Oh Una - weren't you mentioning the Doc Marcie's a little while ago (or am I losing my mind?) I love my Marcie's with skirts and dresses, as does Rae. And this colour is a lighter neutral. Plus they hug your ankle so nicely.

PS, the Marcies run a little big. I'm an 8.5 and went with the 8.

I think what is throwing me off about the boots is the dark laces. The black laces stand out against the grey boots, which makes them less dressy when worn with light/bright colors.

Here's a crazy suggestion.

If you can find grey colored or similar to slightly darker hued laces, I think the boots would look dressier. Even a light charcoal would give you lower contrast than the black.

I have tried the Doc Marcies in person and I need a 6 (unfortunately no longer available in town) because my feet are so w---i----d-----e. Maybe they are the solution?

Kellygirl, what are the first boots you posted (brown lace up)?

Sylvie, i have thought about that - the laces do stand out. And I'm wondering if I could use these in other contexts?

I think they're just too much work.

Anna, what's funny is I feel like the DRESSES are a lot of work. I mean, look how needy they are about having the right height and shape and color of footwear! They are making me crazy, but I really want to be able to wear them and certainly have the opportunity since they are all doable as work-wear.

I simply adore those boots.

I think all of those dresses are great. But I don't think the boots go with those dresses. The color is off (warm vs cool). I know you like rugged and RATE. But I think that boot is too rugged for those dresses.

Booties are SO EASY with dresses, and look especially cute with dresses that hit right at the top of the knee! I'm tellin' ya, b-o-o-t-i-e-s!

Great inspiration pix, Jonesy! I guess that brings me back to my original quest for neutral booties. I have the quilted black booties, which will work with all of these in theory. Maybe I just need to suck it up and expose more leg than I want to expose... I don't know why the just above-knee length is feeling so nekkid!

Are your cobalt booties a no-go for summer? In theory at least, they seem like they would work. The quilted ones might read too wintery (the quilting makes me think wintery), but you could certainly try! I still think black would be the most versatile and fabbest for you and your wardrobe (with your black hair) but I get that you want to break away from black for the summer....

Jonesy, cobalt and my new orange DV booties both work, even though both are suede and somewhat winter-ish - it's always winter here anyway! I guess I just need to get used to the amount of leg involved in the bootie look with shorter skirts and dresses. It's something about the exposed knee - like a mental barrier in my brain.

You're right - I've worn black forever, and am really wanting to branch out to lighter colors... maybe I need to let my hair go grey so I can bookend!

Una, you don't have to bookend with hair I think anything light colored at the top helps.

Would wearing cropped leggings help with the knee issue? I've seen Angie do this with some of her dresses and skirts.

The boots are MM September and the booties are Patricia, I think. I saw them at Infinity Shoes.