated to me. Still, I like 3 and 4. Sometimes you can work shoes or any other piece within an outfit even if a bit dated.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I find 4 to be the most current.

kkards

Veteran

I'll admit to hanging on to a great pair of cognac colored booties with that same extended toe....just can't pair to get rid of them, yet I don't wear them as they feel dated. I'd save your favorite of the group and let the others go.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

My initial take was: keep them all! Wear them with the new shorter pants and culottes. But I don't know current toes from outdated ones. To me the heel on the SW, which we can't see fully, looks like it might be a little dated, as does the heel in #3. But there are so many different toe and heel shapes popping up all the time, I can't keep up.
I fear I'm no help.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I'd keep the last pair because, waterproof! I agree the toe style is dated. But...waterproof!!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

The heel in #3 stands out as dated to me, the toes might be dated but it depends a bit on how they look on. I do like #3 and would consider replacing the heel if they are super comfortable. Not sure about #4 because I need the side view.

Gail

Veteran

I have several pairs of boots with shafts and toes like this in my collection of 24 pairs of boots!
I was thinking about purging them but now that I have some cropped flared jeans I think I may wear them. I have looked for mid calf boots and booties with higher shafts with low heels and have found very few that fit so rather than search endlessly I'm going to manage for a while. I know that they look a little dated but the cropped flare fashion may not last so I won't have made a huge investment. Having said that if a pair comes along..........

Anonymous

Agreeing with others that 4 is most wearable now, but I would likely still wear 3 myself. Although that style of heel isn't featured on shoes now, the wider back gives it something of a block look and the boot's other features -- snipped toe, higher shaft and stripped leather effect -- help it seem more current. By contrast, the super pointy toe and stilleto on the other two pairs make them seem more dated.

Colette

Veteran

Janet-I know what you are saying about the minute you let something go it will be the next 'in' thing. I have a lot of that going on, mostly with clothes, but it's easier for me to get rid of clothing now, thank you YLF! Perhaps shoes are more difficult because I just love shoes? I like your idea of storing them, I do have a clothing storage area in the basement and there is plenty of room now.

Kiwigal/Sally-I'm not wearing them because my lifestyle changed from working in an office and many social events to super casual with few social events. So, I just don't have too many occasions. These made the cut because I still like them and they fit well. I like your suggestion about mixing them in with modern/current items. I did try that and they look better to my eye.

Lisa-My Mom helped me do the first major purge of my closet and one of the big discussions was exactly what you mentioned about the clothing/shoes that had come back in style were as you said 'not modified to look current'. I only kept the things I still liked (regardless of being in style or not) and fit well. Now I'm fine tuning and still figuring things out.

CocoLion-I like your point about something dated can be worked into an outfit. I kind of feel like my style is evolving to this-mixing old with new. This k/c exercise came about because I was trying to pull together an outfit around a poncho. I grabbed my modified flares and needed a pointy toe boot to round it out. I liked the black boots but I ended up changing to a newer open toe bootie because I was thinking these boots looked 'comically out of style' to quote Lisa. But, when I styled them with the shaft showing, they looked and felt better to my eye.

UmmLila & kkards-I put the SW's back in my closet.

Firecracker-I'm with you, I can't keep up with the current heel and toe profiles and have lost track of what looks dated.

Suz-I know, right! They are waterproof and I'm keeping them. I actually wore them last winter on a freezing rain winter day and didn't care if they looked dated or not, they looked sleek, dressy and kept my feet dry.

shevia-I didn't even think replacing a heel style was possible. I'm going to think about that. Thanks for the tip.

Gail-I like your idea. And as I mentioned to CocoLion, when I styled the boots with the shaft showing they looked and felt better to my eye. I hope you post a picture when you wear yours. What is funny is that when I purchased the boots, I only wore them with long dress pants or jean, never skirts or anything cropped.

Aliona-I was thinking the same thing about #3. I think they have a boho feel which is a style I like to dip my toe into now and again.

Thank you for all your opinions and advice. Clearly I need to update my boots. Time to go shopping!

Next up my suits. If you guys think my boots are dated, wait until you see the huge shoulder pads in the jackets. Some are 20+ years old and you just can't help but laugh when you see them.