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Should I get these boots?

peekaboo

Hello!

I know I don't post much, but I'm trying to even up my fall wardrobe and I have a bit of a dilemma.

In the winter, a typical work outfit for me is a pencil skirt, turtleneck sweater, and blazer with tights and boots. My favorite colors are navy blue, olive green, burgundy, and some light pink. With the addition of some additional neutrals and prints (cream, leopard), I stick pretty tightly to that color palette. I am fair skinned with dark brown hair with burgundy highlights.

3 years ago, I purchased a pair of flat burgundy riding boots and I wore them into the ground.

So I looked for a replacement during this NAS and settled on the Aquatalia Neda Weatherproof boots in chocolate brown. They are comfortable and waterproof, and feel like I would wear them a lot, though they don't excite me that much.

Then for some reason I happened on these Duoboots Belmore heeled boots. They have a platform and I would be comfortable with the heel height, though obviously not as comfortable as a flat boot. But I do have pumps and booties with this heel that I wear somewhat regularly. They are burgundy which I prefer as a color to the espresso color of the Aquatalias.

But they are not waterproof, and part of what caused my old boots to wear was getting wet stomping in snow and muck.

I am also worried about the heeled boots looking a little too vavoom for work...but then again I do like the extra height, and the rest of the outfit is usually pretty conservative.

Return the Aquatalia and get the Duoboots? Forget the heel? Keep both?

Thank you in advance for your thoughts!

Neda Tall Weatherproof Boot

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17 replies

Latest reply was from peekaboo

missvee

Veteran

I’m not sure. First off, are you sold on adding brown boots rather than burgundy? Do you have other accessories in brown? Do you do a lot of walking in sloppy winter weather? If so, a heeled boot is not ideal. Sorry, more questions than answers

peekaboo

Thank you!

I am not completely sold on adding brown boots...but I didn't want black or caramel. I liked the chocolate color better than most brown boots I have seen, but no, I don't really have other chocolate accessories, though I like the way it looks with my coloring and the navy that I wear a lot of. And that burgundy color I had before is hard to come by. I don't want boots that scream "she's wearing RED boots!!", KWIM?

I don't do a ton of walking in winter weather. Some days I walk from my garage to my car, get out in a garage, and walk straight into my office. Some days I do need to walk outside to catch a shuttle to another location or cross a mucky street. But I'm not walking blocks or anything. I also have these waterproof UGG boots which I tend to wear more on weekends, but have worn to work when it's extremely snowy.

UGG Elvia Waterproof Tall Boot

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Helena

Veteran

Hmm, it seems to me that these boots would serve two different purposes - the aquatalias good for weather, walking, and polished comfort; the heels are more dressy but definitely not the most practical for running around, etc.

It sounds like the aquatalias would be the better replacement for your old boots ... But have your needs changed? Or perhaps you have a need for both?

peekaboo

Thanks!

My needs have changed in that I am in a little bit more leadership role than I was 3 years ago, so I'm trying to dress the part as well.

I think the problem is that while the Aquatalias seem practical, they don't make me very excited about them. The burgundy heels do though! But I've run into problems in the past following my heart in matters of fashion and spent money on things that were very impractical.

notsaf

Veteran

Perhaps you should wait to find a flat boot in burgundy?

That said, I am a super fan of Aquatalias and they have never let me down: exactly the thing to wear in a professional setting in the winter months.

peekaboo

I think the brown will work with my current items, but I sort of feel frumpy/stumpy in the flat boots.

On the other hand, I know there will be days this winter where I won't want to deal with heels when it's icy, etc.

Huh!

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missvee

Veteran

Don’t buy what you don’t love, and it sounds like you don’t love the Aquatalias. Feeling frumpy or stumpy kind of says it all doesn’t it? You’ve got a boot already for rough weather, so maybe the Duoboots are the better choice. Or keep looking for something else in burgundy with a slightly lower heel?

