K/R: EF Pumps They were returned - YouLookFab Forum

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K/R: EF Pumps They were returned

Joy

Veteran

Last weekend The Rack had a Clear the Rack sale with an extra percentage off sale items. These EF shoes came home with me. They are a black suede pump (Lily) with a nice wide grippy chunky heel and a D'Orsay style. They are comfortable and stable. I was needing to update a pair of many years old kitten heel black patent pumps, so they would fill a hole. I am hoping that they are modern looking and would elevate an outfit.
I don't wear pumps often or walk far in them but these feel comfortable despite the height (about 2 inches), but do I have sales blinders? These are $240 (at Nordstroms) shoes that I got for $30. They are slightly larger than my usual size but no other size was available. I could add an insert but they do not feel too big.
Please give me your honest opinion. Should I keep or return? Do they look silly big on me? I am not wearing them with any inserts to make them fit tighter. Do they look old lady?

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Eileen Fisher Lily d´Orsay Suede Slip On Pumps

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36 replies

Latest reply was from unfrumped

Anonymous

They don't look old lady but they do look too big.
I really like the heel and the d'orsay style.

Joyce B

Veteran

They are very nice shoes but seem big in the back. Maybe just walk fast around your home and also up and down the stairs. If they are too big they will come off your feet and you will know for sure.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

They look fab on you and not old lady at all. Great heel! Yes when we stare at close up pictures they look a bit big on you, but if they are comfortable and don't slip off no one will notice that at all.

MsGreer

Not old lady at all. They look fab..maybe slightly big but at that bargain..WOW
I think you can make these work.

JAileen

Veteran

The heel is modern and cool looking. There is a big gap at the heel, though. That doesn't feel bad? Well, if they feel good, then keep them.

Joy

Veteran

It sounds like they look big. I will try them with an insert. I tried walking fast and going up and down stairs and they stay on. Thank you for looking and for your comments. I am glad that they look modern rather than old lady

Sal

Veteran

I agree they are a nice style - and I think a very practical heel height. See how you get on with the insert.

Dianna

Veteran

They are nice Joy, they look a bit big. If they are comfortable, and don't fall off your feet, I would keep them.

Joy

Veteran

Thank you for taking time to help me with this, Sal and Dianna.

Mirjana

Veteran

The shoes are very nice and look comfortable, yes I agree with others they look little large but if that doesn't bother you I mean they don't fall off your feet keep them. Put a little wad in the top of your shoes it works sometimes.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I find shoes that much too big a bit uncomfortable Joy but soft insoles help. And they look lovely otherwise. And not old lady! But when do you feel you will be allowed to look old lady?

Anonymous

My first thought was KEEP.

Then I read all the comments. I went back and looked at the pictures to see the gap. Joyce's suggestion was a good one. Since they stayed on, I continue to vote keep.

On a personal note: I want to salute you for the sales shopping. I have great admiration for women that shop sales and come home, not with junk, but with real prizes. Those prizes have to fit seamlessly into your wardrobe though for you to count coup. Yours do.

Aquamarine

Veteran

I agree, try inserts. Sometimes shoes that feel too big can feel just right once my feet warm up and swell a bit.

ETA: Not old lady looking, at all

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Those are great shoes. They look too big to me and any shoe that large and open would go flying off my own foot in a second so it is hard for me to imagine they are comfy, but if they are, and don't come off when you walk or make you strain to keep them on, and an insert takes up some of the visual space, then keep and congrats on a great bargain!

skylurker

Veteran

Not your size. Do they look silly big? I'm pretty sure no one IRL would notice.
Do they look old lady? I admit I have a soft spot for old lady looks, esp. British ones ok, if you mean : do they look old fashioned? No, I don't think they do, I like their clean lines.
They might stay on your feet now, but chances are they won't stay long, as shoes stretch with wear.
I would return, but I commute on foot and need really good shoes.

Joy

Veteran

Thank you all for your thoughtful comments.
Jenni NZ asked a question I have been wondering about myself, "But when do you feel you will be allowed to look old lady?" When is it time?
I already dress for own happiness most of the time. I suspect that the Baby Boomer generation is going to dress differently in their dotage than those before them. What that will be will be somewhat determined by fabrics and design available...like hot water and dryer friendly. The big issue is what one's body will demand. Will one need clothing to hide Depend lines? Easy on and off for arthritis and quick trips to the restroom? Wheelchair friendly styles with coverage but will not get caught in the wheels? I am thinking of a few things I had to consider when shopping for my mother when she was in her 80's. So my answer is that as long as my body allows, I want sensible clothing but should be thinking ahead. I have already allowed my hair to be its natural grey and given up sandals and heels ( although I miss both and wear a bit of stable heel when I can such as the shoes in question.). I would love to hear what you think about when it is ok to look old lady and what does that mean?

