Question about investment boots...

Sveta

I got NAS catalog yesterday (first time this year!) and was studying it for the last 2 days.
One of the items on my fall list is a pair of tall flat black boots: now when I went for very dark hair I find that I can use black boots more than before.
I see tall flat boots from Stuart Weitzman and Attilio Giusti in the catalog which come in my size. However even on sale they cost more than I ever paid for a pair of boots - $400.
The question I have: are they worth this pile of money? I see Michael Kors and Cole Haan of very similar look as SW boots but half the price. Are SW boots really twice as good as MK or CH?

Of course there is a very good chance they will not fit me anyway but in case they do
are they worth splurging on - except paying for a brand name which I don't care about. Are they really so much better in quality and comfort?
Trying to get ready for NAS...:-)

13 years ago

Shopping

11 replies

Latest reply was from Sveta

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I have the SW OTK boots and they're very comfortable and still look great after two years. Cole Haan does not work at all for my foot, so I can't comment there.
I have a pair of AGL ballet flats that are super comfortable.

13 years ago

Keix

Veteran

Maybe try on both price ranges during NAS and judge fit for yourself? Though of course quality and long-term comfort are hard to "try on." Also, it's worth thinking about what kind of shoes are hard to fit for you. Personally, it's hard to find a calf fit (isn't it always) in tall boots but I can wear flat soles with very little support and walk comfortably for miles. Heels, on the other hand, my feet are extremely finicky about. So I would shell out more for truly comfortable heels. What kind of boots do you wear right now?

13 years ago

Classically Casual

Veteran

Sveta, I too was on a quest for tall, flat black boots, but didn't want to blow the budget. At the end of May I lucked out & found Stuart Weitzman "Mount" on sale for $281.25 marked down from $595.00. They were on the 6:00pm site, and I don't know if you can access that in Canada. At any rate, they have the same stretchy insert that the brown ones have in the Nordy's catalogue. It seems to make them easier to get off, & calf size isn't an issue. I'm very pleased & can't wait to wear them in the fall. So, it would be a very long wait, but sometimes there are great end of season bargains.

13 years ago

Julie

Veteran

I can safely say, that the more I've paid for a pair of boots, the more comfortable they are, and the longer they last. Part of the price goes to pay for the engineering that makes said boot comfortable to wear, and helps it to wear longer.

Sveta, I don't have too many pairs that I paid less than $400.00 for, and most of those are boots which usually sell for much more, but happened to be snagged while on sale. No one says you have to pay full retail. Look at the deal Rae got on her Frye Julias. I ended up paying a bit more than she did, but I'm still very happy with what I paid. Try some of the boutiques, you can get Chloe, Prada, Giuseppe Zanotti at tremendous deals if you don't mind last season's styles. That how I managed to get most of my high end designer boots. You have to keep a sharp eye out, and be ready to pounce.

13 years ago

Mochi

Veteran

Since I bit the bullet and bought a pair of Fryes (ha, at a little under $200 the price was freaking me out at the time!), I've come to rethink the price of boots. $400 still seems like it could be worth it for really well-made, beautifully designed, super-comfortable boots. I would stalk them at various other places, though...try and see if someone in the US can find a pair for you...and also would read up on all the product reviews you can find (Amazon, Nordstroms, etc--they're pretty common now).

13 years ago

Jonesy

Veteran

I know Angie really loves SW's quality and fit, so maybe she will chime in! I would agree that you should try them on and see how they feel--maybe you will fall in love, or maybe you will think "eh."

13 years ago

bj1111

Veteran

my most comfy pair ever was a pair of 50$ boots bought in vegas eons ago. i went through many errors/returns before finding my ideal replacement at an exorbitant amount that still makes my eyes water to type so i won't. if i wear these half as much as the first pair for half as long, it would be so worth being able to go to the closet, put them on and know i'll be good for whatever i need to do that day.

i have agl flats. hands down my softest most comfy pair. unfortunately, i find agl styling to be really staid for my taste, ow i would snap them up.

13 years ago

Lulu

Active Member

I am a huge fan of SW! I would describe myself as having "fussy feet" (thanks angie!) and can say without a doubt that my SW pumps (5 pair) surprise me everytime i wear them; the comfort is that good. Yes very pricey, but i look at them as something i am buying that i will baby and enjoy for years to come. I do not own any SW boots, but would not hesitate to purchase as i have faith in the brand. That does not mean that there are not other comparable brands out there! But no; i think in this case you get what you pay for, and while MK and CH are good brands, they are not in the same leauge as SW. I think you need to ask yourself if you are looking to acquire something trendy that you want to play around with in a tall boot, or if this is something you plan to incorporate into your style long term. I also love the brand peter kaiser; not something nordies carries, but a german company that maybe is available in canada? Similar quality in my mind.

13 years ago

Anonymous

I've never tested if, but I'm pretty sure Nordstrom's return policy would allow you to return them an ANY time down the road, if you feel that the quality was lacking or they were not comfortable, even after being worn. The returned shoes and boots are the ones that wind up at Last Chance--and believe me, some of them have been worn! If I were ever going make a really expensive purchase that I wasn't sure about, I think I'd buy it from Nordstrom. Their "no questions asked" return policy is part of what you're paying for.

13 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

I'm personally hesitant to shell out "investment" money for a brand that I have yet to put through the paces myself. Before I bought my Julias, I'd owned a pair of Fryes that my mom snagged for a gift for me from TJMaxx, so I knew I liked it. My foot doesn't have the usual issues that most feet have, so what is comfy for many may not be comfy for me.

Still, there are some universal boot truths: things like leather lining, a great shank that will support your foot, and the perfect fit will cost more but are totally worth it. The brand name is kind of irrelevant to me unless it has already gained my trust with wonderful construction and materials.

Like Julie said, you can get FABULOUS quality boots for way less than the original price - if you wanted to shop last season's stock now, for example, the deals are amazing. I've seen multiple Frye, Timberland, Ariat... Another benefit of buying at the end of the season is that there are plenty of reviews to read to help you decide how the boot will wear and how comfy it will be.

Of course the downside to not going for the BBQ route is that sizes may sell out in the style you want. So I guess it ultimately depends on what your priority is - is it the style? the price? the workmanship?

13 years ago

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Thank you for chiming in, ladies!
I do have "fussy feet and in addition my size is very hard to find. I have resolved long ago to pay extra for comfortable footwear because if I risk to wait for a deal I am most likely not get them at all. I guess I will try them on and see if they feel much different than others. My hopes are really slim that they will fit my wide fit and calves but who knows: I may get lucky

13 years ago

Category