Thank you, all! They're staying. I still welcome styling ideas, though! My office should probably get used to seeing these.
Per Jenni NZ's suggestion for pairing with bronze, and lisa p's recommendation of a mustard sweater, I was thinking I don't have a lot of bronze... but I do have a bronzey-brown military jacket, and a rust sweater, and some red tops and toppers. And I adore pinstripe... great calls! Oooh, and now that you've got me thinking in color, I have some olive pants and tops that would probably play well with leopard, too...
Thank you so much, Sterling. I've been feeling a bit off the last few weeks (not for any reason in particular... it's just been a lot of a lot, as happens for all of us time to time); you've lifted my spirits today.
Opaline, hello fellow oxford fan! I owned my last pair in elementary school, but I love that they've come back.
Alicewonderland, I think you're right. They seem like such a statement pattern, and yet they seem to work with just about everything.
Chris987, thank you for the enabling, and that's a gorgeous combination of things! I don't own any mustard, but I think rust and charcoal with leopard would be a close match that I do have. Did you keep the leopard shoes you tried, or were you put off by the boldness like I almost was?
La Pedestrienne, exactly! How does MF make pointy toes so comfortable? I don't even notice the toe shape when I had them on. The only thing I noticed comfort-wise is that the shoes are a little stiff, and I'm certain they'll soften with wear. But somehow the shape seems just right. And thank you... even though it's been almost a year without him, I still miss having my furballs around. At some point I'll adopt another pair, but... not quite ready yet. I'll just look at my leopard shoes and smile fondly for now.
Cee, thanks! I haven't seen anything else quite like them... definitely special.
Joy, I'm glad that I'm not the only one who's taking some time to adjust to the look. Red is a great suggestion, and I want to try the black or gray with brown combination now, too.
unfrumped, time will tell if they're comfortable (I've tried plenty of shoes that felt great at home, where I'm on carpet and can't get up to full walking speed, but started to rub or pinch as soon as I tried to walk fast across asphalt), but they seem to be so far. I'm leaning toward the "they'll probably be great" side of the spectrum right now.
Bijou, that's funny, and awesome, that your coat ended up surprising you. I love it when that happens!