JAileen

Veteran

When will I dress like an old lady? i'm not sure what that would look like. My 92 YO mother wears polyester elastic waist pants and slip on shoes. Other than that, she dresses fairly normally.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

They don't look frumpy at all. But to my eye, a little too chunky for your narrow ankle and lower volume foot - and half a size big. I vote return.

Bijou

Veteran

You have great style and these shoes are no exception. However, if they are a bit big, suede does tend to give a bit, so they may end up too big. As for the question of how to dress, just wear what makes you happy. I think comfort and style can always be achieved. Designers need to cater for all because there is a massive market for those of us who are not 16 year old models but want to be stylish.

Elle

Veteran

I like them. The suede keeps them from looking "old lady." They do look a tad big but inserts will help with that. Since they stay on your feet, fill a wardrobe hole, and were incredibly cheap, I think this is a no brainer.

Carole

Veteran

What a steal...I like them very much but they do look big for you:(

minimalist

Veteran

I'd like the d'Orsay, and I'd like the chunky heel if it looked intentional. EF got the lines wrong, though. Maybe it's only noticeable from that side angle you provided (FWIW it looks better on your foot than in the find pic!), but something about this shoe seems imbalanced to me.

Nonetheless, I'd try them with the right inserts before returning. Sometimes a solid placeholder in a wardrobe hole is just rational adaptation to reality.

Would you consider posting the bigger question (When is it time?) to a new thread, please? I'd like to think about that some more, and fear it will get lost in the immediate specific shoe topic.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I like them and don't see "old lady" in them at all. That said, I see what Angie means about the heaviness of this particular shoe on your delicate ankles. I think a lighter color would mitigate that.

Anonymous

For shoes, to me, "old lady" equals "comfort brand" .

Old lady is not block heels or Eileen fisher.

Those are just my personal views.

Anonymous

Fascinating question, Joy. I will have to give this some thought. I might be challenged for the words to express what I think.

My first thought is that "Old Lady" is a reflection of a person that just gave up all together. I have seen it in the past and I see it on occasion in present day. It does not have to do with dressing to meet the restrictions of aging. It is the quality of not even trying.

If you think about it, you might understand what I am trying to say. We probably have all met people that just gave up on life. One sign of giving up was how they presented themselves. It could even have been an outward sign of depression.

I have never gotten the impression that you gave up on anything in your life. As such, the term old lady does not relate to you in any way.

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

I think we get taken by the tide of age-related compromises. I see evidence of this in myself. Opting out is different, and it's not OK. IMHO!

tulle

Veteran

Joy, I can imagine these looking "old lady" on some people, but on you-- with your trim ankles and killer wardrobe--they look chic. I'm going through similar foot issues, as are so many on the forum. I refuse to wear my feather-light, cushioned-sole, mesh around-the-house sneaks when I go out, but I feel a pang whenever I have to take them off! Are on-trend, elegant shoes that feel as comfortable as those sneaks even possible? I doubt it, but I keep looking. I hope these turn out that way for you.

Gaylene

Veteran

I like the shoes! And, like Minimalist, I'd also like to see a new thread on the "when do we embrace the "old lady" part of dressing" question.

For what it's worth, I don't think "giving up" is necessarily part of the equation because it is such a slippery concept. To me, refusing to dress "fashionably" (as defined by exactly who?), and not taking care of one's appearance, are totally different situations--and neither necessarily have anything to do with an aging body. And, if comfort brand shoes are an "old lady" dressing indicator, most of the young women I see walking and cycling to work on city streets these days are in for a rude surprise.

Sal

Veteran

Firstly Joy you are the epitome of how to dress for your lifestyle age and shape...you are a style icon to many of us.

I know exactly what you mean by dressing old lady - it is dressing a generation older than you are. My generation dress differently to my parents and different to the next generation. Of course there is some cross over - sneakers, many styles of jeans etc And I see both teenagers and 70 year olds wearing outfits I would wear, if not from head to toe, almost...

There are pieces that are associated with different ages and I think that is fine. I have seen teenagers rocking rompers (we call them playsuits), high waisted skinny jeans to name two looks I like but won't be adopting. I also see my parents of my friends wearing nautical preppy looks with aplomb but I would wear them differently.

There are looks that I will probably avoid as I age, but I suspect at 80 (putting aside health factors) I will still wear straight denim, sneakers, merino tops and have a love for a bold coat. I may have ditched my heels and my leggings and my athleisure hoodies - but maybe not?

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