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Sounds like you want your old boots
Boots need to make you feel good at work IME. I tend to not wear my heeled ones, but also do not want ones I see as boring. If it were me then, I would probably return the Aquatalias, wear the heeled ones sometimes for now and keep looking for a different flat alternative that is more exciting. ( If the heeled ones were not too expensive).

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Otherwise, return both and keep looking.

rachylou

Veteran

Oh. Seeing pics makes all the difference. Keep the heeled, return the flat. Even tho the flat are more weather proof, and I like the colour even, got to be straight: they’re not doing it for your style. So I don’t think they’re as useful as one would have it.

Or I think you’d want to style them quite differently.

Anonymous

They look like they'd serve different fuctions to me. The Aquatalias look like weekend boots, and the Duoboots look like work boots. It's still really early in the season, I expect (hope) more boots will appear when it gets cold. Check Blondo too, they're waterproof.

peekaboo

Thanks, all!

I packed up the Aquatalia boots for return. I feel good about that decision. They didn't feel like "me" when I wore them. Though I know they are beautiful and high quality...they are definitely NOT weekend boots for me, and for that price, I ought to LOVE them. And I didn't, I was just justifying that they were practical and useful.

Once those are dropped off I'll see about ordering the Duoboots. They have free returns too, so not all that much risk anyway.

Joy

Veteran

Would you feel unstable on ice and snow in heeled boots? I avoid wearing boots with even small heels for that reason. It is not worth a fall.

Gigi

Veteran

I can so identify with this issue! It's a tough call. If the Duo boots make your heart sing, I would definitely order them and try them out. But even if you like them and decide to keep them, you will still have need of a flat dressy boot that you can wear on the ice. And I would hate for you to ruin your Duo boots by wearing them in sloppy weather (and I do think you could ruin them even if you're not walking long distances).

What I would try to do is return the Aquatalias (too expensive for something you don't love) and then find a way to make the Duo boots work (assuming you get them and they fit, etc.). This might mean wearing your snow boots to work and then changing into the Duo boots, which would be a hassle--but it would be safe.

I am with Joy about being careful in the icy weather with heels. Unless you are wearing a shoe specifically designed for winter weather (like Blondos), it can be really dangerous. I have a pair of heeled booties from Blondo that are designed for cold, snowy weather, and they feel very secure. It's easy when the weather is nice (like now) to say that you'll be careful, etc., but when the actual winter weather rolls around, you will probably feel quite differently and not want to chance it.

Another brand that makes excellent cold-weather footwear is La Canadienne. They're expensive but worth it. Just make sure that you get a pair that is specially designed for winter weather. They treat the leather in a particular way so that it stands up to the elements.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I’m glad you returned the Aquatalias. I could only see the price in $NZ as Nordstrom does ship here, but wow, eye-wateringly high. One of the Fabbers (maybe Suz?) said something would have to be prized out of her cold, dead hands- and I think you’d need to feel like that about them at that price. I concur with Gigi that you will still need something flat to walk to work in at times- although you could wear your Uggs and then change?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

There is room for two pairs of tall boots. These are very different, and serve different functions. My only suggestion is that you make sure the heels aren’t too high on the one pair. Maybe a heeled pair of tall boots with a lower heel is an option?

peekaboo

Thank you all!

The Aquatalia boots are dropped off at the post office. I think it was the right choice.

One thing I think that made them feel less fab was that the shaft is not as high as I am used to...I don't have long legs by any means but it seemed like the boots hit me straight in the middle of the widest part of my calf. And part of the reason I like wearing tall boots is to add some volume to my lower leg to balance out my top leg and that wasn't happening. Comfortable and practical though, but not for that price if not perfect.

I hope you don't think I'm boot deprived. I also have a very dear pair of flat black suede stuart weitzman boots that I LOVE (but are also not weather proof), and an older pair of black Sam Edelman Penny boots, which I am just realizing are still made. If I do decide a flat brown boot will be necessary, I can purchase that one, and it's less than half the price.

Will report back on the Duoboots!

Sam Edelman Penny Leather Riding Boot

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